Just across Tauranga Bridge in the Mount Maunganui area, there’s some wonderful running, with three elements that can be done separately or combined: trails around the base of Mount Mauao or to the 232m summit; a waterfront path along Marine parade; and many km of idyllic beach running.
Maunganui Beach. Google Street View
Mount Mauao Trails. This lush mountain — an extinct volcano — overlooks the sea and is one of Tauranga’s most popular spots, attracting 1 million visitors annually. There’s a running option for everyone here! Most popular for running is the 3.4 km pink Base Trail(TE ARA TŪTANGA), an easy, wide gravel trail that circumvents the base of Mount Mauao. There are great views of the harbour and large rocks in the ocean as you run underneat a canopy of pohutukawa trees.
To reach the summit, there are two trails rated as moderate: the Motukauri Track (blue trail), which rises 232m over 2 km one-way; and the steeper Waikorire Track (green trail), which is 1.2 km one-way and is mostly stairs. The trails are wide & gravel surfaced. There are several lookout points, featuring great views of Western Bay, Tauranga and Matakana Island, with the Coromandel Peninsula and Kaimai Ranges in the background.
Marine Parade & The Mall. A nice waterfront path runs along Marine Parade on the east side of the peninsula for 4.3 km, between the Mount Mauao base and Tweed St./Oceanbeach Rd. There are wide open views of the Bay of Plenty. Optional Add-On: Take a jaunt up the short, steep Mount Drury, at the north end of Marine Parade.
On the west side, there’s a waterfront sidewalk alongside The Mall/Pilot Bay Beach that goes for ~1.2 km, with nice water views. You can do a nice loop combining Marine Parade and the Mall, as they’re only 500m apart.
Combining Marine Parade and the Mount Mauao Base Trail is a fantastic 7.8 km run! Optional Add-On: run the scenic trail out to Moturiki Island (Leisure Island).
Beach Running. There are many km of wonderful beach running here, featuring reliably firm sand. It’s ~1 km along Maunganui Beach, which continues as the even wider Papamoa Beach for 15+ km.
Add-Ons: The Pāpāmoa Walkway is a 6.4 km trail through several open space preserves in the Pāpāmoa Beach area.
Just across Tauranga Bridge in the Mount Maunganui area, there’s some wonderful running, with three elements that can be done separately or combined: trails around the base of Mount Mauao or to the 232m summit; a waterfront path along Marine parade; and many km of idyllic beach running.
Maunganui Beach. Google Street View
Mount Mauao Trails. This lush mountain — an extinct volcano — overlooks the sea and is one of Tauranga’s most popular spots, attracting 1 million visitors annually. There’s a running option for everyone here! Most popular for running is the 3.4 km pink Base Trail(TE ARA TŪTANGA), an easy, wide gravel trail that circumvents the base of Mount Mauao. There are great views of the harbour and large rocks in the ocean as you run underneat a canopy of pohutukawa trees.
To reach the summit, there are two trails rated as moderate: the Motukauri Track (blue trail), which rises 232m over 2 km one-way; and the steeper Waikorire Track (green trail), which is 1.2 km one-way and is mostly stairs. The trails are wide & gravel surfaced. There are several lookout points, featuring great views of Western Bay, Tauranga and Matakana Island, with the Coromandel Peninsula and Kaimai Ranges in the background.
Marine Parade & The Mall. A nice waterfront path runs along Marine Parade on the east side of the peninsula for 4.3 km, between the Mount Mauao base and Tweed St./Oceanbeach Rd. There are wide open views of the Bay of Plenty. Optional Add-On: Take a jaunt up the short, steep Mount Drury, at the north end of Marine Parade.
On the west side, there’s a waterfront sidewalk alongside The Mall/Pilot Bay Beach that goes for ~1.2 km, with nice water views. You can do a nice loop combining Marine Parade and the Mall, as they’re only 500m apart.
Combining Marine Parade and the Mount Mauao Base Trail is a fantastic 7.8 km run! Optional Add-On: run the scenic trail out to Moturiki Island (Leisure Island).
Beach Running. There are many km of wonderful beach running here, featuring reliably firm sand. It’s ~1 km along Maunganui Beach, which continues as the even wider Papamoa Beach for 15+ km.
Add-Ons: The Pāpāmoa Walkway is a 6.4 km trail through several open space preserves in the Pāpāmoa Beach area.
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Essentials
Numerous options: Mount Mauao Base Trail is a 3.4 km loop. Combine w/Marine Parade is 7.8 km (4.9 miles)
Marine Parade is flat; Mount Mauao Base Trail is ~57m (190 feet); The summit trails rise 230m (750 feet)
At Maunganui Beach, good start to Base Trail, Marine Parade, or beach run
One of the most popular runs in Tauranga. Scenic 8.2 km loop around the estuary, past mangroves, wetlands and marshland. Nice water views. West side especially scenic. Path a mix of paved, gravel, & boardwalk. Good add-on options.
Another nice waterfront run in central Tauranga. The concrete path goes for 3.3 km between Tauranga Port and Fergusson Park. There are lovely views of Plenty Bay, and some nice shade trees. Add with Waikareao Estuary loop.
A great run in downtown Tauranga combining a 1.4 km waterfront path with the 1 km former railroad bridge that's now a pedestrian/cycle path across Waipu Bay. Great views, popular, and a festive scene. Also a running track just inland.
An easy, flat run along a narrow stream in South Tauranga. There are paved & unpaved options, and a nice detour into Cambridge Park. Up to 6 km one-way. At the north end, can connect to the Waikareao Estuary Walkway.
Terrific running in the Pāpāmoa Beach area: The inland 6.4 km Pāpāmoa Walkway passing through several green Reserve areas; a 3 km multi-use trail along Pāpāmoa Beach Rd; and 15+ km of idyllic beach running.
Johnson Reserve is a nice running option in the Welcome Bay suburb. The easy 1.9 km trail follows streams, wetland areas, native bush and open grassed areas. Nearby Waioraka Reserve has has a 1 km trail. Can combine using Welcome Bay Rd.
It's worth the 10 minute drive from Tauranga to enjoy easy to moderate trail running in this 190 hectare shaded park, known for its waterfalls & lakeside trail. Good shade option on a hot day. See glow worms after dusk!
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Essentials
Numerous options: Mount Mauao Base Trail is a 3.4 km loop. Combine w/Marine Parade is 7.8 km (4.9 miles)
Marine Parade is flat; Mount Mauao Base Trail is ~57m (190 feet); The summit trails rise 230m (750 feet)
At Maunganui Beach, good start to Base Trail, Marine Parade, or beach run
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