Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty is a region on the north-east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named for the large bay that stretches from East Cape to Coromandel Peninsula.
Towns
- 1 Opotiki – an eastern coastal town, not far from its bigger neighbour Whakatane
- 2 Rotorua – inland city with geothermal attractions, and a centre for the indigenous Maori culture
- 3 Tauranga – the biggest city, with a harbour and ocean beaches
- 4 Te Puke – a horticultural centre south-east of Tauranga
- 5 Waihi Beach – small town at the western end, with 9 km white-sand beach, popular with surfing enthusiasts
- 6 Whakatane – a coastal town, one of the sunniest in the country
Other destinations
- 1 White Island (Whakaari) – an active island volcano, with day tours to it
Understand
Geothermal activity is a significant tourist attraction, particularly around Rotorua. The Taupo Volcanic Zone runs through the Bay of Plenty from the active volcanoes around Mount Ruapehu in the south-west to beyond White Island in the north-east. Here the earth's crust is believed to be only 5 km thick in places. There are several other large, though dormant, volcanoes in this zone, including the volcanic calderas currently occupied by Lakes Taupo and Rotorua, as well as the more familiar volcanic cones.
Get in
InterCity is a coach company that serves more than 600 destinations nationwide.
Get around
See
Do
- Swimming with dolphins and whale watching
Go next
- Central North Island south from Rotorua
- The East Coast region via eastern Bay of Plenty and East Cape
- Coromandel Peninsula via western Bay of Plenty