Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Minden Rd)
From Minden Lookout, about 10km west of Tauranga towards Katikati,
there's a superb view back over the cranes in Tauranga Harbour and across the Bay of
Plenty. To get there, take SH2 to Te Puna and turn off south on Minden Rd; the lookout is
about 3km up the road.
Brain Watkins House
HISTORIC BUILDING
( 07-578 1835;
www.taurangahistorical.blogspot.co.nz
;
233 Cameron Rd; adult/child/family $4/
2/10; 2-4pm Sun)
A demure Victorian villa stranded on a hill as the roads around it
grew, Brain Watkins House (no, not Brian) was built in 1881 from kauri (wood) and re-
mains one of Tauranga's best-preserved colonial homes.
Mills Reef Winery
WINERY
( 07-576 8800;
www.millsreef.co.nz
; 143 Moffat Rd, Bethlehem; 10am-5pm)
Stately Mills
Reef, 7km from the town centre at Bethlehem, has tastings of its award-winning wines
(dig the chardonnay) and a refined restaurant (read: great food but not much fun) that's
open for lunch daily and dinner by reservation (mains $25 to $39).
Huria Marae
MARAE
( 07-578 7838;
www.huriamarae.co.nz
; Te Kaponga St, Judea)
Huria Marae is on a
nondescript suburban street, but has sensational carvings both inside and out. Call to or-
ganise permission to visit, or to book a cultural experience (large groups only).
Activities
The free
Tauranga City Walkways
pamphlet (from the i-SITE) details walks around
Tauranga and Mt Maunganui. History buffs should pick up the free
Historic Tauranga
brochure and stroll around the town's cache of historic sites.
Adventure Bay
of Plenty
KAYAKING, MOUNTAIN BIKING
( 0800 238 267;
www.adventurebop.co.nz
;
2hr/half-day/full-day tours from $95/125/180)
Of-
fers an enticing array of adventure tours by kayak, mountain bike and horse. Half-day
paddles around Mt Maunganui with a stop on Matakana Island cost $150/125 per adult/
child. A two-to-three hour cycle around Tauranga costs $95.
Adrenalin Forest
EXTREME SPORTS
