Captain Cook allegedly named the area in honour of the number of friendly Maori settlements he encountered and the abundance of supplies they gave him. Whether true or not, there’s definitely plenty for everyone in the Bay of Plenty! (sorry)

It’s an area rich in Maori culture, geothermal activity, sandy beaches, and adrenalin thrills. Nature lovers can swim with dolphins, leggy types can go mountain biking or hiking, leaving adrenalin seekers to the rafting and parasailing. The fabled bay stretches from the busy port city of Tauranga on the West, a popular place for a dolphin encounter, to Whakatane on the East, the launch pad for a trip out to Whakaari (White) Island – NZ’s only active marine volcano.

Tauranga’s sister town, Mount Maunganui has an amazing surf beach and a wide range of watersports on offer. The fishing in the surrounding waters is excellent too, including tuna, marlin, kingfish and grouper. Yum!

Heading inland, you really must check out the popular geothermal city of Rotorua. Don’t be put of by the smell when you arrive! There’s a general smell of sulphur in the air (a bit like rotten eggs!) but you really do get used to it. Rotorua is the North Island’s tourist capital and there are plenty of drawcards: its rich Maori heritage (many famous Maori legends and stories are based in this area), bubbling mud pools, spouting geysers and adventure activities galore!

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO
	Get yourself over to White Island and experience an active volcano. It roars! It hisses! It may cover you in lava! We think it’s one of the most amazing natural experiences in NZ.
	Swim with dolphins in Tauranga. What’s that Flipper? There are smugglers working at Beeson docks? And they’ve kidnapped little Jimmy?!
	Get involved in mud, mud, glorious mud. Boiling mud pools, geysers, thermal resorts, Rotorua’s got the lot. After a day sightseeing, head to a thermal spa and indulge in a thermal mud bath. Your skin will never feel better.
	Take in a Maori cultural performance, where stories are relayed through beautiful song and dance and indulge in a traditional hangi feast, where the food is cooked underground.
	Get your adrenalin thrills, bungying or zorbing. For the uninitiated / sane amongst us, zorbing is rolling down a hill in a giant ball!!
	Get a taste for white water rafting—the thrilling rapids of the Rangitaiki River and New Zealand's highest commercially rafted waterfall on the Kaituna River.
	Check out Te Puke, 'the kiwifruit capital' of New Zealand. Get a guided tour through a working orchard.
	Spend a lazy day on the beautiful surf beach at Mount Maunganui. Catch some rays, catch some waves and then try your luck at kite surfing and windsurfing!
	You can walk, hike, take a helicopter or enjoy a four-wheel drive to the top of the now dormant Mount Tarawera. It is a beautiful and sacred space under the guardianship of the Ngati Rangitihi Maori tribe.
	If you’re into murals, head to Katikati. Vibrant paintings adorn the buildings depicting the pioneer lifestyle of the area. Banksy eat your heart out!