A popular coastal town with a subtropical climate, Tauranga offers beautiful golden beaches, lush parks and a laidback atmosphere, with an array of adventures including dolphin watching, hiking and fishing.
The population center of the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing cities. Along with its neighbor, Whakatane, this seaside city claims to be one of the country's sunniest towns. Unlike most local towns, Tauranga doesn't grind to a halt in the off-season, because it has one of the busiest ports in the country, and the excellent waves at the neighboring beach resort of Mount Maunganui—just across Tauranga's harbor bridge—always draw surfers and holiday folk.
All guests disembark Azamara Pursuit in Tauranga this morning for the off-ship excursion to the Kinloch Club, Taupo and Cape Kidnappers. Take the scenic drive to the Kinloch Club on Lake Taupo (2hrs 15 mins). Lunch on arrival. Arrangements for disembarking will be reconfirmed onboard.
SIGHTSEEING: Non-Golfers will enjoy a visit the Huka Falls, where the Waikato River, normally up to 100m wide, abruptly narrows to just 15m. This causes a huge volume of water to collide and funnel through the rocky gorge, forming the spectacularly powerful falls and rapids.
Continue to the Crater of the Moon, an active geothermal field and a formidable volcanic example of the inner earth’s fiery inferno bursting forth, The terrain is filled with exposed steam vents and is constantly shifting, collapsing and reforming, giving Craters of the Moon its iconic uninhabited, otherworldly appearance. Check in at the Hilton Lake Taupo by late afternoon.
This evening our group will enjoy dinner and drinks at a local restaurant in Taupo.
Overnight: Hilton Lake Taupo