Things to do in Tauranga

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours

Join us and experience the real Middle-earth™ at the Hobbiton Movie Set, where, in the heart of the Waikato region, you can step into the lush pastures of the Shire™, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies.Fall in love with the Alexander family sheep farm, just as acclaimed director Sir Peter Jackson did, as you journey on a short bus ride through the unequivocal beauty of the land, with the mighty Kaimai Ranges towering in the distance. Your guide will escort you on a shared walking tour around the movie set, showcasing the intricate details, pointing out the most famous locations and explaining how movie magic was made here. △ Immerse yourself in the fairy tale town of The Hobbit △ Ejoy the fenced garden and the mirror lake △ Admire New Zealand's stunning scenery

Mitre 10 MEGA Tauranga

Memorial Park

This park was originally built to commemorate the soldiers who died in the war, and it is now open to the public as People's Park. The park has a children's playground, a swimming pool, a putting green, an obstacle course, and other recreational facilities, as well as several free campsites, making it a great place for people to relax.

Mercury Baypark

No. 9 of Best Things to Do in North Island

Agrodome

The Agrodome Farm in Rotorua, North Island, is New Zealand's largest, state-of-the-art tourist farm with an area of about 150 hectares. Here you can meet red deer, turkeys, ostriches, alpacas, cows, lambs and many other animals you have never seen before. The farm has performances such as shearing and milking every day, which are very exciting and fun. The iconic sheep shearing bronze statue and the ancient carriage frame are displayed at the entrance of the farm. The Agrodun Farm covers a large area. To visit the pastoral area, you need to take a sightseeing tractor and set off on the tractor. You will see groups of people along the way. Cows and sheep grazing leisurely by the roadside. The tractor will stop in an open meadow, and nearby sheep will come running to surround you. In the alpaca area, the tall alpaca has a very docile temperament, and you can interact and take photos with them. In addition to getting up close and personal with various animals, you can visit the farm orchard, see the kiwi fruit trees, and taste the unique taste of kiwi honey. After the farm tour, go to watch the farm show. There are demonstrations of sheep shearing, sheep auctions, shepherd dog performances, etc. The host will also invite tourists to come on stage to milk the cows and compete for feeding lambs and drinking goat milk, which is very interesting. Visitors to the farm show can also visit the animal pup nursery. Before leaving, check out the WoollenMill, ShearingShedMuseum and DogandWhistle souvenir shops.

Mount Hot Pools

The Historic Village

2026 Global 50 - Hot Springs Attractions

Hells Gate

The "Devil's Hot Spring" inside Hells Gate is a hot water pool where the spring water keeps bubbling, while the large hot spring waterfall in the southern hemisphere pours down mightily, leaving people dumbfounded! Hells Gate means "my little daughter was taken away by the water" in Maori, originating from a tragic legend—a Maori woman named Hurutini threw herself into the scalding geothermal pool because she could no longer bear her husband's abuse; its English name was given by George Bernard Shaw, who visited this place in 1934. This impressive geothermal resource reserve covers a large area, with walking trails leading to various attractions. Here, geothermal steam eruptions can be seen everywhere, and the rock surfaces have turned yellow due to the influence of sulfur. The surroundings are barren, truly like a purgatory on earth. Do not casually throw stones into the mud or hot spring pools to avoid various accidents. It is said that if you do bad things to the various natural views of Hells Gate, you will be punished, and the degree and duration of the punishment vary depending on the severity of what you did. Therefore, please be sure to hold reverence within Hells Gate!

Baywave TECT Aquatic & Leisure Centre

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in North Island

Te Puia - Rotorua, NZ

Te Puia - Rotorua, NZ is located in the geothermal valley of Rotorua, New Zealand, and is an attraction that combines Maori cultural displays with geothermal views. The park is home to the famous Pōhutu Geyser, which can erupt more than ten times a day, with water columns shooting up dozens of meters into the air, creating a spectacular sight. In the valley, mud pools bubble and hot springs gurgle, steam fills the entire area, and the air carries a sulfurous smell, making it feel as if you are walking among clouds and mist. Cultural displays are another major feature here. The New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute is located here, and visitors can observe up close the full process of apprentices studying traditional skills in woodcarving, weaving, and stone and bone carving in the workshops. The Maori meeting house in the village features an intricately carved assembly hall, with the facade and interior walls covered in elaborate traditional wood carvings, each carrying tribal stories and genealogies. The park also recreates an early Maori traditional building complex, including low dwellings built from reeds and palm and elevated storehouses on stilts, showing the appearance of traditional Maori living spaces. In addition, there is a kiwi conservation center here, where visitors can observe this bird unique to New Zealand up close. In terms of cultural experiences, Maori song and dance performances are staged daily in the village, including a traditional welcome ceremony, the haka war dance, songs, and the poi ball dance, with performances held in the carved meeting house, creating a solemn and impressive atmosphere. When visiting, it is recommended to follow the guide to gain a deeper understanding of the Maori legends and history behind the various views in the geothermal valley.