Bay of Plenty road trip: complete guide & camping

A Bay of Plenty road trip is as action-packed as the name suggests. Visit some of New Zealand’s most popular beach towns, admire one of the oldest trees in the country and be one of the first people in the world to watch the sunrise. If you love the sun, surf and sand, this is the perfect journey for you!

Use our 5-day Bay of Plenty road trip guide to plan your travels. It can be modified to suit the number of days you have available and includes all the best sightseeing and camping spots. Plus, we’ve thrown in a heap of extra information like drive times, distances, the best season to travel and much more!

Best Bay of Plenty road trip: 8 places you can’t miss

Total Distance: 1,329 km | Recommended Days: from 5 - 7 days | Best Time to Visit: Summer | Route on Google Maps

1. Auckland

Auckland is New Zealand's largest city and home to some of the country's top-rated tourist attractions. Kick things off by visiting the iconic Sky Tower and enjoy 360-degree views up to 80km in every direction. Take a half-hour stroll through the Auckland Domain and you’ll find the Auckland War Memorial Museum - one of the best places in NZ to learn about Maori culture and the history of the Pacific.

Put a day aside to explore the idyllic islands around Auckland. You can take your vehicle to Waiheke Island via a 45-minute ferry ride and drive around the many vineyards, art galleries and secluded beaches that dot the island. Alternatively, you could take a guided sea kayak tour and paddle out to Rangitoto Island, home to the world's largest pohutukawa forest.

Stay at the Piha Domain Motor Camp, an hour west of Auckland on the black sands of Piha Beach. This top-rated holiday park has beachfront access with powered sites starting at about $44 per night.

2. Coromandel

Drive Time: 2 hr 20 min | Distance: 168 km

The Coromandel Peninsula sits to the west of the Bay of Plenty and is one of New Zealand’s most popular holiday destinations. You can easily spend one or two days here exploring the area's crystal-clear waters, tropical rainforests and major attractions like Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.

The best way to explore the mountainous forests surrounding Coromandel is by riding the Driving Creek Railway to the ‘Eyeful Tower’ panoramic lookout. Alternatively, you could wander around the 64-acre private estate Rapaura Watergardens, which has some brilliant walking tracks and seasonal displays of native and exotic flowers.

Stay at the Long Bay Motor Camp, which offers a range of powered and non-powered sites. Prices range from $12 - $25 per night depending on whether you want to camp near the beachfront or the edge of the bush. The facilities are great and include all the essentials.

3. Waihi Beach

Drive Time: 2 hr 30 min | Distance: 157 km

Waihi is a bustling beachside village that marks the northern tip of the Bay of Plenty. It is another popular spot for Kiwi holidaymakers thanks to its 9km stretch of white sand beaches, charming boutique stores and awesome takeaway shops. But Waihi is also famous for its gold mining history and offers guided tours around an operational open-pit mine.

The Karangahake Gorge just outside of Waihi is recognised as one of the ‘101 Must-Do Walks’ in NZ. Whilst you can drive through the gorge, we recommend hiking because you get the opportunity to explore old mining tunnels alongside stunning stretches of river and abandoned railway. There are numerous tracks you can take but the Rail Tunnel Loop (1.5-hour return) and the Windows Walk Loop (1-hour return) are two of the most popular because they are relatively easy.

Camp at the Top 10 Waihi Beach Holiday Resort located on the northern end of Waihi Beach. There’s a range of large powered campsites only 100m from the beach and great facilities including a pool and spa. Camping prices start at about $50 per night.

4. Tauranga

Drive Time: 1 hr | Distance: 59 km

Tauranga is a flourishing port city that is quickly becoming a favourite amongst Kiwi holidaymakers. Set between one of the best beaches in NZ and Mount Maunganui, there’s no shortage of outdoor activities for nature lovers (including the highly popular 6km return walking track to the top of the mountain). In the evening, enjoy a few drinks at the Strand Waterfront whilst the kids play on the large Hairy Maclary sculptures nearby.

The Waimarino Adventure Park promises a full day of fun for the whole family and is located just 10 minutes out of Tauranga city. There’s a heap to do, including kayak tours through glowworm caves, NZ’s largest human catapult, pedal boats, rock climbing, floating trampolines, a hydro slide, a Tarzan rope swing, paddle boarding, hot pools, beach volleyball and tonnes more!

Stay at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park, nestled between Mount Mauao and the beach. Many of the powered caravan sites on offer have beachfront views and start at about $45 per night. There’s also a range of modern facilities including three separate amenities blocks.

5. Whakatane

Drive Time: 1 hr 10 min | Distance: 92 km

Year after year, Whakatane continues to set two national records: the highest number of sunshine hours and the largest haul of yellowfish tuna. Besides being famous for its superb weather and seafood, Whakatane is also home to some of New Zealand’s most important Maori historical sites. If you want to see all the best sights, walk part of the Ngā Tapuwae o Toi walkway (16km / 5 - 7hr return).

Book a 4-hour guided Moutohora Island Sanctuary tour and travel out to one of NZ’s most protected wildlife sanctuaries. Whilst onboard the comfortable catamaran, your captain will take you to see a fur seal colony and point out the abundant birdlife around the island. You’ll also get to swim at a secluded hot water beach and dig your own private hot spring at Sulphur Bay.

Camp at the Whakatane Holiday Park located just five-minutes walk from the Whakatane town centre and the famous Lady of the Rock statue. There are nearly 100 powered and unpowered campsites to choose from, starting at about $20 per night with your choice of grass or gravel.

6. Te Araroa

Drive Time: 3 hr | Distance: 202 km

Follow the Cape Runaway coastal road until you come to the small town of Te Araroa. This sleepy seaside village is home to Te Waha-o-Rerekohu, the oldest and largest pōhutukawa tree in NZ. You’ll find the 600-year-old giant tree growing on the local school grounds. Plus, it’s only a 20-minute drive to the nearby town of Tikitiki where you can see St Mary’s Church, one of the most beautiful churches in the country.

From Te Araroa, you can access the most Easterly point of mainland New Zealand via a 22km stretch of winding coastal road. At the East Cape stands a historic lighthouse that can be accessed via a walking track with about 700 wooden steps. The return walk from the car park takes about 30 minutes but it is well worth it for the panoramic views over the Pacific Ocean.

For those who want to enjoy some freedom camping, you can stay in your self-contained vehicle overnight at the Te Araroa Carpark. Alternatively, you can make a booking at the Te Araroa Holiday Park, which is located 300m from the beach and offers campsites starting at about $18 per night.

7. Gisborne

Drive Time: 3 hr 15 min | Distance: 213 km

The surf city of Gisborne is the first place in the world to see the sunrise each morning. Besides its outstanding beaches, Gisborne is recognised for its appreciation of Maori culture, with many old traditions still on display across the city today. It is also the unofficial ‘Chardonnay Capital of New Zealand‘ and has an awesome wine trail that leads to many of the boutique wineries in the area.

Don’t miss out on visiting Tairawhiti Museum, one of the best and most innovative regional museums in the country. It has recently been renovated and features brilliant exhibitions about the region’s Maori history and art. There’s also a historic cottage and a life-sized ship that you can explore. Entry is only $5 and there’s free parking on the street.

Stay at Tatapouri Bay Oceanside Accommodation, just 15-minutes out of town and away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Choose from a range of powered and non-powered beachfront camping sites and be one of the first people in the world to watch the sunrise over the horizon.

8. Matamata

Drive Time: 6 hr 20 min | Distance: 482 km

Rather than returning to Auckland via the same coastal route, why not take the inland route through lush farming areas like Matamata. Along the way, you can stop for a guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set or if you’re travelling on a Saturday you can stop at the Matamata Country Markets or the highly-rated Tauranga Farmers Markets.

Organise your Bay of Plenty road trip with Camplify

Now that you’ve got your Bay of Plenty road trip itinerary sorted, it’s time to start organising the finer details! Check out the best camping grounds in the Bay of Plenty next.

Need to arrange campervan hire in the Bay of Plenty? Camplify is a platform that allows travellers to quickly search through privately-owned rentals. Simply enter your pickup location and budget and within seconds, you can find the perfect motorhome, caravan or campervan for your road trip!

Want some more inspiration on where to stay? Discover the best camping grounds near Tauranga!

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