Where is Mount Maunganui?

Mount Maunganui sits on a peninsula at the northeast tip of Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty on the North Island's east coast. It's connected to central Tauranga by the Tauranga Harbour Bridge.

What's the difference between Mauao and Mount Maunganui?

Mauao is the te reo Māori name for the mountain itself, meaning "caught by the morning sun". Mount Maunganui is the English name and also the name of the town that sits at its base. Locally everyone calls the mountain "The Mount".

How long does it take to climb Mauao?

The summit walk is about 30 to 45 minutes one way, depending on fitness. It's steep with stairs in places. The base track is flat and takes about 45 minutes to loop right around the mountain.

Are there hot pools at the Mount?

Yes. Mount Hot Pools are saltwater pools at the base of Mauao, fed from a deep saltwater geothermal source. Open year-round, with adult and family pools, and private rooms.

Is Mount Maunganui good for surfing?

Yes, it's regularly named one of New Zealand's best surf beaches. The Main Beach has consistent swell, Tay Street and Hart Street pick up groundswells, and Moturiki Island's blowhole produces rare long right-handers when conditions line up.

Which schools are in zone for Mount Maunganui?

Children living in Mount Maunganui are in zone for Mount Maunganui College, Mount Maunganui Intermediate School, Omanu School. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.

How do I check my school zone in Mount Maunganui?

Use the School Zone Checker on this page — enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.

Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty | Schools, Lifestyle & Local Guide

Est. Median Value: $1.17M
Median Weekly Rent: $546/wk
Safety Score: 31/100
Green Space: 17%
Current Weather: 10.1°C
Median Age: 39 yrs

Living in Mount Maunganui

Locals call it The Mount. Officially, the mountain itself is Mauao, which translates to "caught by the morning sun". It's a 232-metre lava dome formed two to three million years ago, sitting at the end of a tombolo, a narrow sand bar that connects it to the rest of the country. That geography is the whole story of the place. Surf beach on one side. Calm harbour beach (Pilot Bay) on the other. Two beaches, ten minutes apart.

The base track around Mauao takes about 45 minutes flat. The summit climb is steep and takes 30 to 45. The view from the top is the best on the whole Bay of Plenty coastline.

The town below is a holiday classic, sun-bleached, crowded in summer, quieter in winter. Hot Salt Water Pools at the foot of the mountain are open year-round. Mount Maunganui Surf Club has been here since 1914. The Mount was politically independent of Tauranga until the Tauranga Harbour Bridge was built in 1988, and some old-timers still keep the distinction.

The Port of Tauranga sits on the harbour side, so cruise ships dock right next to the holiday strip. Bay Oval hosts international cricket.

Is Mount Maunganui a good place to live?

Mount Maunganui is home to roughly 21,036 people across 8.0 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Mount Maunganui scores 54 out of 100, with a safety score of 31/100 and 17% green space.

Schools: Mount Maunganui has 9 schools in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.

Housing: The estimated median value is around $1.17M, and weekly rent typically sits around $546.

Lifestyle: Mount Maunganui has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 10.1°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.

Whether Mount Maunganui is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.

Map

Livability Breakdown

Safety31
Amenities100
Schools69
Housing Affordability32
Green space56
Community56
Transport30

Property & Economics

Est. Median Value: $1.17M
Median Weekly Rent: $546/wk
Median HH Income: $107K/yr
Pop. Growth (5yr): +2.2%
Data Year: 2023

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.

Nearby Suburbs

Browse all suburbs in Tauranga City →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Mount Maunganui?: Mount Maunganui sits on a peninsula at the northeast tip of Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty on the North Island's east coast. It's connected to central Tauranga by the Tauranga Harbour Bridge.
What's the difference between Mauao and Mount Maunganui?: Mauao is the te reo Māori name for the mountain itself, meaning "caught by the morning sun". Mount Maunganui is the English name and also the name of the town that sits at its base. Locally everyone calls the mountain "The Mount".
How long does it take to climb Mauao?: The summit walk is about 30 to 45 minutes one way, depending on fitness. It's steep with stairs in places. The base track is flat and takes about 45 minutes to loop right around the mountain.
Are there hot pools at the Mount?: Yes. Mount Hot Pools are saltwater pools at the base of Mauao, fed from a deep saltwater geothermal source. Open year-round, with adult and family pools, and private rooms.
Is Mount Maunganui good for surfing?: Yes, it's regularly named one of New Zealand's best surf beaches. The Main Beach has consistent swell, Tay Street and Hart Street pick up groundswells, and Moturiki Island's blowhole produces rare long right-handers when conditions line up.

Mount Maunganui Weather

Current conditions: 10.1°C, clear sky

Month	High (°C)	Low (°C)	Rainfall (mm/day)	Sunshine (hrs/day)
☀️ Jan	23.28	16.49	221.9	10.71
☀️ Feb	22.87	16.2	205.3	9.98
🍂 Mar	21.29	13.53	114.17	10.14
🍂 Apr	19.44	12.65	115.63	8.48
🍂 May	16.94	10.22	165.2	7.76
❄️ Jun	15.13	9.3	204.47	7.03
❄️ Jul	14.35	7.68	186.8	6.93
❄️ Aug	14.61	6.56	109.8	8.23
🌸 Sep	16.15	8.95	150.8	9.11
🌸 Oct	17.54	10.33	134.67	10.06
🌸 Nov	19.49	12.41	169.03	10.82
☀️ Dec	22.05	14.97	186.07	10.81

Living in Mount Maunganui

Is Mount Maunganui a good place to live?

Map

Livability Breakdown

Property & Economics

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools & Enrolment Zones in Mount Maunganui

Schools in zone for Mount Maunganui

Mount Maunganui College

Mount Maunganui Intermediate School

Omanu School

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Other nearby schools

Mount Maunganui Primary School

St Thomas More Catholic School

Arataki School

Te Kura o Matapihi

Pillans Point School

Tauranga Primary School

Explore Mount Maunganui

🎯Things to do(85)

Johnny Danger Lager

Gourmet Night Market

The Lion & Tusk Museum

BayActive

Soper Reserve

Golf Learning Centre

NextStep NZ

Papamoa Holiday Park

Mount Maunganui Jiu Jitsu

Speedfit Mount Maunganui

Kiaido Ryu Martial Arts

Team KO Taekwondo

Break The Cycle

Terminals

Vtnz

Mount Crossfit

The Studio

LIFE Personal Fitness

Global Gym

Fit Nation NZ

Golf Masters

Horoipia Reserve

Mount Dance Co

Mount Maunganui Tennis Club

Rocktopia

The Dance Centre

Reform Fitness Mt Maunganui

Rise Dance Company

bayfit nz

Macville Park

Laser Plumbing Mount Maunganui

The Collective Training

Mount Martial Arts Supplies.

Natural Fit

Tauranga City AFC

Strength Training Studio

Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club

UBX Mount Maunganui

Blake Park

Marine Parade

Coach Gurney

RAW Fitness HQ

Mount Sports Centre

Ian Hardie Golf Coach

Renegade Fitness

Raw Fitness Bay of Plenty

Moa Park

Unleashed Training Academy

Miles Rushmer Guiding

Result Based Training

Skydive Tauranga

Tauranga Bay of Plenty Petanque Club

Bay Boxfit

La Familia Gym

Bunker Golf Mount Maunganui

Tauranga Netball Centre

Things to do(85)

Parks & green spaces(11)

Healthcare(14)

Places to eat & drink(247)