Patrick & Suzanne's Guidebook
Sightseeing
You can walk or drive to ‘the Mount’ (Mauao) and enjoy a walk around or up, along the scenic walking tracks. Surf and harbour beaches are fun and interesting spots to relax. Fish and chips at the beach is always popular with guests.
571 locals recommend
Mount Maunganui
You can walk or drive to ‘the Mount’ (Mauao) and enjoy a walk around or up, along the scenic walking tracks. Surf and harbour beaches are fun and interesting spots to relax. Fish and chips at the beach is always popular with guests.
Near Mount Main Beach - nice walk out to point. Great views towards the Mount, out to sea and along the coast.
11 locals recommend
Moturiki Island (Leisure Island)
Marine ParadeNear Mount Main Beach - nice walk out to point. Great views towards the Mount, out to sea and along the coast.
Pilot Bay Beach
A relaxing safe harbour beach - a nice spot to eat takeouts.
Shopping
Paper Plane
100 Maunganui RdHomewares, gifts - also online. Recently moved into a larger shop.
My favourite shop - hidden in the Mount shops, in the Cruisedeck shops. More than a florist - an experience!
Myrrh
169 Maunganui RdMy favourite shop - hidden in the Mount shops, in the Cruisedeck shops. More than a florist - an experience!
Pohutukawa Gallery
11 Maunganui RdGift shop - art, jewellery, NZ momentos. Unique gift-wrapping.
Great shop to browse - fair trade homewares and gifts sourced from around the world. Recommend the chocolate!
Trade Aid
192 Maunganui RdGreat shop to browse - fair trade homewares and gifts sourced from around the world. Recommend the chocolate!
Flux Boutique
270 Maunganui RdNice store crammed full - if you especially like white homewares - go!
The Mount’s shopping mall which has recently been extended.
240 locals recommend
Bayfair Shopping Centre
19 Girven RdThe Mount’s shopping mall which has recently been extended.
A bit of Bali in the Mount - great to browse through. Recently enlarged - furniture, homewares, cushions, lamps, candles and much more!
The Importer Mount Maunganui
8 Tawa StA bit of Bali in the Mount - great to browse through. Recently enlarged - furniture, homewares, cushions, lamps, candles and much more!
If you’re looking for fresh or dried flowers, bouquets, vases, Monsteria plants, indoor plants - this is a beautiful store in Heath Street.
Flowerette Botanical Styling
2B Heath StIf you’re looking for fresh or dried flowers, bouquets, vases, Monsteria plants, indoor plants - this is a beautiful store in Heath Street.
Day trips
Easy drive from Palms Studio - the Mount is central, whether you’re heading to the Waikato or Rotorua
Whakatane - great day trip in summer - pick your own strawberries. Try the real fruit ice creams! Check their website for seasonal opening dates. Visit Whakatane and Ohope Beach.
16 locals recommend
Julians Berry Farm & Cafe
12 Huna RdWhakatane - great day trip in summer - pick your own strawberries. Try the real fruit ice creams! Check their website for seasonal opening dates. Visit Whakatane and Ohope Beach.
Waikato - lots of our guests enjoy this day trip. Check their website for booking details.
161 locals recommend
Hobbiton Movie Set station
501 Buckland RdWaikato - lots of our guests enjoy this day trip. Check their website for booking details.
Waihi Beach - this is a beautiful Balinese inspired garden cafe, often live music in the weekends. Closed over the winter months. Gift shop too. Waihi Beach itself is lovely to walk along. Note: closed in Winter - check their Facebook page.
29 locals recommend
The Secret Garden
17 Wilson RdWaihi Beach - this is a beautiful Balinese inspired garden cafe, often live music in the weekends. Closed over the winter months. Gift shop too. Waihi Beach itself is lovely to walk along. Note: closed in Winter - check their Facebook page.
Waikato - popular with visitors to New Zealand. You can take a boat ride through the caves - glide in darkened silence with only the sound of the guides’s hands working the ropes.
44 locals recommend
Waitomo
Waikato - popular with visitors to New Zealand. You can take a boat ride through the caves - glide in darkened silence with only the sound of the guides’s hands working the ropes.
Tauranga - worth a drive through the Oropi countryside. Pick strawberries and other in season berries, enjoy a real fresh fruit ice cream from the caravan and sit under the large trees overlooking the fields - magic!
Somerfields Berryfruit Farm
1002B Oropi RoadTauranga - worth a drive through the Oropi countryside. Pick strawberries and other in season berries, enjoy a real fresh fruit ice cream from the caravan and sit under the large trees overlooking the fields - magic!
A beautiful bush walk with a gorgeous waterfall. Viewing platform of the water fall around half way, so you don’t have to walk right to the top.
Lots of car parking, toilets and picnic tables.
62 locals recommend
Wairere Falls
Goodwin RoadA beautiful bush walk with a gorgeous waterfall. Viewing platform of the water fall around half way, so you don’t have to walk right to the top.
Lots of car parking, toilets and picnic tables.
Ōhope Beach
Lovely beachside spot, near to Whakatane
Activities
Mount Hot Pools
9 Adams Ave
Worth a visit to soak in the Mount’s hot pools.
If you love history, then visit The Elms in Tauranga for an interesting and informative guided tour by a local volunteer.
30 locals recommend
The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga
15 Mission StIf you love history, then visit The Elms in Tauranga for an interesting and informative guided tour by a local volunteer.
Local swim with the dolphins tour operator. Can snorkel too. Check their website for FAQs and booking details.
23 locals recommend
Dolphin Seafaris NZ
101 Harbour Bridge CausewayLocal swim with the dolphins tour operator. Can snorkel too. Check their website for FAQs and booking details.
Mclaren Falls are a local favourite- scenic bush, large river boulders, river and waterfall. The Falls Cafe is a must! (Check their website or Facebook as they close over winter).
Mclaren Falls Road
McLaren Falls RoadMclaren Falls are a local favourite- scenic bush, large river boulders, river and waterfall. The Falls Cafe is a must! (Check their website or Facebook as they close over winter).
Bay Karts - Outdoor Kart Racing
8 Titoki PlApparently this is the place for outdoor karting.
Baywave TECT Aquatic & Leisure Centre
Great fun for families!
A local walk in the Papamoa Hills area, with fantastic views!
127 locals recommend
Papamoa Hills Regional Park
Poplar LaneA local walk in the Papamoa Hills area, with fantastic views!
A relaxing pool alternative to the Mount Hot Pools - and quieter. Enjoy the evening lights in the native bush surrounding the natural mineral pool.
52 locals recommend
Fernland Spa
250 Cambridge RdA relaxing pool alternative to the Mount Hot Pools - and quieter. Enjoy the evening lights in the native bush surrounding the natural mineral pool.
Essentials
Handy supermarket - friendly local service at its best. Near Blake Park, so close if you need supplies.
92 locals recommend
New World Mt Maunganui
Maunganui RoadHandy supermarket - friendly local service at its best. Near Blake Park, so close if you need supplies.
Col's Butchery & Deli
237 Maunganui RdBest butcher in the Mount - walking distance from Palms Studio.
Rotorua
Lots of guests have enjoyed a day trip to Rotorua which has included a visit to Te Puia.
123 locals recommend
Te Puia station
Lots of guests have enjoyed a day trip to Rotorua which has included a visit to Te Puia.
Take a gondola up and ride a luge (or gondala) down - great views from the top.
198 locals recommend
Skyline Rotorua
178 Fairy Springs RdTake a gondola up and ride a luge (or gondala) down - great views from the top.
Redwoods Treewalk
Tarawera RoadSomething a little different in Rotorua Redwoods.
Polynesian Spa
1000 Hinemoa StIf you’re headed to Rotorua visit the Polynesian Spa for a soak.
Secret Spot Hot Tubs Rotorua
13/33 Waipa State Mill Rd3D Trick Art Gallery
171 Fairy Springs RdA great rainy day activity if you’re in Rotorua.
Kuirau Park
Ranolf StreetFree to wander, mud pools, steam - close to the city.
Local cafes
Opposite Palms Getaway for coffees, brunch or cafe dining/takeout. This is a popular cafe (can be noisy).
32 locals recommend
Mixture Eatery
436 Maunganui RdOpposite Palms Getaway for coffees, brunch or cafe dining/takeout. This is a popular cafe (can be noisy).
Heath Street Café
2 Heath StNice cafe, sunny, yummy savoury scrolls!
A favourite of locals. Grab a coffee, cross the road to the beach - enjoy the beautiful beach and ocean waves from the bench seats on grassy slopes.
70 locals recommend
Tay Street Beach Cafe
154A Marine ParadeA favourite of locals. Grab a coffee, cross the road to the beach - enjoy the beautiful beach and ocean waves from the bench seats on grassy slopes.
Elspeth Bakery
2A Terrace Ave