12 Fun Things to Do in Mount Maunganui, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand

If you want to visit one of the most beautiful beach towns in New Zealand, check out my list of the best things to do in Mount Maunganui…

Affectionately known as “the Mount” by locals, Mount Maunganui is actually a beach suburb of Tauranga but it’s pretty much like its own town. It is named for the dormant volcanic cone also known as the Mount, or Mauao in Māori.

This cool beach suburb is laid back, fun, and absolutely stunning. Seriously, Mount Main Beach is one of the best beaches in the whole of New Zealand.

I can’t believe it has taken me so long to write a post about Mount Maunganui because I went to high school in Tauranga and my Mum still lives in the area (in nearby Papamoa) so I have spent SO much time there over the years. It is a special place and one of the few places that really feels like home to me.

When I was hiking the Pouakai Circuit a few years ago, one of my bunkmates from somewhere in Europe said he didn’t bother visiting the Mount because it was “boring” and there was nothing to do there. I couldn’t believe it because Mount Maunganui is anything but boring. Only boring people get bored anyway. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).