Mount Maunganui Beach

  • Mount Maunganui Beach - New Zealand
  • Mount Maunganui Beach - New Zealand
    © Robert Engberg / CC BY Pinterest
  • Mount Maunganui Beach - New Zealand
    © Ronnie Macdonald / CC BY Pinterest

Mt Maunganui beach is a beautiful, long stretch of pristine white sand in the holiday resort town of Mount Maunganui, less formally known as “The Mount”. Together with Matakana Island, a massive sand bar to its north, Mount Maunganui forms the main entrance to Tauranga Harbour in the Bay of Plenty on New Zealand’s North Island.

Just to the north lies the spectacular Coromandel Peninsula with its beautiful beaches, whilst New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, is a 200 km drive to the northwest. Maunganui beach starts out dramatically some 230 m beneath the imposing backdrop of Mount Mauao, a dormant volcano. It continues south eastwards along Marine Parade and Ocean Beach Road for around 6 km.

Mount Maunganui beach is a glorious surfing spot patrolled by lifeguards during summer and by volunteers for the rest of the year. The busy section of the beach is close to Mauao, so trundle southeastward toward Papamoa and you’ll find fewer people and plenty of room. Great news for surfing fanatics - the recent completion of an artificial reef offshore produces consistently perfect waves, meaning plenty of year round action.

The Mount beachfront area offers a fine choice of cafés, restaurants and shops, as well as heated salt-water pools. You’ll also find plenty to hold your interest outdoors too, from game fishing to dolphin sighting trips, blokarting (essentially land boat windsurfing) to dive trips are all offered.

In February 2015, Mount Maunganui beach received the top status (Travellers’ Choice Awards) for beaches in New Zealand, as well as one of the best beaches to visit in the South Pacific.

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Current weather (Fri Mar 29th 16:00)

Fair

(Fair)
17°C / 63°F

Sea temperature

19.2°C
66.6°F

Mount Maunganui Beach surf forecasts

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