Driving Route : Auckland - Gisborne - Auckland

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Day 3 : Tauranga to Whakatane

Travel time is approximate only, based on an average driving speed under normal road conditions.

	Travel time	Km	(Miles)
Tauranga - Whakatane	1.5 hrs	112	70
Totals for Day	1.5 hrs	112	70

Tauranga - Whakatane

112 km (70 miles)
Approximately 1.5 hours
Road Conditions: State Highway

The prosperous city of Tauranga sprawls along the edge of an attractive harbour. There's a well developed café culture and boat charters are available to take you big game fishing, snorkelling or dolphin watching. Nearby Mt Maunganui is a destination for surfing and beach walking.

It's an easy drive to Te Puke, a town that has turned its kiwifruit industry into visitor entertainment. As you drive eastward, fabulous views of the surf coast are with you nearly all the way.

At Matata you can choose to take the main highway through the town of Edgecumbe, famous for its 1987 earthquake, or you can follow the scenic coastal route via Thornton and Paroa.

Whakatane is one of the sunniest towns in New Zealand. Just offshore is White Island, a spectacular active volcano that can be visited by launch or helicopter. Other Whakatane attractions include the museum, an observatory and Māori historical sites. In summer, dolphin swimming is the thing to do.

View more Auckland driving routes.

Directory Information

Tauranga, Bay of Plenty:
Accommodation, Attractions and Activities, Tours, Transport, Visitor Information

Whakatane, Bay of Plenty:
Accommodation, Attractions and Activities, Tours, Transport, Visitor Information

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