Let’s start with the top three favourites in the Tauranga CBD. These hotels are either all smack bang in the middle of town or less than 5 minutes walking distance from the main shopping center.

The Sebel Trinity (Mirvac Hotel Group)

Tauranga’s newest international hotel, the Sebel Trinity waterfront hotel is located on Dive Crescent and is actually semi built out over the water in Tauranga harbour. They have a few different room types all very reasonably priced. There is also a fantastic restaurant, swimming pool and conference and event facitities.

The Sebel Trinity is very popular with newly married couples, they have many brides & grooms coming back to the Sebel after their wedding reception as it is a perfect romantic end to their wedding day.

Hotel on Devonport

Located right in the middle of Tauranga’s main shopping street, Devonport Road. The Hotel on Devonport is a high rise hotel with spectacular views of the CBD or Tauranga harbour and right across to Mt Maunganui. This hotel has all the amenities you would expect from a luxury hotel and is fully recommended by nz-tauranga.com

Kingsview

Another international hotel, the Kingsview is only a 3 minute walk from the center of town. Available for short or long term rentals, the Kingsview is another high rise building with great views of the city. Fully self contained apartments mean you have the freedom of cooking for yourself and the privacy of not having hotel staff come and go.

Mauao – The Mount
Mauao is a 232m high extinct volcano. It is located a the end of the Mt Maunganui peninsula. “The Mount” as it is known by locals has great walking tracks around the base and to the summit, which offers spectacular views of Mount Maunganui and the ocean.

Mt Maunganui Golf Club
Boasting one of the most up to date, spaciously luxurious club houses in the country, the Mount Maunganui golf club, with its championship 18 hole, Par 72 6082m course, offers golfers challenges to satisfy all levels of players as well as a year-round benign climate.

Tauranga Tandem Skydiving
Experience freefall from 12,000 feet. We are located at the Tauranga Airport.
With views ranging from Mount Ruapehu to the East Cape we boast one of the most scenic drop zones in the North Island.

There’s also a popular hydroslide, a children’s splash area, spa, steam room and sauna.

There are a number of car rental firms in Tauranga, and you’ll find they’re much the same as other cities. It’s always best to book ahead in case the car rental shop doesn’t have what you’re looking for if you just turn up on the day.

Car Rental Requirements

In order to rent a car in Tauranga, and anywhere in New Zealand for that matter, there are a few basic requirements you must meet.

• Miniumum Age must be 21 years old, in some cases a minimum age of 25 years old is enforced. This varies between car rental firms, so if you are under 25 please check first.
• You must have a valid drivers licence at the time of rental.
• A valid credit card, although this is not enforced by every rental car firm, those who didn’t ask for a credit card would be the exception to the norm.
• If you don’t take the optional insurance, you may have to provide proof of your own personal insurance to cover any damage you may cause to the rental car.

Car Rental Locations in Tauranga

Most car rentals in Tauranga have their yards at the Tauranga Airport. You’ll find the major car rental outfits such as Hertz, Avis and Budget, there are also a few smaller local firms.

Ellis’s Commercial Hotel Tauranga. c. 1880

Another historic hotel was aptly called The Tauranga Hotel. It was located on The Strand, west side, north of Hamilton Street and run by John Menzies circa 1880.

The Tauranga Hotel. c.1880

The Star Hotel, built in 1880 and demolished in 1984. The Star Hotel was located on Devonport Road, Tauranga

The Star Hotel Tauranga. 1880 – 1984 (Photo by Mary Humphreys c.1900)

And there was of course Tauranga’s longest standing hotel until it was demolished in 1993; The Masonic Hotel. Built in 1865 and run by George Henry Whitcombe, The Masonic Hotel was located on The Strand, west side, between Hamilton Street and Wharf Street.

The Masonic Hotel Tauranga 1865 – 1993 (The Strand Tauranga c.1924)

Quirk’s Commercial Hotel Tauranga located on The Strand, Tauranga.

Quirk’s Commercial Hotel, The Strand, Tauranga. Sometime between 1911 and 1916. Nicholas Quirk and Johanna Quirk in front with baby Veronica

As you can see Tauranga has always had numerous hotels to stay in while visiting Tauranga. While none of the hotels listed above are still standing we so have one hotel which has been standing a very long time.

The Hotel Armitage has been serving Tauranga for nearly 40 years. Although it started out as the Willow Park Hotel, then some years later the Quality Hotel group bought it out, but that didn’t last too long, so now we have the Hotel Armitage.

Though the hotel was extensively refurbished when it changed hands, I personally found it very outdated and in definate need in a major overhaul. Luckily it is not the only hotel in Tauranga!

Hotel Armitage Tauranga

Currently Tauranga is the largest city in New Zealand to have a Maori name.

Some might say the “focal point” of Tauranga is Mauao or “The Mount” as it is affectionately called by the locals. Mauao is certainly a dominating view in Tauranga’s skyline

Tauranga enjoys a sunny, warm dry climate which makes its beach “suburbs” of Mt Maunganui andPapamoa a favourite amoung holiday makers. Hundreds flock to the sunny shores to celebrate Christmas and New Year by camping and renting holiday homes next to our “world famous” beaches.

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, Tauranga has plenty of quality hotels, motels, holiday houses and camping grounds. We also have a huge selection of cafes, bars and restaurants to dine out on a fabulous Tauranga evening.

If you need a way to get around the sunny Bay of Plenty, there are a number of car rental firms in Tauranga.

We look forward to writing many varied and interesting articles on Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty. If you would like to know about something in particular, please send us an email at info@nz-tauranga.com and we’d be happy to help!

photo credit: nim