Live like a local: 8 of the best day hikes near Mount Maunganui
If you’re looking for the best day hikes near Mount Maunganui and Tauranga, there are plenty of options within about an hour’s drive, from coastal walks and waterfalls to native bush tracks in the Kaimai Ranges. Local favourites include Pāpāmoa Hills, Ōmanawa Falls, the Waihī Beach to Homunga Bay coastal track and Whataroa Falls in Ōtanewainuku Forest. I live locally and have walked these tracks myself, so this guide combines practical first-hand tips with advice on track difficulty, walking with kids, what to take and current track closures.
I love the ocean, obviously. But there’s something so grounding about getting out and exploring on foot.
Whether it’s deep in the bush, following a coastal track or climbing somewhere with a view at the end, I just LOVE getting outside in nature and moving my body.
And when I want to go on a hike, I want to GO ON A HIKE.
These aren’t necessarily the little Sunday-morning-walk-before-coffee kind of walks. They’re the ones I’ll generally do with friends or save for a child-free date with my partner. Proper shoes and lots of snacks kind of walks, with somewhere beautiful waiting at the end (or just a heck-load of endorphins!)
Some of these walks are totally doable with older kids so I’ve added a little “with kids?” note to each walk because I know how dramatically the definition of a nice walk changes once small legs are involved.
There’s more to Mount Maunganui than the beach
That’s one of the things I love most about living in Mount Maunganui. We’re known for our beaches, and rightly so, but drive less than an hour in almost any direction and the landscape completely changes. You can be beneath towering native trees, following a river through an old mining gorge, standing beside a waterfall or climbing through the Kaimai Ranges.
So if you’re looking for the best walks and day hikes near Mount Maunganui, these are the ones I’d actually get in the car for.
And if your ideal hiking day starts with caffeine, grab your morning coffee from one of my fave coffee shops in Mount Maunganui before you head off.
Want to see where everything is? Jump to the map ↓
Best day hikes near Mount Maunganui at a glance
1. Walk around Mauao or climb to the summit
Access update, August 2026: Mauao is currently closed to the public following the landslides of January 2026. Recovery work is underway, with Tauranga City Council and the Mauao Trust working towards a staged reopening. Please check the latest official update before visiting and respect all closures and fencing.
Drive from Mount Maunganui: Right here in the Mount
Walking time when open: Around 50 mins for the base track or 40 mins to the summit
Difficulty: Easy around the base, moderate to challenging to the summit
I can’t really write a guide to the best Mount Maunganui walks without starting with Mauao.
Mauao is the walk I come back to in every season. Even the base track gives you incredible coastal views beneath pōhutukawa trees, while the climb to the summit rewards you with one of the best views in the Bay. Ocean on one side, harbour on the other and the coastline stretching away into the horizon almost every direction you look.
Once Mauao reopens, it’ll immediately return to being one of the first walks I recommend to anyone visiting the Mount.
Local tip: Sunrise and golden hour completely transform Mauao. If you’re a photographer, take your camera, because the light up there can be magic.
With kids? When open, the base track is a great family walk. The summit is obviously steeper, so it depends on the age and enthusiasm of your little walker but we have walked up the 4WD trail with our little one several times when she was 3 years old, but she did require piggy backs on the way back down.
2. Climb Pāpāmoa Hills Regional Park
Access update, August 2026: Parts of Pāpāmoa Hills have reopened following the January landslides, including routes to the summit. Some areas remain closed, so check the latest Bay of Plenty Regional Council track map before setting out. Several routes to the summit are currently open, including access via Summerhill.
Drive from Mount Maunganui: 15 to 20 minutes
Walking time: Around 45 to 60 mins return, depending on the route
Difficulty: Moderate, with some steep sections
If you want a relatively short climb with a disproportionately good view at the top, head for Pāpāmoa Hills.
It’s one of those walks I’ll happily do again and again, and plenty of other locals feel the same. You climb away from the coast before reaching huge views across Pāpāmoa and the Bay of Plenty coastline with amazing views of the Mount. Keep your eyes peeled for sheep, at times you may be sharing the trail with these friends, and watch out for sheep poop too!
Local tip: If you’re visiting with younger kids, I really like accessing the hills from Summerhill Recreation Farm. The approach feels a little gentler and it’s a lovely option when you don’t fancy the steeper climb.
With kids? Yes, depending on the route and their walking ability. Summerhill would be my pick with younger walkers.
3. Walk to Te Rere o Ōmanawa / Ōmanawa Falls
Drive from Mount Maunganui: 25 minutes
Walking time: Around 45 mins to 1 hour return, longer if you explore all the lookouts
Difficulty: Moderate, with plenty of stairs
Ōmanawa Falls has to be one of the most dramatic waterfalls close to Tauranga. And there’s something about this walk that I find really grounding. I’ve done it on my own as a little self-care mission and with my partner and our little girl as a family adventure. Both experiences filled my cup in completely different ways.
It’s just far enough from Mount Maunganui to feel like you’ve left beach-town life behind, without having to commit to a huge drive.
For years, this was somewhere people weren’t meant to access. Today, thanks to a huge amount of work between mana whenua and Tauranga City Council, there is a proper visitor experience that lets you explore this special place safely and respectfully.
And I am SO stoked they did it.
The walk takes you through a dirt road beside bush and farmland before revealing that blue-green water below the falls. It’s one of those places that makes you wonder how somewhere this beautiful exists so close to home. From the top lookout, there’s a trail consisting mostly of stairs down to the lookout at the bottom of the falls where you have a great view of the pool, but not so great view of the actual waterfall. I just like the exercise personally!
One really important thing to know is that there is no swimming at Ōmanawa Falls and no access to the base of the waterfall. The site is culturally significant and sacred to Ngāti Hangarau, so please respect the signage, the whenua and the restrictions while you’re there.
There are toilets and facilities at the trailhead which makes this an easy one to turn into a half-day adventure.
With kids? We’ve done this with our little one when she was four. We made it, but there were definitely tired legs involved.
Mini boxes of Smarties, fairy hunting and a suspicious number of snack stops got us through. Personally, I’d say five-plus is a more comfortable age unless you’re willing to provide piggyback services along the way!
4. Hike to Sentinel Rock in the Kaimai Ranges
Drive from Mount Maunganui: 1 hour
Walking time: Allow 5 hours return (we did the hike in approx 3.5 to 4 hours)
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
If the other walks feel a little too civilised, this is where things start to get properly adventurous.
The Sentinel Rock Lookout Track sits within the Kaimai Ranges and involves a steep climb through native bush before following an undulating ridge towards the lookout. It’s… character building! And I love it.
On a clear day, the views across the surrounding landscape are spectacular. This is less casual stroll followed by coffee and more pack properly, check the weather, make a day of it kind of trip.
Local tip: On the way home, stop at Sapphire Springs Holiday Park near Katikati for a soak in the cedar hot tubs. I recommend checking with reception first to see how busy they are. When it’s quiet, it’s SO lovely. When it’s busy, it can be BUSY!
With kids? I’d save this one for confident older kids or teenagers who already have hiking experience.
5. Walk Ngā Tapuwae o Toi around the Whakatāne Heads
Drive from Mount Maunganui: Around 1 hour
Walking time: 5 to 7 hours for the full loop
Difficulty: Moderate
If you love coastal walks but want something wilder than the Mount, drive east.
Ngā Tapuwae o Toi is one of the best ways to explore the coastline around Whakatāne and Ōhope, weaving together headlands, native bush, historic sites, secluded beaches and some seriously beautiful ocean views.
The full loop is around 17 kilometres, but you don’t have to tackle the entire route. Choose a section depending on how much time you have and turn it into anything from a shorter coastal adventure to a proper day hike.
It feels noticeably different from Mount Maunganui too. It’s quieter and a little more rugged.
Local tip: Give yourself time afterwards to explore Whakatāne or continue around to Ōhope rather than rushing straight home. Find all the latest info here.
With kids? Selected sections, yes. I’d choose your section carefully rather than automatically committing the family to the full walk.
6. Walk from Waihī Beach to Homunga Bay and back
Drive from Mount Maunganui: 1 hour
Walking time: Around 6 hours return
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging, mostly because of the distance
This is the one for the days when you really want to WALK.
Starting from the northern end of Waihī Beach, the coastal track takes you around the headland to beautiful Orokawa Bay before continuing through gullies and along the coastline towards Homunga Bay.
And then, eventually, you arrive at a quiet beach with a WATERFALL ON THE BEACH. Very normal. Very Bay of Plenty.
It feels removed from the busier beaches closer to the Mount, but don’t underestimate it. Allow around three hours from Waihī Beach to Homunga Bay one way, so once you add the return journey, photo, snack stops, plus the inevitable staring-at-the-view time, you’ve got yourself a full day adventure.
Local tip: Take plenty of water, food and your togs, but be extremely cautious about swimming. These beaches aren’t patrolled like Waihī Beach and the beach profile is steep meaning the drop off is immediate and strong currents can be super unassuming even when it looks like there are no waves. If there’s swell coming in or you’re unsure about the conditions, enjoy a picnic and save your swim for back at Waihī Beach.
With kids? Orokawa Bay can be a lovely adventure with capable kids. I’d reserve the full Homunga return walk for much older children or teenagers who are used to long hikes.
7. Walk to Whataroa Falls in Ōtanewainuku Forest
Drive from Mount Maunganui: 50 minutes to 1 hour
Walking time: Around 2 to 3 hours return
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
This is one of my fave walks when the coast is hot and busy and I’m craving green.
Ōtanewainuku feels like stepping into another version of the Bay of Plenty. Instead of sand, salt and pōhutukawa, you’re surrounded by towering native forest, ferns, birdsong and shade.
The Whataroa Falls Track winds through beautiful native forest before finishing at a secluded waterfall. Exactly the sort of place that makes you want to unpack a picnic and stay awhile.
Don’t treat it as a quick waterfall stop, though. It’s a decent walk, so give yourself plenty of time, take water and snacks and enjoy the forest rather than racing to the destination.
Local tip: This is a brilliant summer alternative when it’s too hot for an exposed summit walk. Pack a picnic and make the waterfall your lunch stop.
With kids? Better suited to kids who are comfortable walking for a couple of hours. For younger children, I’d choose one of the shorter forest walks in the area instead like the loop track (approx 40 minutes, same starting point).
8. Explore the Windows Walk at Karangahake Gorge
Drive from Mount Maunganui: 1 hour
Walking time: Around 1.5 hours return
Difficulty: Easy
The Windows Walk at Karangahake Gorge combines native bush, river views, swing bridges and remnants of the area’s gold-mining history, including old tunnels cut straight through the gorge.
It’s only around 2.5 kilometres return, but there’s so much packed into it that it feels like a proper little adventure rather than a quick loop.
Bring a torch as you’ll want it for exploring the old mining tunnels.
And if the Windows Walk leaves you wanting more, Karangahake has plenty of longer options, making it an easy place to turn a short walk into a full day outside.
Local tip: Don’t rush home afterwards. There are more walks around the gorge and nearby Waikino, so this is an easy one to combine with lunch or another little adventure. Or head to Owharoa Falls for a dip!
With kids? YES. Of everything on this list, this might be the one I’d pick if you have adventurous kids. Tunnels + bridges + torches generally make walking considerably more exciting.
A quick note on track conditions
One thing the wild weather of 2026 has reminded us is just how quickly conditions can change in the Bay of Plenty. Several much-loved local tracks have been damaged or closed following landslides, including Mauao and parts of Pāpāmoa Hills.
Before setting out on any of these walks near Mount Maunganui or Tauranga, always check the relevant council or DOC website for current closures and alerts, especially after heavy rain. And if something is closed, please respect it. There are loads of other beautiful places to explore while we wait for the whenua (land) to recover.
The best part? All these day hikes are within one hour’s drive from the Mount
Within an hour or so, you can go from bare feet on the beach to standing beside a waterfall, climbing through native bush or following a track along an almost-empty headland. And I think that’s why I keep coming back to these walks.
Sometimes I want a proper adventure with friends. Sometimes it’s a child-free day with my partner. Sometimes it’s a family mission involving an unreasonable quantity of snacks. And sometimes, like those solo walks at Ōmanawa, I just need to get outside, move my body and fill my own cup for a little while.
They all give you something slightly different.
So yes, come to Mount Maunganui for the beaches. They’re pretty hard to beat.
But every now and then, turn your back on the ocean and head inland.
There’s a whole other side of the Bay waiting for you!
Looking for more local favourites? Explore my other Live Like a Local guides for more of my favourite places to eat, explore, photograph and slow down around Mount Maunganui and the Bay of Plenty.
Or, if you’d rather take a little piece of the coast home with you, explore my fine-art prints, photographed right here in my favourite corner of New Zealand.
Discover the best day hikes near Mount Maunganui on the map
FAQs about walks and day hikes near Mount Maunganui
What shoes should I wear for hiking near Mount Maunganui?
It really depends on the walk and what the weather has been doing.
For a well-formed track like Ōmanawa Falls, I’d typically just wear comfortable sneakers. If I’m heading into the Kaimai Ranges or doing one of the muddier bush tracks, I’ll wear proper hiking shoes or boots with decent grip.
New Zealand tracks can get muddy surprisingly quickly after rain, so it’s always worth checking the conditions before you go. If in doubt, wear the shoes you don’t mind getting dirty!
What should I bring on a day hike near Tauranga?
Food! Honestly, this is probably the main thing I’d tell visitors.
New Zealand doesn’t have a lot of convenience once you head out on a walking track. Don’t assume there’ll be somewhere to grab lunch or buy a bottle of water when you arrive.
Ōmanawa Falls is a bit of an exception because there’s a little café at the trailhead, but generally I’ll bring enough food for the walk and plenty of water. If it’s a longer hike, I’ll usually chuck an extra layer in my bag too because the weather inland can be completely different from what you left behind at the Mount.
And always bring more snacks than you think you’ll need. Especially with kids.
When is the best time of year to hike around Mount Maunganui and Tauranga?
You can hike around Tauranga year-round. I personally love getting out in autumn and spring when it’s a little cooler, but there are great walks to do in every season.
In summer, I tend to choose shaded bush walks on really hot days rather than exposed summit tracks. It’s also worth starting early before the heat kicks in.
Winter can be beautiful too, just expect the bush tracks to be wetter and muddier. Whatever time of year you’re visiting, check the forecast before you leave. The weather in the Kaimai Ranges can be surprisingly different from a sunny morning back at the beach.
What are the best hikes near Mount Maunganui after rain?
It depends on how much rain we’ve had and whether there are any track warnings or closures.
Personally, I’d lean towards a well-constructed trail like Te Rere o Ōmanawa / Ōmanawa Falls rather than heading straight into one of the muddier bush tracks. The visitor trail has constructed paths, stairs and viewing platforms, although you should still check current conditions before leaving.
I’d be much more cautious about heading into the Kaimai Ranges after prolonged or heavy rain. Pāpāmoa Hills can also be vulnerable to slips following significant rainfall, as the 2026 weather events have very clearly shown.
Wherever you’re planning to walk, check the relevant council or DOC alerts first. If the weather has been properly wild, sometimes the best hiking decision is coffee at the Mount and trying again another day.
Are hiking trails around Mount Maunganui suitable for kids?
Some definitely are, but I wouldn’t describe every walk in this guide as a family walk.
Ōmanawa Falls is one we’ve done with our little girl when she was four. She did really well, but it was definitely a push towards the end. We deployed mini boxes of Smarties as incentives and there may have been some piggybacking!
The Karangahake Gorge Windows Walk is another fun one with kids because there’s plenty going on along the way. Tunnels tend to make walking significantly more exciting.
For the longer hikes in this guide, I’d think more about how used your child is to walking rather than focusing purely on their age.
Do I need to check track conditions before hiking in the Bay of Plenty?
Yes. Absolutely.
Conditions can change pretty quickly here, especially after a decent spell of rain. Tracks can become muddy, slips happen and occasionally a track will close altogether.
Before heading out, check DOC or the relevant council website, even if you’ve walked the track before. I’d definitely do this if we’ve had bad weather recently or you’re heading into the Kaimai Ranges.
And if a track is closed, respect the closure. There are plenty of other places to explore that day.