Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 021 038 0760, 0800 3592 4976;
www.gyrate.co.nz
;
flights from $135)
Scenic flights around
Tauranga/Mt Maunganui in a gyroplane (the jetski of the sky).
Shore Trips & Tours
GUIDED TOUR
( 07-574 1779;
www.shoretripsandtours.com
; half-/full-day tours from $49/90)
Trips around
Tauranga's sights and enticements aimed at cruise-boat passengers finding their land
legs. Longer tours to Rotorua also available.
Festivals & Events
National Jazz Festival
MUSIC, FOOD & WINE
(
www.jazz.org.nz
)
An Easter extravaganza of big blowers and scoobee-doobee-doo, with
concerts and food and wine galore.
Tauranga Arts Festival
ARTS
(
www.taurangafestival.co.nz
)
Kicking off on Labour weekend in October (in odd-numbered
years), showcasing dance, comedy, plays and other things arty.
Sleeping
Harbourside City Backpackers
HOSTEL $
( 07-579 4066;
www.backpacktauranga.co.nz
; 105 The Strand; dm/tw/d from $29/74/74;
)
Soak up the sea airs at this sociable hostel (a former hotel), deliciously handy to the
Strand's bars and restaurants. Rooms are smallish but clean, and you'll spend more time
on the awesome roof terrace anyway. There's no parking, but down the road is a public
car park that empties out at the right time.
Loft 109
HOSTEL $
( 07-579 5638;
www.loft109.co.nz
; 109 Devonport Rd, upstairs; dm/d/tr from $28/76/90;
)
This small, central hostel feels like somebody's flat, with an intimate kitchen-lounge
and a cute little balcony over Devonport St. It's bright, with plenty of skylights and a gas
fire for colder days. Super-relaxed without being lax about things like security or boozy
badness.
