Last updated October 2026
Rural Pāpāmoa is the farmland and hill country behind Pāpāmoa Beach, on the inland side of the Te Puke Highway between Tauranga and Te Puke. Its official LINZ name is simply Papamoa, and it sits in the Western Bay of Plenty District, while the busy beach suburb on the coast is a separate official area, Pāpāmoa Beach Suburb.
The landmark here is Te Rae o Pāpāmoa, the Pāpāmoa Hills, whose summit pā sites look out over the whole Bay of Plenty coastline. It is a quiet area of farms and lifestyle properties rather than a town, with shops, schools and services a short drive away in Pāpāmoa Beach or Te Puke. For most visitors the reason to come is the walk up the hills.
Official Suburb Facts
- Population (2023 Census)
- About 4,010, up 351% since 2018
- Land area
- 37.49 km²
- Location
- 13.7 km south-east of central Tauranga
- Council
- Western Bay of Plenty District Council
- Neighbouring suburbs
- Papamoa Beach, Te Puke, Waitao, Kairua
- Getting there
- By car along the Te Puke Highway between Tauranga and Te Puke. The Pāpāmoa Hills car parks are at the end of Poplar Lane, off the highway, about 17 km from Tauranga.
- Main shopping
- None in the area itself. The nearest shopping is in Pāpāmoa Beach and in Te Puke town centre.
- Nearby landmarks
- Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park (Te Rae o Pāpāmoa), Pāpāmoa Beach, Te Puke
Who Lives in Papamoa
About 4,010 residents in 1,260 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.
In Papamoa
Places and businesses inside the official Papamoa boundary.
Places
Businesses
About Rural Pāpāmoa
Most people who say “Pāpāmoa” mean the beachside suburb, which LINZ records as Papamoa Beach. The area this page covers is the official LINZ area called Papamoa: the rural land that rises from the highway to the ridge of the Pāpāmoa Hills. It is governed by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council rather than Tauranga City Council, and it has the feel of the countryside, with farmland, bush and homes on larger blocks.
The hills are known by their traditional name, Te Rae o Pāpāmoa. They are a traditional home of the original Māori inhabitants of the Pāpāmoa area, including Waitaha, Ngā Pōtiki, Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti He, and the ridgeline is lined with pā sites, terraces and other archaeological features.
The iwi and hapū involved in caring for the hills work alongside the Bay of Plenty Regional Council through a joint group, Te Uepu.
The best-known part of the area is the regional park on the upper slopes. Established in 2003 to protect the cultural heritage of the hills, it covers about 135 hectares of native bush and open farmland, and it is still run as a working farm. A quarry also operates off Poplar Lane, so expect trucks on the road in to the park.
Daily life for people living here is tied to the towns on either side. Families shop, study and work in Pāpāmoa Beach, Te Puke and Tauranga, and the Te Puke Highway is the main link to all three.
Te Rae o Pāpāmoa: The Pāpāmoa Hills
The Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park is managed by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. The main walk climbs fairly steeply from the Poplar Lane car park to the trig station at 224 metres, through native bush and open farmland, passing the terracing of several pā sites on the way.
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council lists it as about one hour return, and there are six pā sites inside the park boundary. From the summit there are wide views along the coast. For the full walking guide, see our page on Pāpāmoa Hills Regional Park.
The park was closed from 22 January 2026, when heavy rain triggered more than a dozen significant landslides across the site. Parts of it reopened on 3 April 2026: the Pūraho Track and the Karangaumu Track (by an alternative route) from Poplar Lane, and the Summerhills Track from the Summerhill Recreation Farm car park on Reid Road.
The Pāpāmoa, Te Ihu o Ruarangi, Te Hōuāwe and Te Kaingapākura tracks stayed closed because of ongoing damage. Check the Regional Council’s page for the current track status before you go, keep to open tracks, and do not park on the Poplar Lane roadside.
There is no drinking water in the park, so take your own. Dogs, bikes, horses, camping and fires are not allowed. Because the park is a working farm, leave gates as you find them, and note that the car park gate is locked overnight.
Getting Around
A car is the practical way to live in or visit Rural Pāpāmoa. The Te Puke Highway runs along the foot of the hills, linking the area with Pāpāmoa Beach and Tauranga to the west and Te Puke to the east. The beach itself is a short drive away; see our guides to Pāpāmoa Beach and fishing off Pāpāmoa Beach.
Near Papamoa
Just outside Papamoa, within 10 km of its centre, nearest first.
Places
Businesses
Where to Learn More
Bay of Plenty Regional Council: Pāpāmoa Hills: the park managers’ page, with track status, opening hours and park rules.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council: Papamoa Hills Regional Park: directions, walk times and a track map.
Partial re-opening of Pāpāmoa Hills (April 2026): which tracks reopened after the landslides and which stayed closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rural Pāpāmoa the same as Pāpāmoa Beach?
No. Pāpāmoa Beach is the coastal suburb with the shops, schools and housing. Rural Pāpāmoa is the separate official LINZ area inland, covering the farmland and the Pāpāmoa Hills.
Which council looks after Rural Pāpāmoa?
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council. The Pāpāmoa Hills regional park within it is managed by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
How do I get to the Pāpāmoa Hills walk?
Drive along the Te Puke Highway to Poplar Lane, about 17 km from Tauranga, and follow it to the car parks at the end. Watch for quarry trucks on the lane.
How long is the walk to the summit?
The main walk from the Poplar Lane car park to the 224 metre trig takes about one hour return. It is fairly steep, so good shoes and a reasonable level of fitness help.
Are the Pāpāmoa Hills tracks open?
Parts of the park reopened on 3 April 2026 after landslide damage, while several tracks stayed closed. Check the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s page for the latest status before visiting.
Can I take my dog to the Pāpāmoa Hills?
No. Dogs are not allowed in the park, and neither are bikes, horses, camping or fires.
Where are the nearest shops and schools?
There are none in the rural area itself. The closest are in Pāpāmoa Beach and in Te Puke.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Explore Tauranga only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Papamoa is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.