Mount Maunganui Volcano is a sacred Maori site that is located on the end of a peninsula along the shores of the Bay of Plenty.
Mount Maunganui Volcano is a stunning lush green conical extinct volcano that rises from the South Pacific Ocean to a height of 232 meters along the coast of New Zealand’s north island near the town of Tauranga. The volcano features walking trail that can be taken from the shore to the top of the volcano or a trail that can be taken completely around it along the shore line. Other activities that people enjoy on Mount Maunganui Volcano are surfing in the warm ocean waves, swimming in the calm waters of Pilot Bay or just relaxing on the white sand beaches. The beach town of Mount Maunganui has several beachside cafes and restaurants to enjoy the views while dining or having a drink.
White Sandy Beaches
White Sand Beaches stretch from the seaside town of Mount Maunganui along the edge of the bay to base of the volcano where the beach becomes rocky. On the ocean side of the peninsula the surf washes ashore onto another white sand beach between the volcano and Leisure Island.
Hiking Trails
Three hiking trails are available on the volcano. Two trails lead from the sea level to the top of the volcano. The Waikorire trail is the shortest of the two at 1260 meters (0.78 miles) but it is also the steepest and takes about 1 hour. The Oruahine trail is longer at 1800 meters (1.1 miles) and takes a less direct route to the top but it also takes about 1 hour to hike up.
The other trail is the base trail which is the longest of the three at 2540 meters (1.6 miles) but stays at sea level and takes only about 50 minutes to circle the volcano.
Seaside Views
As you can imagine, all three of the trails make for a beautiful hike. The seaside views from the volcano are beautiful from anywhere along the tails. Don’t be surprised if it takes longer to complete the hike because it is hard not to stop and soak in the scenery.
Inland Views
It may be hard to top the seaside views but the inland views are also very nice. It may be tempting to stay focused on the turquoise waters but make sure to check out the inland views because they are also very nice.
Leisure Island
Leisure Island is on the ocean side of the peninsula and is not actually an island because it is connected to the peninsula by a thin section of the sandy beach making it possible to walk onto the island.
Spectacular Views
Mount Maunganui Volcano is a truly picturesque setting. The trails are nice, the beaches are beautiful but the star of the show are the view. The view are spectacular!
The Dust on My Shoes
Mount Maunganui Volcano is a wonderful place to spend the day if you enjoy being in nature. It is one of the few places where you can actually spend the day in the mountain and on the beach without needing to travel between the two.
The trails are nice and there are places to stop and just enjoy the views. The steep trail is more challenging and is good for people that are looking for a little exercise but the other two trails are nice for taking a leisurely walk.
The beaches have a similar choice, one beach is on the bay side of the peninsula with calm waters and the other beach is on the ocean side of the peninsula with waves that can be enjoyed by people looking for more activity.
Spending time in nature can be relaxing or very physically challenging depending on what you enjoy doing. Mount Maunganui Volcano is a place that is easy to choose between the two.
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