Tauranga, has all the amenities of a major city. Holiday accommodation ranges from high-class lodges to holiday parks and backpacker hostels, both in the city and across the harbour at the beach resort of Mount Maunganui. This region seems to have it all - a mild, sunny climate, some of the country's most popular beaches and an abundance of orchards, especially citrus and kiwifruit.

Mount Maunganui, with its prominent volcanic cone that gives it its name, is popular with surfers. It's also a very popular family holiday spot having a choice of both ocean and gentle harbour beaches.

Boat charters are available from Tauranga for big game fishing, snorkelling, dolphin watching or just cruising. Out on the horizon is White Island, an active volcano usually identified by its trailing plume of steam. Helicopter trips land on the island from Rotorua and Whakatane, along with boat trips also from Whakatane.

There are a number of challenging activities in the area, including tandem parachute jumping, sky diving, a hair-raising ride in a bungee rocket and rafting down the Wairoa River, one of the most spectacular stretches of white water in the country.