Michele H.'s
Long Lunch Ideas
- 115Nourish CafeTe PunaThis place tops my list because I’ve just come from a great long lunch there! My hollumi and roast vege tart was light, tasty and filling and the service was great. The cabinet was packed with freshly made pasteries and salads and there’s a breakfast / brunch menu available until 2pm. We enjoyed a wine over lunch and browsed the cornerstone shop at the cafe and two neighbouring shops afterwards. Only 10km out of town at Te Puna, this place is a great little escape with plenty of outdoor seating to sit and soak up some sun.
- 26The RaftTaurangaThis cafe is spacious and has a tasty selection of menu and cabinet food. There’s a deck out the front to sit in the sun and enjoy a wine and plenty of room indoors for larger groups. There’s also some comfy couches if you just want to kick back and read the paper over coffee.
- 312Mills Reef Winery & RestaurantBethlehemThere seems to be a bit of a theme to my long lunch list - vino. If I’m going to sit and relax over a meal for a while though, I do like to do so with a crisp sav in hand. Besides great food and wine, Mills Reef offers a spacious and picturesque rural setting for an outdoor lunch. It’s only a five minute drive out of town and there’s plenty of room for the kids to burn of excess energy.
- 48Slowfish CafeMount MaunganuiSomething for the more health conscious… The Slowfish menu is packed with fresh, tasty whole foods and the focus is on high quality, locally produced ingredients. You can’t really beat the location of this cafe - directly across the road from the Main Mount Beach. PS. They also offer a tasty range of yummy cakes and pastries.
- 548The PhoenixTaurangaThis is actually a friend’s recommendation but she visited this restaurant on The Strand for lunch recently and told me… the food was good and there was something for everyone. The prices were reasonable and the service was great. It was sunny so they sat outside. While seated at the table they selected, a staff member came and asked if they would prefer a sunny table, out of the wind, and showed them where to sit for that.
Michele H.'s
Best Campgrounds
- 15Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday ParkMt MaunganuiThis is my favourite camping ground in the Bay and despite living in Tauranga I’ve stayed there a few times. It’s right at the base of Mauao, you can get sites on the beach and you’re only a short stroll from the hot pools, cafes and shopping in downtown Mount Maunganui. It can be difficult to get into during peak season, with lots of campers booking a year in advance to secure a spot.
- 22Cosy Corner Holiday ParkMount MaunganuiThis is a great family camp, only one street back from the Mount Beach. It has a large pool with a nice warm hot tub next to it and the owners a wealth of information on summer events going on around the Mount. There are also very cool retro and vintage caravans if you’re looking for somewhere a bit different to stay.
- 32Omokoroa Kiwi Holiday ParkOmokoroaThis camp is on the Omokoroa Peninsula about 25 minutes drive north of Tauranga. It’s not far from the gorgeous Omokoroa Harbour - a great spot for picnics and for kids to play. There’s also a children’s playground and the Omokoroa Boat Club is popular for a wine or beer at the end of the day. The camp also offers great cabins and features three beautiful swimming pools of different temperatures.
- 45This is a fantastic holiday park for families. Right on the beach it offers tent and caravan sites as well as spacious cabins. It’s right on the beach front, across the road from the shops and a short walk from Fashion Island and Palm Beach Plaza. The camp has a great play ground, including a large jumping pillow to keep the kids entertained for hours.
- 51Golden Grove Holiday ParkMount MaunganuiIf you’re keen to be somewhere between Mount Maunganui and Papamoa this summer - and close to the region’s largest shopping mall - then Golden Grove is a great option. It’s also a great, affordable option if you’re attending an event at Baypark or ASB Arena. It’s a short walk to the beach and is well set up for families with a games room and children’s playground.
Michele H.'s
Cheap Eats
- 13Omanu TakeawaysMount MaunganuiI love getting away from the crowds at the Main Mount Beach, picking up some fish n’ chips from these guys and heading to one of picnic tables at Tay Street. They have lots of friendly staff - so you never have to wait long. They sell big, fat, tasty steak chips and the fish is always super crispy. It’s probably a good thing I don’t live just around the corner any more!
- 22AbrakebabraTaurangaA kebab or pita bread is always a good option for a filling and tasty lunch. I like the fact you can pick and choose the ingredients so it’s just to your liking. These guys are also located just across the road from the movies in Tauranga so they are good for a quick bite before or after the movie.
- 32Pluto TaurangaTaurangaThese guys have a great reputation - especially with city office workers and those suffering the effects of a good night. They sell great fresh juices to put the spring back in your step and quench your thirst on a hot summer’s day and yummy frozen youghurt. They also do sandwhiches, paninis and salads.
- 419Copenhagen ConesMount MaunganuiThere’s a reason the queue for this place stretches out the door and down the footpath every summer. Their icecreams, frozen yoghurts and my favourite the snowghurt - which is a mixture of snow freeze and frozen youghurt - are amazing. They make their own waffle cones, which is a clever marketing ploy as the smell wafts down Adams Ave, enticing you in after a stroll round the Mount.
- 516The Pizza Library CoSpringfieldThese guys only recently opened a second store at the Mount, after proving a big hit in Rotorua. They sell well priced thin-based pizzas which are REALLY generous in size. Their retro theme with old theatre and bus seats is cool and their location is great for people watching on a summer’s day.
Michele H.'s
Best healthy takeaways
- 12Yoku Japanese CafeTaurangaThis sushi place has the best selection in town and the sushi is really fresh and beautifully presented. The service is great and they are open for lunch or until 7pm for dinner. Not sure my taste is very traditional but I love the rice with little spring rolls or tempura prawns on top!
- 26Burger Fuel TaurangaTaurangaI love the fact that Burger Fuel uses real chicken breast - instead of processed patties - decent slabs of tomato and lettuce that doesn’t look like it’s been in the chiller for weeks. As far as burgers go these guys seem to be the healthiest…. speaking from a chicken-lovers point of view anyway.
- 31Mount PizzaMt MaunganuiThis little pizza shop has been across the road from the Mount Hot Pools for years, and with good reason. They sell pizza with bases that taste like freshly baked bread. As far as pizzas go the fact that they are not greasy at all gets my ‘healthy’ vote.
- 45Thai 2 GoMount MaunganuiThis awesome little takeaway shop at the Mount has been operating since 2012 and is making a good name for itself amongst local and holiday makers. They have a selection of 100 different meal combinations - plenty of them containing lots of healthy veges!
- 53Little India TaurangaTaurangaEven in deep suburbia, these guys are worth driving into the heart of the city for. Their service is quick and friendly and the curries are amazing. There’s even a conveniently placed loading zone out the front which you can pull into while you run in and grab your order. Great on a relaxed Friday night when you can’t be bothered cooking!
Michele H.'s
Best Accomodation
- 1118th Avenue Thermal MotelTauranga SouthMy favourite thing about this motel is the large indoor thermal pool, providing a great place to unwind at the end of a day. It’s an affordable place to stay with the family and features a children’s playground and BBQ area. It’s also located only five minutes drive from the shopping, cafes and restaurants of Tauranga CBD.
- 21Cobblestone Court MotelOtumoetaiThis motel is a short walk from Bay Central shopping centre, where you’ll find one of my favourites, The Raft cafe. It’s also not far from Kulim Park which features a great waterfront playground. They cater really well for families of any size with three bedroom rooms able to sleep seven to large one bedroom units with a queen and two single beds. There’s also a good-sized outdoor pool!
- 31Westhaven MotelMount MaunganuiThis motel has to be in the best location in Tauranga, across the road from Pilot Bay at the Mount. The beach is a great place for a picnic, safe for swimming or to watch the cruise ships come and go. It was built in 1969 so isn’t modern, but offers comfortable family accommodation with the harbour, Mount Maunganui itself and the surf beach right on your doorstep.
- 45Hotel On DevonportTaurangaIf you want to treat the family to somewhere a little bit special, Hotel on Devonport offers deluxe family rooms. The front door to this highrise apartment / hotel block is on the main shopping street and the interior is modern, beautiful and plush.
- 51If you’re on a tighter budget, Bell Lodge is a good option. Situated in a quiet cul-de-sac about 4km from the Tauranga CBD it offers self-contained motel units or dorm rooms sleeping 4 to 8. There’s a games room and TV room to keep the kids entertained and a BBQ area.
Michele H.'s
Best Kids' Activities
- 15Baywave TECT Aquatic & Leisure CentreMount MaunganuiIt’s still a bit chilly for the beach so Baywave is the next best thing these school holidays. The indoor pool complex has a wave machine and hydroslide which both operate every day in the school holidays. There’s childcare available and a spa for mum or dad to relax in while the kids play. A morning swimming also seems to be a great way to ensure a good afternoon nap!
- 24Marshalls Animal ParkLower KaimaiTake your city kids back to nature with a visit to this rural animal park. They will get the chance to meet ostriches, emus farm animals and horses ranging from Clydesdales to minatures. Open from 10.30am to 4.30pm during the school holidays there are lots of great picnic spots to enjoy lunch in the spring sun. There’s also a flying fox, playground and opportunities to feed the lambs, goats and piglets.
- 34The Rock HouseMount MaunganuiIndoor rock climbing could be something different to keep your adventurous boy or daredevil girl entertained these school holidays. Suitable for all ages, this gym offers a safe, controlled environment to test your skills. Open from 10am to 9pm during Monday to Friday during the holidays and 10am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday.
- 43Blokart HeavenPapamoaWhat better place to give blokarting a try than where the sport was invented? Blokart Heaven in Papamoa is the home of the wind powered machine - you can even see the first ever blokart in the museum. The park also features three-wheeled electric drift karts. Both activities are suitable for kids aged 8 and over. Open 7 days from 10am to 5.30pm (during daylight savings).
- 51Briars Horse TrekTe PukeA horse trek for a horse mad girl or boy could be a big hit these holidays. Based at Paengaroa, south of Te Puke, Briar’s treks wind though forest and farmland, next to the beautiful Kaituna River. Treks range from a quiet half hour on a pony - suitable for ages three and up - to a four hour adventure trek. Bookings are essential.