Our Favourite Places in Tauranga
October 19, 2020 - January 1, 2030
Our Favourite Places in Tauranga
Our City
Although we live out in the beautiful countryside, we love Tauranga! We take town trips to get our essentials or just to hang out. Marine Reach is rural, but still close enough, about 20 minute drive, to the city for everyone who wants to go shopping or eat out. There are so many fun things to go and do to get off the base for the afternoon, whether it’s a nice night out or an early morning to surf and grab a coffee before you start the day.
We thought it would be nice to have a little list of all of our favourite hangout spots in Tauranga. Maybe they’ll be some of yours too!
Why don’t we start with the beach?
When we take a day at the beach, our first choice is right in the heart of the city beside Mount Manganui. We love going early, early, early to catch the sunrise – as Tauranga is located on the east coast – a morning hike or a refreshing surf; both are lovely! You might have to keep in mind what time of day it is to get the best waves, but this is the place you’ll find plenty of surfers all day long. Even if you’ve never surfed before, it’s a good place to learn!
And if surfing isn’t really your thing, the beach is always big enough to play some volleyball, spike ball, go swimming or just hang out on the sand. Shops are right along the edge, so you can even take a break to grab a bite to eat or even some ice cream!
Speaking of ice cream….
There’s nothing like diving into a cup of ice cream on a hot, summer day, especially on the beach. Right along the Mount is our favourite gelato shop called Monte Gelato; it’s full of such a variety of tasty flavours. Yum!
Right around the corner is another option called Copenhagen Cones, with many choices of ice cream and waffle cones.
Another popular location, right on the beach we visit is The Wave, which is a pop-up cafe on wheels. There you have the opportunity to get a ice cream or a coffee to go!
Where is our go to coffee shop?
Nothing brings people together like coffee shops…
In a city like Tauranga, there are SO many different options of places to go, but we’d have to say a couple of our go tos are Grindz, Alimento, Excelso or Little Long. All of these are located at the Strand / Wharf.
Also, at the wharf there is an eclectic market within the confines of shipping containers called Our Place. There are shops filled with clothes, food, drinks, etc. and sometimes it even includes live music!
Or maybe bubble tea is what you’re looking for?
Coffee is not your cup of tea, but bubble tea…. now that’s an idea! Sometimes all you’re in the mood for is slurping down some boba – your favourite milk tea or brown sugar or taro, whatever you fancy !
Shake Shed & Co in the Bayfair Shopping Centre is the place we all have gone to. Heaps of variety; you can find something for anyone to enjoy, from shakes to supreme ice coffees to many combinations of bubble teas.
But if you’re looking for something sweeter and refreshing, the bubble tea at The Melting Pot is the way to go. It also has milk bingsoo – a shaved milk dessert!
What shopping centre will you find us at?
We definitely have a couple go tos that’s for sure ! The ones closest to us would be Fraser Cove or the Crossing. Both shopping centres have so many different shops; whether you’re looking to update your wardrobe, prepare for outreach, load up on snacks, get the essentials or even go just to wander on a free afternoon, there are options that’ll keep you busy or keep things short – whatever you’re looking to do!
A little further out is Bayfair. It’s another mall, but bigger than the last two.
You’re hungry, but what for?
A staff favourite is to head over to Bobby’s Fresh Fish Market for some classic fish and chips! It’s definitely an authentic fish market feel with the BEST fish and chips in Tauranga. There really is nothing like it!
Want to spend the evening at the hot pools?
Ah yay, hot pools !!
There are two places that you will find us at!
Right in Tauranga, there is the Mount Hot Pools, which is a quite large location. It has a variety of pools to enjoy: from bigger pools for playing around to smaller, hotter ones just to soak.
As well, we often visit the pools just down the road from us at Oropi Cafe and Hot Pools – they are nice and close, not even five minutes away! It’s such a nice way to end the day or wind down from a full week of lectures.
What restaurant is our favourite?
Sometimes a night out is so needed! We love going out to The Rising Tide or Astrolabe.
The Rising Tide is a warehouse style restaurant with a broad menu and a wide range of tables to sit at. Tucked away within this restaurant is a pop-up dumplings shop, called Johney’s Dumpling House.
Astrolabe, however, has a more funky surf aesthetic atmosphere with a lot of space inside and out. The menu is complete with both burgers, chips, and waffles. It’s about a 15 minute walk from the beach.
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Maeve Cooney, 18, Maryland, USA
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