Getting Around Tauranga

Tauranga, New Zealand

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Getting Around Tauranga

Tauranga is a coastal city in the Bay of Plenty, wrapped around a large harbour and spread across a string of communities — from the central city and its southern and western suburbs to Mount Maunganui and Papamoa across the water. That geography shapes how visitors get around: the city is not compact, and the harbour bridge between the central city and "The Mount" is a key link. The good news is that a local bus network, ferries, taxis and ride-hailing, and a walkable core make it possible to get by without a car, provided you plan around the harbour.

Buses: the backbone of public transport

Local buses are the main form of public transport in Tauranga. They are branded Bay Hoppers (also written Bayhopper) and are managed by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, which handles the services themselves, while the city council looks after physical infrastructure such as stops, shelters, seats and bus lanes. Buses run seven days a week and on all public holidays except Christmas Day.

Each bus stop and shelter is numbered, and timetable information is posted at the stop, so you can confirm your service on the spot. Timetables and local service information are published at baybus.co.nz.

Interchanges and regional connections

Tauranga has a central city bus interchange, and a second major hub at Arataki, on Farm Street behind Bayfair Shopping Centre. Arataki is one of the busiest bus hubs in the city, and its upgrades improved accessibility and safety with better streetlighting, CCTV, a shared user path and high-capacity shelters featuring artwork by local hapū and artist Stu McDonald.

Regional buses link Tauranga with Rotorua, Te Puke, Katikati, Whakatane, Opotiki, Kawerau and Omokoroa. All regional services to Katikati, Rotorua, Te Puke, Omokoroa and Whakatane — along with InterCity, Newmans, Naked Bus and charter, tour and cruise ship buses — stop at and depart from Wharf Street. For regional bus enquiries, call 0800 4 BAYBUS. InterCity also stops in downtown Tauranga en route from other parts of New Zealand, and the TwinCity Express runs a twice-daily bus from Rotorua to central Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.

School buses in the urban area are managed by the regional council and branded Schoolhopper. For other bus services, contact an i-SITE Visitor Information Centre or phone 07 578 8103.

Rail, metro and trams

Tauranga has no passenger rail, metro or tram network for visitors to use. Getting around the city and its suburbs is done by bus, ferry, taxi, ride-hailing, car or on foot. If you are arriving by long-distance bus or by air, plan your onward travel around the bus network rather than any rail connection.

Ferries and harbour travel

The harbour is a defining feature of Tauranga, and boats are part of how you can move around it. Tauranga Water Transport operates harbour scenic cruises and historic tours, a daily service on the Matakana Ferry between Omokoroa and Opureora, a ferry service between Salisbury Wharf in Mount Maunganui and The Strand in the central city, and other charter services. The Mount Maunganui–central city ferry is a practical alternative to the bus or a taxi if you are crossing the harbour.

The Port of Tauranga is a deep-water harbour and a busy cruise hub, with the cruise port located in Mount Maunganui, north of downtown Tauranga. From the cruise ship dock at Salisbury Wharf, it is a short walk to the Mount's CBD on Maunganui Road, and many cruise lines provide shuttles to the Mount's CBD or to Tauranga's CBD. All of the attractions in Mount Maunganui are within a short radius of the Salisbury cruise port.

Getting between Mount Maunganui and the central city

If you arrive by cruise ship at Mount Maunganui and want to reach the city of Tauranga, you have several options:

Taxis and ride-hailing

Taxis are available for short hops and for reaching the city from the Mount, and a taxi is a quick option for the cross-harbour trip. Ride-hailing apps also operate in the city. For visitors basing themselves in the central city or at the Mount, taxis and ride-hailing are most useful for short, direct trips — for example, between the cruise port and the CBD, or for evenings when buses are less frequent.

Walking

Tauranga's central city is walkable for a visitor: from the i-SITE visitor centre at Willow and Wharf Streets, many of the city's top attractions, shopping and dining options are within a short walk. In Mount Maunganui, the attractions are clustered within a short radius of the Salisbury cruise port, and the Mount's CBD on Maunganui Road is a short walk from the dock. Walking is less practical for crossing between the central city and the Mount, since the harbour separates them — use the bus, ferry or a taxi for that trip.

Driving and bus lanes

Many visitors drive, and the city is reached by several state highways: State Highway 2 from Waihi and from Auckland via the scenic Karangahake Gorge; SH 29 over the Kaimai Range from the Waikato (also an option from Auckland via SH 27 onto SH 29); SH 36 from Rotorua via Pyes Pa; and SH 2 from Te Puke and the western Bay of Plenty (and Rotorua via SH 33).

If you drive in the city, be aware of bus lanes. Bus lanes are for buses, bicycles, motorbikes and mopeds only. Other vehicles may use a bus lane for no more than 50 metres before turning at an intersection or into a driveway, or when merging back into the main traffic lane after exiting a driveway. Illegal bus lane use may incur a $150 fine. There are specific local restrictions at Hairini, where drivers other than permitted classes may not exit Hairini Street onto Turret Road, and at Hewletts, where permitted vehicles may use the special vehicle (bus) lane for not more than 50 metres only to turn left into or out of side streets or properties.

Getting from the airport into the city

Tauranga Airport (TRG) has regular Air New Zealand direct flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. For onward travel into the city, the local Bay Hoppers bus network serves Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and surrounding areas, and taxis and ride-hailing are available for a direct trip to your accommodation. If you are continuing to Mount Maunganui or Papamoa, the bus network covers those areas too. Check baybus.co.nz for current timetables and routes, and remember that buses run seven days a week except Christmas Day.

Practical tips for visitors

Sources

  1. Tauranga
  2. Wikivoyage: Tauranga
  3. Buses - Tauranga City Council

About this place