Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of Papamoa have the air of a gated community, but the beach beyond the sheltering
dunes is awesome - you can't blame folks for moving in.
Back a few kilometres from the beach,
Blo-kart Heaven
( 07-572 4256;
www.blokartheaven.co.nz
; 176 Parton Rd; blokarting 1hr $50; 10am-4.30pm)
is the place to at-
tempt land-sailing around a custom-built speedway (blokarts are like seated windsurfers
on wheels).
The sprawling
Papamoa Beach Top 10 Holiday Resort
( 07-572 0816, 0800 232 243;
www.papamoabeach.co.nz
; 535 Papamoa Beach Rd; campsites from $40, villas & units $98-275;
)
is a spotless, modern park, primed and priced beyond its caravan-park origins, with
fab self-contained villas behind the dunes (
shhhh,
listen to the surf).
With its angular corrugated-iron exterior and tasteful caneware furnishings,
Beach
House Motel
( 07-572 1424, 0800 429 999;
www.beachhousemotel.co.nz
;
224 Papamoa Beach
Rd; d from $130; )
offers an immaculate, upmarket version of the Kiwi bach holiday,
relaxed and close to the beach. There's a pool if the beach is too windy, and orange dais-
ies poking up through rock gardens.
Bluebiyou
( 07-572 2099;
www.bluebiyou.co.nz
;
559 Papamoa Beach Rd; mains $15-38;
noon-2.30pm & 5.30pm-late Wed & Thu, noon-late Fri & Sat, 10am-late Sun)
is a casual, breezy
restaurant riding high on the dunes, serving big brunches and seafood specialities. The
prawn Benedict is a sure-fire Sunday morning start-me-up. Open seven days in summer.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
TUHUA (MAYOR ISLAND)
Commonly known as Mayor Island, this dormant volcano is 35km north of Taur-
anga. It's a privately owned island noted for its black, glasslike obsidian rock and
birdlife
, including a clutch of kiwi, introduced to the predator-free isle in 2006.
Walking tracks cut through the overgrown crater valley, and the northwest corner
is a
marine reserve
.
You need permission to visit from the island's kaitiaki(guardians), via the
Tuhua
Trust Board
( 07-577 0942)
. There's a $5 landing fee, and visitors must observe
strict quarantine regulations. Accommodation is limited to basic camping/cabins
($10/30); bring your own food and water (no fridges). The landing fee is included
in accommodation costs. Several boat-charter companies will take you to Tuhua,
07-578 7677; tauran-
gainfo@doc.govt.nz)
in Tauranga for more info.
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