Western Bay of Plenty shopping centres are a hive of activity today, with bumper to bumper traffic and queues of people waiting to buy their Boxing Day bargains.

Shoppers search for car parks at Bayfair Shopping Centre. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

Bayfair Shopping Centre duty manager Jonathan Leslie says the stores are very, very busy.

'There's lots of people just constantly coming through the doors.”

Jonathan says it's like this every year on December 26.

'Obviously there's a lot of sales going on and everyone's in a really good mood. There's a good vibe going on here.”

Traffic is backed up from ASB Baypark to Bayfair.

Jonathan says extra staff have been employed to help ease the sale madness, including additional security guards and cleaning staff.

'We have four car parking attendants on directing traffic today.”

A reporter at the scene says traffic is backed up from ASB Baypark Stadium at Truman Lane to Bayfair Shopping Centre on Maunganui Rd.

He says cars are parking on grass verges and 'there's cars everywhere”.

At Fraser Cove Shopping Centre, the car park is full with people queuing up for a parking spot.

Tauranga and Mount Maunganui main streets are also buzzing with excitement as people go mad for Boxing Day sales.

Full car park at Bayfair Shopping Centre.

A full car park at Fraser Cove Shopping Centre.

Shoppers busy searching for bargains at Fraser Cove.

Cars search for parking spots at Fraser Cove.