If you’re heading to the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand, there is an excellent range of Mount Maunganui accommodation and Tauranga accommodation, to suit all budgets. Whether you’re renting beachfront Mount Maunganui apartments or cosy motels in Tauranga, this small, laid back city offers something for every type of traveller.
During my time living in New Zealand, I lived in this beautiful place – both in Mount Maunganui and in Tauranga – so I got to know all the areas pretty well. Mount Maunganui is a peninsular beach town right across the harbour from Tauranga city, both places linked by a bridge, and only a 20 min drive (or bus ride) from each other.
Mount Maunganui is where you should stay if you want to stay in stunning beachside holiday apartments and wake up next to the ocean. Tauranga has more of a small city vibe offering quality hotels, motels and harbourside apartments.
So to help you choose the best accommodation for your trip, I’ve put together this guide to the Best Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Accommodation.
MOUNT MAUNGANUI ACCOMMODATION
Belle Mer Beachfront Apartments
ApartHotel – Self Serviced Apartments – $$
53 Marine Parade, Mount Maunganui
- Heated outdoor pool
- Beachfront – opposite Mount Maunganui Main Beach
- Great for couples
Belle Mer Beachfront Apartments have spacious high-quality apartments with fully functional kitchens, comfy beds and free washing & drying facilities within the apartment.
In this beautiful Mount Maunganui accommodation, you’ll also get oceans views, a heated outdoor pool, free parking, free Wi-Fi and the beach access is literally across the road!
As they are self-serviced apartments, you are left alone and not bothered by room service although management are friendly and always around to help.
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Pacific Motor Inn
Motel Studio Apartments – $$
261 Maunganui Rd, Mount Maunganui
- Close to Pilot Bay, main shopping strip & restaurants
- Outdoor pool
- Free parking & Wi-Fi
Pacific Motor Inn have motel style apartments a few minutes walk to Pilot Bay, which has a stunning sheltered swimming beach, and a view of the majestic cruise ships arriving into port.
The studio apartments here are all spacious, have kitchenettes, TV’s and separate lounge area, plus spa baths in the bathrooms.
Top Tip – Although this Mount Maunganui accommodation isn’t usually noisy, ask for Room 7 if you want a more peaceful room location
*Bonus Tip* – Pizza Library is only 1 block away from this motel – go there – it’s a must-do in Mount Maunganui!
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The Pacific Apartments
Luxury Apartments – $$$
8 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui
- Large balconies and floor-to-ceiling glass windows
- Flat screen TV and free Wi Fi
- Hot Tub, Fitness Centre and Heated Outdoor Swimming Pool
- 2, 3 & 4 bed apartments – great for groups or families
Beautiful self-contained apartments here at Pacific Apartments, which all have floor-to-ceiling glass windows, offering incredible views of the water.
This stunning Mount Maunganui accommodation offers spacious 1-bed, 2-bed and 3-bed apartments available, plus 4-bed executive apartments, so perfect for couples, groups of friends or for families.
All apartments have fully equipped kitchens including a dishwasher, fridge, stove and laundry facilities.
The apartment complex has a heated outdoor pool, fitness centre and hot tub. It has private underground parking and it’s just 3 mins walk to the beach or 5 mins walk to the main shopping strip.
Top Tip – Ask for an apartment on 3rd level or above for even better views
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Mount Backpackers
Backpackers/Hostel – $
87 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui
- Ultimate location – 5 mins walk from the beach
- Cheap Surfboard and Bike rental
- Outdoor BBQ area, TV area with Netflix & free Wi Fi
Excellent budget option for your Mount Maunganui accommodation, Mount Backpackers is a lively yet chilled backpackers hostel, offering affordable dorm rooms and private rooms. Shared kitchen and bathroom facilities, BBQ areas outside and there’s even a TV and sofa seating area with Netflix.
You can hire surfboard and bikes cheaply from the front desk, it’s just $25 for a whole day’s bike hire.
The staff here are always mentioned on reviews as being super helpful and friendly and did I mention the amazing location? Across the road from Astrolabe Bar who have a huge beer garden and nightly food specials, plus Mount Backpackers is only 5 mins walk from the beautiful Mount Main Beach.
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Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park Campsite
Campsite – $
1 Adams Ave, Mount Maunganui
- Right next to the beach – see and hear the waves from your tent or campervan
- Excellent camp facilities including free Wi Fi
- Amazing location – nestled in between The Mount & the beach
This Mount Maunganui campsite is one of the best campsites I’ve stayed at, mostly because of its unbeatable location. It’s nestled in between The majestic Mount itself and the stunning Mount Maunganui Main Beach.
You couldn’t be any closer to the beach – unless you were camping on it! (Which isn’t allowed – so don’t! 😊 )
And the main Mount Maunganui shopping, restaurant and bar strip is only 4 mins walk away.
Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park has excellent facilities including fully equipped kitchens with fridges & freezers, laundry facilities and BBQ areas.
You can rent cabins here or rock up with your own campervan, caravan or tent. We have tent camped here and it was the most amazing location to camp in – the view was beautiful to wake up to!
The location is perfectly situated, you can get around on foot to almost anything you need; beach, wharf, shops, restaurants, bars and bus stops.
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Top Tip – Book ahead, this campsite is one of only a few in Mount Maunganui and it’s popular location means it’s often fully booked – even just for tent camping!
Note – All Mount Maunganui accommodation is very popular in the summer months, lots of Aucklanders come here for holidays and long weekends and then there’s all the tourists too.
So book your accommodation in advance – The Mount is only a small place, it does get fully booked.
TAURANGA ACCOMMODATION
The Tauranga on The Waterfront Motel
Motel apartments – $$
1 Second Avenue, Tauranga
- Motel rooms with uninterrupted water views
- Peaceful location – still only 10 mins walk from the city
- Satellite TV and free high-speed Wi Fi
This cute, affordable motel is in a peaceful street, but still close to Tauranga City Centre and has stunning views of the waterfront.
This Tauranga accommodation offers serviced motel rooms, with their own well-equipped kitchenette with fridge, microwave and flat screen TV with satellite channels. Rooms also have air conditioning or heating, and ensuite bathroom with towels and free NZ-made toiletries.
The Tauranga on The Waterfront Motel offers guests free high-speed Wi Fi, free parking, luggage storage and guest laundry facilities
This Tauranga accommodation is walkable distance to the city – only 10 mins walk from Tauranga city centre and this motel consistently gets good reviews for having super friendly and helpful staff.
Top Tip – Ask for a ground floor room to get a balcony/patio.
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Trinity Wharf Tauranga
Luxury Hotel – $$$
Tauranga Waterfront, 51 Dive Crescent, Tauranga
- Stunning Harbour views
- Flat screen TV’s, Satellite TV and unlimited Wi Fi
- Fitness Centre and Infinity Swimming Pool
- Hotel has 24/7 Reception, free parking, room service and private pontoon
You’ll get stunning hotel rooms here at Trinity Wharf Hotel Tauranga, with panoramic views of Tauranga harbour and the port.
Spacious luxurious hotel rooms, most with water views and all with high-quality comfy beds. All the bathrooms are en-suite with heated tiled floors – you’ll love this feature in winter – Tauranga gets chilly!
Trinity Wharf Hotel has an amazing infinity pool, a restaurant with an outdoor patio where guests can eat meals – also with incredible water views – and it even has its own private pontoon.
This Tauranga accommodation is walkable distance to everything you would need – 5 mins walk from Tauranga city centre and 15 mins drive from Mount Maunganui for beautiful beaches.
Top Tip – Get a room with water views and get amazing photos at night when the city lights up over the water.
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Hotel on Devonport
Hotel – $$
72 Devonport Road, Tauranga
- Modern hotel rooms with balcony
- Close to shopping & dining options on The Strand and the waterfront
- Free daily newspaper and welcome drink
- 10 min drive from Tauranga airport
Hotel rooms here at Hotel on Devonport are modern, spacious and most have city views.
All rooms have flat screen TV with satellite channels, air conditioning, minibar, tea/coffee machine and toaster.
Hotel on Devonport offers guests free Wi Fi, free parking, welcome drink on arrival and free daily newspapers.
This Tauranga accommodation is a great location for exploring The Strand waterfront restaurants and bars and checking out the views on the waterfront.
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Arthouse Boutique Backpackers Hostel
Backpackers/Hostel – $
102 Cameron Road, Tauranga
- Excellent location – very close to town and the InterCity bus stop
- Creatively designed, friendly and chilled hostel – for relaxing not partying!
- Great for couples or solo travellers – beautiful double rooms available & dorm rooms
Arthouse Boutique Backpackers Hostel is a place I go to stay at again and again, I used to stay here a lot in between house sitting gigs. It’s an affordable place to stay, for close proximity to Tauranga city location and its way cheaper than a hotel.
They have such a high standard of cleanliness here and they uphold a ‘no alcohol/no partying policy’, so you’ll always feel safe here and get a good night’s sleep.
Despite this policy, Arthouse Boutique Backpackers hostel always has a fun, warm and friendly atmosphere and a homely feel – without being cliquey.
They have dorm rooms available and spacious single and double rooms available, so perfect for solo travellers and couples who don’t want to stay in a dorm.
It’s located on Cameron Road, close to a supermarket and a bunch of takeaways, restaurants and shops and literally around the corner from the Intercity Bus drop off & pick up point.
Top Tip – There’s a great female only dorm available here and it’s only a 4-share – it’s popular so book in advance.
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I hope this guide has helped you choose your accommodation in Mount Maunganui or Tauranga for your next trip. Have a great stay in the Bay of Plenty!
Happy and Safe Travels!
Alial
🙂
