Bay of Plenty Overview

At the junction of natural wonders, cultural spectacles, and flowing tourist dollars, the Bay of Plenty is one of North Island’s most popular regions. Land of lakes, geysers, and pools, the inland town of Rotorua captivates visitors with its sulfur springs and its wealth of Maori culture. Along the coast, Mt. Maunganui rises from sun-warmed beaches while neighboring Tauranga pulses with nightlife. At the east end of the bay, lively Whakatane, with the smoking White Island volcano in the background, opens onto the uncompromising natural beauty of the East Cape.

Beautify in Rotorua’s thermal wonders , where geysers spray, ponds glow, and thermal spas and gurgling mud pools relax, reinvigorate, and exfoliate.
Satisfy your cravings at a Maori hangi , a tasty cultural experience.
Sanctify your soul on White Island , an eerie and spiritually refreshing escape from the mainland, hidden in a perpetual cloud.

By clicking submit you agree to the terms of the Let’s Go Privacy Policy

For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.