Bay of Plenty

Region ·🇳🇿 New Zealand

Population 351,500

Area 12,247 km²

Time zone Pacific/Auckland

Official website www.boprc.govt.nz

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Explore Bay of Plenty

Bay of Plenty Region Essentials

This collection highlights the geological and cultural diversity of the Bay of Plenty. It features the geothermal landscapes of Rotorua, including the world’s largest hot spring at Waimangu and the active Pohutu Geyser. Cultural sites like Tamaki Maori Village and the Buried Village of Te Wairoa provide insight into indigenous heritage and the 1886 Tarawera eruption. Coastal highlights include the volcanic cone of Mount Maunganui, while the Redwoods Tree Walk and Lake Tikitapu showcase the region's diverse natural environments.

13 places

Wilderness Huts & Campsites

This collection spans the Bay of Plenty’s diverse landscapes, from coastal holiday parks at Mount Maunganui and Ohope Beach to the deep wilderness of Whirinaki Te Chauua Conservation Park. Accommodations include full-service resorts with mineral hot springs at Athenree and Sapphire Springs alongside basic Department of Conservation campsites like Brett Road. For backcountry explorers, remote huts such as Moerangi and Mangamate provide essential shelter with wood heaters and pit toilets along the region’s extensive forest track networks.

16 places

Scenic Viewpoints & Peaks

This collection spans the volcanic and geothermal landscapes of the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua regions. It features prominent landmarks such as the dormant cone of Mauao and the active marine volcano of Te Puia o Whakaari. The list includes geothermal vantage points like the Pohutu Geyser and Maunga Kākaramea, alongside elevated lookouts over Whakarewarewa Forest, the Rotorua lakes, and the Tauranga coastline from the Minden and Kohi Point vantage points.

12 places

Scenic Waterfalls

The Bay of Plenty region features diverse geological formations, from the volcanic rock faces of Tarawera Falls where water emerges through lava tubes, to the historic Okere River, home to the world's highest commercially rafted drop. This collection includes the multi-tiered Kaiate Falls and the 106-meter tall Ananui Falls in the Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park. Many sites, such as Omanawa Falls and Okere Falls, preserve remnants of New Zealand's early hydroelectric power history within native bush settings.

12 places

Parks and Nature Reserves

Explore the diverse landscapes of the Bay of Plenty through these six distinct green spaces. From the active geothermal features of Kuirau Park in Rotorua, where mud pools and hot springs are accessible to the public, to the coastal forest of Ōhope Scenic Reserve, home to a significant population of North Island brown kiwi. The collection includes Tauranga’s waterfront Strand Reserve, featuring bronze sculptures and historical markers, alongside coastal community parks and memorial reserves in Waihi Beach and Pukehina.

6 places

Public Facilities & Shelters

This collection features essential outdoor infrastructure within the Bay of Plenty region, focusing on Department of Conservation campsites and backcountry huts. It includes lakeside sites at Lake Tarawera and Lake Rerewhakaaitu, alongside remote shelters within the Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park. Facilities range from basic picnic shelters and free tent sites to established wilderness huts equipped with fireplaces and pit latrines.

10 places