New Zealand – Mt. Maunganui Hike
You can’t go to the town of Mt. Maunganui without hiking to the top of Mt. Maunganui, also known as Mauao. Well, at the very least you cannot go to the town of Mt. Maunganui without seeing Mt. Maunganui. But I highly recommend hiking it. The Mount is an extinct volcano that rises roughly 760 feet above sea level and the most iconic sight in town. This steep little hike rewards you with views of the town, Bay of Plenty, and more as you walk around the peak. I found the Mt. Maunganui hike to be a good little burst of exercise with stunning views of the town.
There are multiple hikes on Mt. Maunganui. There is a gentle hike that creates a circuit around the Mount called the Base Track. The other trail, called the Waikorire Track, climbs to the peak and is the Mt. Maunganui hike I will describe in this post. For more information on the other trails, check out this website.
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Mt. Maunganui Hike
To begin the hike, head to where the road ends at the beach. On the beachside of the buildings, there is an obvious wooden trail that walks along the beach in front of a parking lot. There will be a fork in the path. Head left, up the stairs to start the climb of the Waikorire Track (if you continue, you will begin the base track that does not climb Mt. Maunganui). After the stairs, you will have a steep hill to climb that crosses most of the Mount. The trail is wide and a bit rocky in this section.
Eventually, the trail will switchback across the Mount back toward town. This section was more narrow with steep climbs interrupted by stairs. If you were not yet sweating, you will now during this section. The good news is that by the time you have reached this portion, you will have climbed enough elevation for a lovely view of the area.
When the trail makes a curve around the side of the Mount, you will be particularly close – with one more ascent to the top. This last section is shady, with more tree growth to stay cool under. You’ve made it to the summit when there is a large flat clearing. Time to grab some water and catch your breath.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 4 (out of 4) stars, would go again
- Intensity: Hiking Clothes, Hiking Shoes (Sneakers would also work for this hike)
- Location: Mt. Maunganui, North Island, New Zealand
- Cost: Free
- Restrooms: At the base near the beach
- Timing: 1.5 – 3 hours
- Distance: 3.6 – 4.2 miles roundtrip
Highlights:
- A short, but challenging hike to spectacular views
- Good exercise!
Lowlights:
- The trail can be very busy
View From the Top
The trees obscure the view from this central peak, so I recommend walking around the summit for a better view of the town. It was beautiful to see the town, the deep turquoise of the water, and light sand beaches. To me, what makes Mt. Maunganui beach so special are the small islands that sit offshore. I loved the view from the peak.
It was mid-morning when we visited, so the peak and the trail were quite busy. This was before Covid, so the crowd did not bother me too much until we reached the peak. Patience is key if you want to get a picture from the first available viewpoint. Alternatively, you can continue to explore further down the peak. This is what we did and the crowd thinned tremendously. I found a rock overlook with a great view without the crowds.
If you continue on this path away from the summit, you will see the other side of the Bay of Plenty. You might even see a hang glider take off from the Mount on this side. The landmass closest to your view is actually an island – Matakn Island with pine trees that grow to the beach and a good surf spot. As you circle around the peak, you will begin to see the narrow entrance to Tauranga Harbor.
Make it a Partial Loop
At this point, you have a couple of options to get down from the Mount. You can backtrack to the summit to go back down the way you came up. Instead, we decided to continue the circle, but then meet back up with the Waikorire Track. Be careful if you decide to do this loop as there is another 4WD Track that takes you a longer route back. There are signs along the way to help you get back to the Waikorire main track.
What to bring
Since this is a relatively short hike, you don’t need much. Here’s what I recommend that you bring if on the Mt. Maunganui Hike
- Plenty of water (at least 1 liter), since you will be sweating!
- Lightweight backpack – I used this cheap, lightweight one from Amazon
- Running or hiking shoes – I only had my hiking boots with me, so that’s what I wore
- Sunscreen – I use this one for my face
- Tripod for photos
Getting to the Trailhead
We utilized beach parking on the street Marine Parade, which is the closest parking to the trailhead. By mid-morning, the parking had filled up quite a bit, so be sure to snag a spot early. We utilized the trailhead on the beach-side of the buildings, which turns out to be the lifeguard service. There are bathrooms and outdoor showers at this Lifeguard Service building if you need them.
Other Things to do in the Area
Mt. Maunganui is a lovely little town and vacation destination for New Zealanders. Some say it is the best beach in the country, with opportunities to surf. Although it is not particularly high on iconic sights, it was a relaxing start to our trip. We made a point to visit because two separate friends had moved to the town. Here’s a couple of other things to do in Mt. Maunganui
- Eat delicious vegetarian and vegan food – check out my Vegan Eats: New Zealand post (coming soon)
- Take a surfing lesson
- Soak in the hot springs next to the Mount
- Make a day trip to Hobbiton – check out Rebecca’s blog post about the experience
Overall Thoughts: Mt. Maunganui Hike
The Mt. Maunganui hike is pretty much essential during a visit to a town of the same name. Both the trail and the views at the top are breathtaking, but for different reasons. Although steep, I found the trail to be short enough to get that burst of dopamine as well as a nice introduction to the hiking in New Zealand. If I ever return to Mt. Maunganui, I’d like to do this hike at sunrise or sunset as I feel it would be particularly lovely at that time. All in all, it’s a no-brainer to do this hike.
I will be covering other hikes in New Zealand, but primarily those on the South Island. We only spent a couple of nights on the North Island, but I hope to go back and explore more of the North Island. Got a favorite North Island hike? Let me know in the comments which North Island hikes I should check out for next time!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
