An Argentinean family travelling the world in their 1928 Graham Paige vintage car have made a pit stop in Tauranga. The family have spent much of the past nine years driving around the world in the car, crossing between countries onboard ships. The Zapp family with their 1928 Graham Paige, which they are driving around the world. Picture courtesy of Tauranga’s Maurice O’Reilly. Herman Zapp, his wife Candelaria and their four children stopped in Tauranga for a few hours on More...

P&O’s 70,310 tonne Pacific Jewel has arrived in Tauranga today for the first time. The new passenger ship was named in Sydney in December 2009 and is intended to operate year-round between Sydney, the Pacific Islands and New Zealand. The Pacific Jewel has accommodation for 2053 passengers. See video interview below with a More...

Passengers flying the new trans-Tasman route between Rotorua and Sydney will not be charged for parking their cars at Rotorua International Airport. The free parking will be available until the end of June and will only be available for passengers travelling between Rotorua and Sydney. Passengers can exchange their boarding pass for a free parking ticket when they leave the airport. The cost to park at Rotorua International Airport for a week would normally cost $45 and the cost to park More...

Tauranga is one of the best marine destinations in the country, highly regarded for its boating, fishing and beaches. One of the activities that adds to this reputation and is available in Tauranga is the opportunity to swim with dolphins. Tourism Bay of Plenty communications manager Catherine Connell says swimming with dolphins is an unforgettable More...

The broader Bay of Plenty is well known for its geothermal activity and the leisure delights of hot pools and health retreats that are today associated with this natural wonder. Perhaps most famous are the spas and geysers in Rotorua, but Mount Maunganui has something that that central destination does not – hot salt water pools. Braced up against the base of Mauao, these hot water pools are one of the region’s best attractions, says iSite manager Petrina Page.  More...

Possibly the Bay of Plenty’s most recognisable scenery, Mount Maunganui, is a genuine landmark for the region. It is a place of great historic significance for Maori as the site of many pa, but today is used in a different way – as a recreation destination. Tauranga iSite manager Petrina Page says the number of people to walk around the Mount and take in the view each year is More...

New Year’s resolutions to improve one’s self are something most people undertake each year – with most people looking to improve their health, find love or advance their career. But why should these resolutions be so serious? Perhaps it is the seriousness of these resolutions which mean they fail all too often? One New Year’s resolution that may stick is one that creates some excitement in a person’s life – learning to surf. Tourism Bay of Plenty’s More...

With New Year’s Eve arriving, most people have their plans organised for how to celebrate the occasion. Some of the best laid plans involve bottles of wine and where better to enjoy this and some fine food than at the Bay of Plenty’s own Mills Reef Winery. Tourism Bay of Plenty communications manager Catherine Connell and iSite manager Petrina Page both enjoy a good glass of wine and say it's hard to beat such an occassion at Mills Reef More...

Horse riding at the beach is a thrilling experience and one that is easily done in the BOP. Horse treks along the sand are a popular attraction at Maketu Beach - a place where the views of native flora and fauna, historical sites and the Pacific Ocean are spectacular. Tourism Bay of Plenty communications manager catherine Connell explains the excitement of riding a horse at Maketu Beach More...

Kayaking is a popular water sport in New Zealand and there is none more curious paddling trip than at Bay of Plenty’s Lake McLaren. Here, kayakers move through a rock lined canyon that’s covered in thousands of glow worms. Kayaking by the glow worms at Lake McLaren. According to Tauranga’s iSite manager Petrina Page, this activity is great fun for the whole More...