Tauranga is a coastal city in the Bay of Plenty region and the fifth-most populous city of New Zealand. The country’s largest port city, Tauranga is located around a large harbour that and is protected by Matakana Island and the extinct volcano of Mauao. It’s a popular visitor destination for its waterfront location, beaches, and nearby mountains with waterfalls and lakes. With its spectacular geographic setting, there are wonderful options for running in Tauranga.
Many of the best places to run in Tauranga are centrally located and adjacent, so there are good opportunities to mix & match. Discover downtown on foot by running along The Strand and over the Matapihi Footbridge. The popular 8 km Waikareao Estuary Walkway loop, Port to Park Walkway, and Kopurererua Stream Trail are also near central Tauranga. Just across Tauranga bridge, there’s nice waterfront running in the Mount Maunganui area, which can be combined with trails around Mount Mauao and to its 232m summit. In Pāpāmoa, there’s idyllic beach running along the 15+ km beach, and an interior 6.4 km Walkway passing through scenic green space. In the Welcome Bay suburb, there are some easy trails through open space preserves. For some trail running, McLaren Falls Park is a popular destination.
