10 TOP Things to Do in Mount Maunganui – The ULTIMATE GUIDE (2025)

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While my list is elite (in my personal opinion), I always recommend getting chatting with locals when you’re in situ. Mount Maunganui is a pretty rapidly developing place and there are always new things popping up.

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The Top 10 Things to Do in Mount Maunganui

Backpacking New Zealand is a dream destination for so many travellers around the world. There’s an intriguing indigenous culture that is nurtured and readily shared with visitors. Plus, the people are friendly, the weather is mild and there are wonderful uncrowded natural scenes to devour.

Being at the bottom of the globe, it’s a long way from anywhere which would have you think it’s BACKWARD. But far from this, the main street of the mount is a micro metropolis, with fabulous eateries and even a Lulu Lemon store.

Here’s my list of things to do in Mount Maunganui.

1. Climb Mount Maunganui

Not starting here would be an insult to the main attraction of my hometown, my favourite activity and this sweet maunga (mountain). This is an immediate draw card for most able-bodied people visiting the Mount.

Recent developments include beautiful signposts that tell different stories about significant areas on Mauao.

The legend of Mauao is that he was a nameless slave to another mountain (Otanewainuku) and fell in love with Puwhenua, a lady mountain. Puwhenua was in turn in love with Otanewainuku. Down and out on his luck in love, Mauao summoned fairies to drag him into the ocean to drown. But he didn’t quite get there. At dawn, the mighty sun rose and caught Mauao and so the fairies dispersed back into the shadows of the night.

Stay fit while travelling by working up as much or as little of a sweat as you like, all while enjoying the great outdoors. There is a sneaky, secret yet beautiful bush track that will have you clambering 4WD style through a hole in a rock… hands will be required. Then there are the “stairs of doom” that are brilliant for self-flagellation, or you can meander around the base track, looking out for resident seals.

• Rating: 10/10
• Cost: Free!
• My Personal Opinion: The mount is pretty busy so if you’re looking for a quiet walk in nature, this really isn’t the one. That being said, I have NEVER regretted any time spent on Mauao.

2. Skydive Over Mount Maunganui

You know how I’ve been going on about the natural beauty of this place? Well here’s your opportunity to get a bird’s eye view! What better way to get a lay of the land than from the sky?!

Sky diving is a thrilling experience – when I did it for the first time I decided I’d become an instructor, which hasn’t eventuated…. yet!

You’ll enjoy a 20-minute flight with breathtaking views of the entire Bay of Plenty to reach 12 or 15 thousand feet in the sky. You’ll then prepare with your tandem companion to jump out of the plane, initially falling to the earth at over 200km/hour! Once the initial fall is over and adrenaline is coursing through your body, you’ll pull the parachute and peacefully skydive to the Mount Maunganui base.

• Rating: 10/10
• Cost: From $515NZD (approx $290USD)
• My Personal Opinion: Well, it’s my list of top things to do in Mount Maunganui and it’s #2 so you do the math 😉

3. Discover the Gastronomical Delights of The Mount

Now, this may not be for everyone but when I’m travelling, I love discovering a place by its food scene. And I may be biased but it’s pretty damn good. You can get a bomb-ass coffee, yummy Vietnamese, or my favourite, a sun-soaked boujee Italian lunch including fabulous aperol.

Everyone needs to eat and sometimes this looks like shopping at the local supermarket or farmers market to stick to your backpacking budget. Sometimes though, there’s wiggle room and you can savour a meal cooked by someone else and it’s nice to know there are options.

While some spots offer food tours, Mount Maunganui isn’t quite that established yet so it’s a DIY job, which is kind of fabulous. This way you can eat whatever and whenever you like. Make sure you save some room whatever you do so you can hit one of the notorious ice cream joints.

• Rating: Depends on where you go and your personal preference!
• Cost: Up to you, boo.
• My Personal Opinion: This is a worthwhile activity for me, but you might prefer to dine and dash and that’s all good.

4. Kaiate Falls Bushwalk

Kaiate Falls is a slightly off-the-beaten-path waterfall hike that’s mellow and a great activity to do if you need some shady outdoor time. You walk through the bush on a gentle decline that follows the path of the waterfall, with spots to explore rock pools along the way. At the bottom of the track, there is a deep pool and you can enter it gently from the bottom or jump from the surrounding rocks.

If you visit between November and March (summer, the best time to be here anyway!), come down at night and hunt for glow worms!

One of the most incredible things about being in the Mount Maunganui area is the saturation of bush walks and water holes you can find. New Zealand is renowned for its incredible hikes. It’s the best and cheapest thing you can do so pack yourself a picnic and get into it! There’s nothing to be afraid of, nothing fatally poisonous and if you can travel a couple of hours, there’s a plethora of options to explore.

Cast your mind back to my earlier fable of Mauao and you may remember his master, Otanewainuku. This is another wonderful walk with an epic water hole, this time on top of a waterfall.

• Rating: 10/10
• Cost: FREE!
• My Personal Opinion: Kaiate Falls is about a 20-minute drive from Mount Maunganui but it’s worth the trip. If you only have time for one excursion out of town, make it this.

5. Explore McLarens Falls

Surely if you’re here to explore Aotearoa, you’re here for the big nature experiences and this is one of them. You can camp at McLarens Falls Park, stop into the cafe for a coffee and a walk around the lake in the sunshine. But there’s a little-known nighttime option.

Mount Maunganui has a few fun bars and I’ll get to that but this is my kind of nighttime entertainment. Jump on board a kayak, discovering the magic of glowworms with a crew of like-minded people. Yeah, you can spot some for free at Kaiate Falls which is cool but this experience blows that out of the water.

Cruising through canyons and going from seeing constellations of stars to constellations of glowworms lacing the walls is phenomenal. Like natural fairy lights, glowworms aren’t nearly as creepy as they sound! You’ll also be with a knowledgeable local guide who will give you the scoop on the life of a glowworm and the best kayak tactics.

• Rating: 8/10
• Cost: From $225NZD (approx 125USD)
• My Personal Opinion: As magnificent as this tour is, it’s a pretty significant chunk of money and not necessarily accessible to backpackers.

6. Cruise the Harbour on the Kewpie

The Moana (ocean) is a delight to explore and not easily accessible unless you have a boat in your backpack. Enter Kewpie Cruises. This fabulous ferry is made from native New Zealand Kauri timber and is over 70 years old!

Adding to the delights of ditching land is the full licensed bar aboard and the fabulous skipper and crew. You’ll cruise past the statue of Tangaroa (one of the Maaori gods of the ocean), and see the untouched sandy beaches and islands surrounding Mount Maunganui.

You can even opt to hop off the Kewpie and explore Matakana Island where you can fish, swim, enjoy a picnic and watch the surf. Spend an afternoon on this beautiful beach and soak up the mana (supernatural force) of Mauao. There is lots of native, natural wildlife to spot and Matakana Island is home to 230 people year-round and is home to lots of Maaori enterprise.

• Rating: 10/10
• Cost: $40NZD (approx $22USD)
• My Personal Opinion: I love being out on the water and the Kewpie is one of the most affordable, accessible ways to do that.

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7. Learn to Surf

Surfing is one of the most humbling things you can do but when you nail it, it’s euphoric. Being out in the water, feeling one with the water, splashing (paddling!) around, chasing waves, searching for the perfect take-off spot. This is the chase.

Fair warning – do prepare to become addicted! Surfing is a cruel mistress, a craving that will become one with you and will be wholly out of your control at the same time. This is why I recommend dipping your toes in with a professional and booking a surf lesson to suss the basics.

Probably my third favourite thing to do in Mount Maunganui, mostly because I’m impatient and it’s rare that the conditions are perfect. But when they are; ooooooh boy, they’re on, long little peelers in warm water, serving you the cruisiest ride you’ll ever experience… And probably a slice of humble pie as you faceplant into the seafoam too!

See my friends at Hibiscus Surf School for the hookups, they’ve got the best boards, the best skills and the best knowledge to share.

• Rating: 10/10 – how can you go wrong splish splosh splashing around?!
• Cost:
• My Personal Opinion: I’m hooked – I love surfing and since learning with Ray and the crew have invested in my own surfboard.

8. Enjoy Live Music

Ok, this list is hard to put in chronological order! There are so many wonderful musicians in Mount Maunganui and the greater Tauranga area and they’re often playing free gigs. In the Mount, you’ll want to head to Astrolabe or The Rising Tide and in Papamoa, The Island is where to go.

These places are all great bars with the Rising Tide having its own brewery and boutique dumplings, too. Astrolabe and The Island are great places to go if you want to have a boogie and shake your groove thing. If you’re travelling solo in New Zealand, or anywhere for that matter, the dancefloor is always a great place to make new friends!

Facebook is the best place to go to find out what’s happening and if you really want to freak out, check out Totara Street. This venue hosts an incredible variety of gigs from afro drumming to reggae sound system gigs to local original shows.

• Rating: 10/10
• Cost: Usually free, unless you’re going to Totara Street, but factor in some beer money.
• My Personal Opinion: When the sun is out and you’re surfed out, there’s not much better you can do.

Is This the Best Backpack EVER???

We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.

Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!

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9. Soak in the Hot Pools

The Mount Hot Pools are simply iconic. Nestled at the base of Mauao is one of the only hot ocean water complexes in the world! Enjoy maxo relaxing in the filtered and naturally heated Pacific Ocean water which has been recognised for its healing properties (by Hippocrates) since 500 BC.

Water brought in from Pilot Bay is heated by geothermal bore water (the two waters are never mixed) from 600m underground. The natural salts and minerals from the ocean water restore balance to the body and with pools ranging from 27-40 degrees Celsius, there’s something for everyone!

In a setting like no other, a firm favourite for locals and visitors alike, enjoy listening to birdsong, the nearby waves and gazing up at Mauao. Discovered by a local water diviner looking for freshwater to supply a growing population in Mount Maunganui in the 1950s, there are decades of memories here. Soak away a few hours at The Mount Hot Pools, with the option for private pools, or spark up some conversations and make some friends.

• Rating: 7/10
• Cost: From $26NZD (approx $15USD)
• My Personal Opinion: These pools are beautiful, fabulous and relaxing – I’m just not a big lover of hot pools.

10. Indulge in Some Local Retail Therapy

There are some wonderful shops in the Mount, from Paper Plane, a fabulous design store, to epic op shops for those second-hand bargains. What I really want to draw your attention to though is the Historic Village, a community hub over the bridge in the Tauranga Avenues. This is where you can see the culture and arts scene up close and have the opportunity to shop at little boutiques.

This community project is home to a diverse range of historic buildings full of different offerings and entry is free of charge. There’s the crystal shop, a fabulous gallery as well as a gig space and theatre. There are often workshops and different markets too. If you’re into markets, check out Little Big Markets, they run Markets in Mt Maunganui with local retailers.

If you’re staying at an Airbnb in Tauranga, you might even be within walking distance!

• Rating: 8/10
• Cost: Free
• My Personal Opinion: This is a beautiful space to spend some time in Tauranga.

Day Trips From Mount Maunganui

If 10 activities weren’t enough for ya, let me take it one step further and give you a couple of day trips to consider. If you’re after a bit more adventure outside this sweet peninsula and the local activities I’ve mentioned, I’ve got a couple of things in mind.

Visit Rotorua

Rotorua is the playpark of Aotearoa, just one hour from Mount Maunganui, with epic Redwood Forests where you can zipline, mountain bike, or just roam. During your travels in New Zealand, it’s important to take the time to learn and appreciate the Maori history and culture.

There are boiling mud pools and geothermal activity as well as the largest commercially rafted waterfall, Tutea Falls (seven metres).

If you’re up for a bit of inland cultural immersion, Rotorua is your spot and I’ve got great recommendations for where to stay.

Fly Over White Island

This is a pretty special trip to do. Since the tragic 2019 eruption, you can’t actually land there but some scenic flights run over White Island (Whakaari) and Whale Island from Whakatane. This is one of the world’s few accessible live volcanoes so strap in, kick back and relax and enjoy the incredible views.

Explore Hobbiton

Hobbiton is the base of the set for the Lord of the Rings Trilogy as well as the Hobbit Trilogy and is based between Cambridge and Tauranga. You can learn about how this farmland was transformed into Hobbiton Village and other infamous sets.

Departing from Rotorua, this is a sweet stop if you’re on a greater trip and are en route to one of the best hostels in Rotorua. Otherwise, take yourself over the Kaimai Ranges and head inland to Matamata and you’ll be well on your way to the Shire.

How to Get Around Mount Maunganui

Mount Maunganui is a flat area which is epic for biking around if you can rent a bike from your hostel or wherever you’re staying. If you’re campervanning in New Zealand, there’s heaps of parking around and even a few freedom camping spots. Otherwise, there’s plenty of cheap transport – Uber, rental motor scooters, as well as public buses.

Buses cost about $2NZD (approx $1USD) and scooters and cabs vary in cost so check the apps. If you’re like me and don’t have the cash to Uber everywhere like MadeinTYO, you’ll appreciate how flat The Mount is. I love to walk around the shops, walk to the beach, walk up the Mount and walk home again.

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Mount Maunganui

Wherever you’re going, whatever you’re doing, get good travel insurance before your trip for peace of mind.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

FAQs on Things to Do in Mount Maunganui

Here are some quick answers to common questions about what to do and see in Mount Maunganui.

Final Thoughts on the Top Things to Do in Mount Maunganui

So, there it is! I’ve got islands off Mount Maunganui to visit, thrilling skydives to do and saltwater hot pools to relax in at the end of it all. I reckon I’ve covered family things to do in the Mount, even ideas that’ll be fabulous for a girl’s day out.

Having grown up in the Mount, I feel like I’ve surmised a succinct list of the top ten things to do in this ever-growing town. My favourite thing to do is climb the Mount and if you’re staying here, make sure you do your best to suss some beachfront accommodation. Tauranga is the mother city of the Mount and has seemingly endless walks in the surrounding area that are a delight to discover.

Whether you’re checking out the markets in Mount Maunganui or sipping coffee, I’m sure you’ll have a fabulous time. Skip the Mount Maunganui lonely planet and get chatting with locals – my guy Ray at Hibiscus Surf School is always up for a chat!

Whatever you decide to get up to, I hope you love the Mount as much as I do!

If you think I’ve missed something or want to share something to do in Mount Maunganui, hit me up in the comments, I love to chat.

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