Things To Do Bay Of Plenty

New Zealand

42 out of 52 Places to visit in New Zealand

NaN onwards View Packages

Get Customized Packages

The Land of Diversity

Top Hotel Collections for Bay Of Plenty

Private Pool

Luxury Hotels

5-Star Hotels

Pet Friendly

Plan Your Travel To Bay Of Plenty

Places To Visit In Bay Of Plenty

Tuhua Island

Tuhua Island, also known as Mayor Island is a wildlife refuge and you need to pre-arrange your visit to experience this unique island. The island is 4km wide and a dormant shield volcano that emerged about 7000 years ago from the sea. The highest peak, Opuahau reaches 355 meters and the island also has a large caldera. The volcanic crater has two lakes at sea level, Lake Aroarotamahine which is green and Te Paritu which is black. Vessels are only permitted to land on the south-east bay in the presence of the island caretaker. Private charters are also available during daylight hours. Tent sites and cabins are available on the south bay. The island is a wild refuge since 1953 and visitors can spot many native birds like the morepork, nectar-feeding tui, bellbirds, fantail, kingfisher, grey warblers, and waxeye. There are many signposted walking tracks through the lakes and Pohutukawa forest where you can submerge yourself in the wildlife. The island’s geological makeup includes obsisdian which is a volcanic glass and is considered significant by the Maori. The Marine Reserve is located at the northern end of the island, attracts many subtropical species and is a great spot for snorkeling, diving, fishing and swimming. Read More

Whirirnaki Forest is one of the last prehistoric rainforests in the world and is home to ancient trees and native bird tracks in the Northland region. There is 155 km of tramping and cycling tracks suitable for all ages. There are trees that tower up to 205 meters such as the kahikatea, totara, rimu, miro, and matai trees. The forest is cone-bearing (podocarp) and some trees are over 1000 years old it is often referred to as a ‘dinosaur park.’ Whirirnaki Forest is a 2-hour drive from Tarunga and 1.5-hour drive from Whatakane. If you are interested in bird spotting, look out for North Island Brown Kiwi, whio (blue duck), yellow and red crowned kakariki, North Island kaka, and the endangered New Zealand falcon. You can stay here overnight on the Whirinaki Track Walk and enjoy the beauty of the forest in the night. The Whirinaki Waterfall Loop track is an easy loop that takes about 40 minutes and leads to a gorgeous waterfall. The H-Tree Track is 2.2km and great for kids as it includes a Treasure Map to discover the treasures of the forest. If you are looking for adventure, the grade 3 Moerangi Mountain Bike is a great way to test your skills. Read More