Mount Maunganui

Paradise At 'The Mount'

All About Mount Maunganui

Mount Maunganui is one of the major suburbs of Tauranga, located on a peninsula to the north-east of the city. Mount Maunganui is in the Bay of Plenty region in the North Island of New Zealand. It was once a small independent town set apart from Tauranga until the completion of the Tauranga Harbour Bridge in 1988. As the bridge was completed, Mount Maunganui was then united with the City Centre and Tauranga CBD, allowing for a more easier and convenient flow to and from.

Some of the main attractions throughout this holiday destination are what make it so attractive. There are also many local land and water activities to explore.

Mount Maunganui Main Beach
Base of Mount Maunganui Walking Track
Mauao Summit Track
Mauao Itself!
Mount Main Street (Shopping, Eating, Bars, Clubs)

The iconic mountain, Mauao, is a large lava dome which was formed by the upwelling of rhyolite lava roughly two to three million years ago. Mt Maunganui (Mauao) sits 232 metres (761 ft) above sea level. Mauao has two very popular, yet distinct walking tracks. One is known as the summit track and the other, the base track.

If you’re after Holiday Homes or a Holiday Park, they are common throughout the Mount and the surrounding local area. Many are in close proximity to Maunganui Road and the Main Beach. This is a very popular holiday destination in the Bay of Plenty and has won numerous awards in New Zealand.

More About Mount Maunganui below the following listings and map. As well as the Maori Legend of Mauao.

Mt Maunganui Beach

Mt Maunganui Beach is located in the North Island of New Zealand. It is within the Bay of Plenty region and is well known as one of the country’s favourite beaches.

Mount Main Beach is a glorious place to swim, surf and sunbathe on the soft white sand. While in the summertime, Mount Beach becomes very busy with locals and holiday goers, there is always more than enough room for family and friends to set up and enjoy this wonderful white sandy beach.

With the Mt Maunganui surf lifeguards patrolling during the summer months to keep us safe, it is a great option for a family-friendly beach. As always, it is advised to swim between the flags where a close eye is watched. Rips and rough waves can often form, however, generally, this place is beautifully calm and safe.

This unique beach sits between the Mount’s renowned mountain ‘Mauao’, and Leisure Island, both of whom are within easy walking distance, offering unique walks in and of themselves. As does the Mauao base track and summit walking tracks.

Situated on the opposite side of the sandbar is a lovely, sheltered but peaceful beach on the inner harbour side. This is known as Pilot Bay.

Mt Maunganui Beach is loved by surfers and boogie boarders as they ride in on waves that are well worth the excitement. The Beach offers fairly consistent surf, both right and left-handed breaks, Mount Beach being the perfect place for surfers to simply enjoy.

Car parking is available alongside the beach, however, generally, The Mount is very busy during weekends and over summer. Toilets are available. On the northern (Mauao) end, around mid-way along the beach and over the road near Mount Drury, opposite Moturiki (Leisure) Island.

The Mount beach is accompanied by a wide boardwalk. Perfect for strolling along enjoying the wonderful atmosphere where on the Mauao end, you’ll find plenty of cafes and restaurants. Or an ice-cream parlour to quickly cool yourself with something icy cold.

Mount Maunganui’s famous beach is unique and popular, widely enjoyed by locals and holidaygoers from around New Zealand and the world. This is where cruise ships come and go and so is a popular holiday destination. Always being able to find things to do nearby, it is a fantastic beach that ticks every box when wanting to enjoy the sun, relax and enjoy time with the family.

See the images of Mount Maunganui and the mount beach below.

Map of Mount Maunganui

More facts and infomation about Mount Maunganui in New Zealand

Geography of Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty

Mount Maunganui is situated atop a sand bar that connects Mauao to the mainland, a geographical formation referred to as a tombolo. Due to this formation, the residents and visitors of Mount Maunganui have both a harbour-side beach known as Pilot Bay and an ocean-side beach known as Mt Maunganui. This beach has excellent surf. From the base of Mauao, the distance between the harbour and the ocean is roughly 300 meters.

On either side of Mt Maunganui Beach, the mountain Mauao sits at its western end, and a man-made land bridge connects Leisure Island (Moturiki) at its eastern end. This is a short walk from the likes of the Twin Towers, Mount Main Street and the saltwater pools. You can choose to walk along the ocean beach side boardwalk or on the soft sand beaches.

The Mount (Mauao) is a giant volcanic rock dome that reaches a height that is much higher than the town itself. This mountain which supplies the town its name is 232 metres (761 ft) tall and dominates the largely flat land that extends from it.

Once upon a time, it was used as a Māori pā. When walking around the base track the remains of trenches can be seen in the ridges, as well as ancient shell middens. Today, it is open to the public all year round and remains a popular place for locals and visitors to either walk around or climb up. From the summit, a long stretch of coastline can be seen in either direction, as well as the Pacific Ocean, Kaimai ranges and Tauranga City.

The Maori Legend of Mauao (A popular Maori Legend in Aotearoa(New Zealand)

There was once a hill with no name who lived on the edge of the Hautere forest. This nameless was a pononga (slave) to the great chiefly mountain, Otanewainuku. To the southwest was the shapely form of Puwhenua, a beautiful hill, clothed in all the fine greens of the ferns and shrubs and trees of the forest of Tane.

The nameless one was desperately in love with Puwhenua. However, her heart already belonged to Otanewainuku. There seemed like no hope for the lowly slave. In despair the nameless one decided to end it all by drowning himself in the Pacific Ocean, Te Moananui a Kiwa.

Calling on the patupaiarehe, the people with magical powers who dwelled in the forests of Hautere, pononga asked them to plait the ropes with their magic and then haul him down towards the ocean. Chanting their song they began to haul the nameless one slowly towards the water, gouging out the valley where the river Waimapu now flows. They followed the channel past Hairini, past Maungatapu and Matapihi and finally past Te Papa to the water’s edge.

By this time it was very close to day break. The sun rose fixing the nameless one to that place. Being people of the night, the patupaiarehe fled back to the shady depths of the Hautere forests, before the light of the sun descended upon them.

The patupaiarehe gave the name Mauao to this mountain which marks the entrance of Tauranga Moana. This means caught by the morning sun. In time, he has assumed greater mana than his rival Otanewainuku. Today he is known by many as Mount Maunganui, however to the Maori people he is still known as Mauao.

Mt Maunganui Beach Image Gallery

Check out Mount Maunganui Beach below in this great image gallery. Take a look at why this beach has been awarded New Zealand’s number-one spot. It is truly a wonderful place with a fantastic atmosphere within the great Bay of Plenty.