About | Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui (also called Mauao or the Mount) is an extinct volcano and a huge part of Tauranga, it’s impossible not to see it off in the distance as you’re driving through the town, standing at 232 metres high. The mount is mostly surrounded by water so you’ll be enjoying lovely seaside views most of the way, it’s just stunning.
Its walking tracks are very popular and have something for everyone. You can walk around the base for a leisurely walk to check out the coastline and explore the rocks or head on up to the summit, it’s a good workout.
At the top, you will be rewarded well with 360-degree views over the Bay of Plenty that are hard to beat. It’s definitely one of the things you have to do when you come to Tauranga if you can. On a clear day, you can even see as far as White Island and the Coromandel Ranges. It’s a really nice spot to watch the sunrise or sunset.
The Oruahine and Waikorire tracks are the two most popular tracks to take to get to the summit. The Waikorire track is the steepest, and the Oruahine track offers views to the other side of the mount and across Matakana Island.
Get to the top and you’ll be able to see all of Tauranga and beyond on a clear day. It’s a popular photography spot so grab a selfie while you’re there then bring some snacks out to reward the kids for their effort. They have picnic tables and nice pohutukawa trees to rest under or find a large rock to sit on and enjoy the view. NOTE: watch the kids, there are steep drops at the top.
If you’re getting hungry, there’s heaps of beachside cafes, restaurants and places to grab an ice cream from right across the road.
Best time to go: go out on a nice day to enjoy the base track, it’s quite easy, make stops along the way to explore the rocks or end it with a swim. You’ll probably want the air to have cooled down for the summit walk and sunrise or sunset can be pretty spectacular. The walk to the summit will be even harder on a hot summers day, bring lots of water and supplies to keep yourself and your kids going.
Map: Have a look at the Mount Maunganui walking tracks map to suss out where’d you’d like to begin.
Parking: Though there is plenty of parking, finding a free space can be a challenge especially in the summer months.
Toilets: There are public toilets at both Pilot Bay and by the Surf Lifesaving Club along Mount Maunganui Main Beach. There’s also a water fountain there – fill up before you go.
No rubbish bins: there are no bins on the mount – take all rubbish with you.
Nearby
Location
Photos
Base Track. 3.4km | 45 minutes
What was supposed to be a walk up to the top of the mount turned into a walk around it. It was a hot summers day and the kids really weren’t keen about walking all the way up. So we started walking around it instead, the kids ran down to the beach, couldn’t resist the beautiful, clear water and jumped in, and that was that!
Coming back again we gave it another go. This time another factor came into force. Rain. Halfway around the mount and we saw the heavy rain clouds appear, seemingly out of nowhere. Already having reached halfway we decided to continue on, getting soaked in the last ten minutes.
Though the weather was never really on our side, we have to say it was a really nice and leisurely walk. Coming around the Pilot Bay side of the mountain we could have easily had a good splash around in the sheltered waters if it wasn’t for the rain.
Mount Maunganui Summit Track via Waikorire Track | 40 min
We woke up super early for this walk. It was summer. And the last time we attempted this, it was way too hot. So we came prepared this time and came first thing in the morning, before the day had the chance to get too hot. We arrived to have our pick of the usually very busy and packed parking – yay – and ate some breakfast before slipping on our shoes and backpacks. Reaching the start of the track, the morning light mixed with the cool air was the perfect beginning to our walk.
Fun fact: Mauao means ‘caught by the dawn’
The track, as expected, headed uphill most of the time. It was tiring stuff, but we had lots of snacks so I used that to help motivate the kids on.
We finally reached the top and we were so glad! Getting to the top we realise it wasn’t all too bad and went pretty fast. And those views, they were all worth it.
Bringing the snacks out we see another family. They run past and touch the trig point, look at the time and happily exclaim that it only took them 20 minutes this time. Wow! They’re staying in Tauranga for three weeks over the summer holidays and run up to the mount every day – a way to stay fit for them and have gotten faster every time.
