If you need to know anything about the ports of call on your cruise, where the ship berths, how you find your guide and tour vehicle, what transport options there are, then this page is where you need to look.

If you have any information that you think would be useful for fellow passengers please let us know and we will try and incorporate it.  If you notice any errors or omissions please advise us.

General Information

Although ships are shown as docking at the Port of Tauranga, the location of the berth is actually on the Mount Maunganui side of the harbour.  'The Mount' as it is know locally, is the beach suburb of Tauranga City. To get to the City you need to take a local bus [service 1 or 2] or taxi as it is about 4 kilometres away on the other side of the harbour bridge. Some ships offer a shuttle service, though often not free.

A short 10 minute walk from the ship takes you into the main downtown area of Mount Maunganui where you will find a wide range of shops, cafes and restaurants. There are banks, a post office and chemists. Normal shopping hours are 9am to 5pm, not all shops are open on Sundays, some are open later than 5pm.

Find your guide/tour

For Tours booked with Mount Classics, the guide/driver will normally be waiting close to the ships gangway, adjacent to the small security hut. They will be holding a Name Board, this will either show the name of the party [for Signature Class tours] or the name of the tour, such as TGA-7, for small group tours. For 2010/11 there is a new Information Office [I-Site] located inside the port adjacent to the ship.  Here you can obtain information on local activities and book tours. Tours TRG-1[Tour N] and TRG-2 [Tour Q] depart from outside the new Port I-site, look out for the signs fixed to the security fence showing N and Q, our staff will be on hand to assist.

Bus transport

Local buses operate 6 days a week [not Sundays]. the nearest stop is at the Mount Maunganui Visitor Information office [I-Site], just outside the port gate.  Service No.1 goes direct to Tauranga City, a 15 minute drive away.  Service No.2 goes to the City via Bayfair Shopping Mall, this service takes 45 minutes to the city. The cost of a single fare is $2.50, a day pass costs $6.00 NZ, you can buy tickets on the bus with cash, NZ dollars only. The services usually run every 20 minutes.

Ship Shuttle Service

For most large cruise ships there are free shuttles operating from the I-Site located within the port close to the ship. These are provided by local tour companies free of charge.

One takes you into the centre of Mount Maunganui, the beach resort area of Tauranga which has a great range of cafes, restaurants, gift shops and boutique retail shops, these are open 7 days a week. The Mount as the locals know it, has a great holiday atmosphere and its just a 7-8 minute drive from the ship. You are dropped in the centre of town, close to all the action and just a short walk from the harbour and ocean beaches, the Hot Pools at the base of The Mount, and the start of the walking tracks around and up the Mount.  You can also walk back to the ship in around 15 minutes if you wish.

The second shuttle takes you across the harbour bridge to the main business district of Tauranga.  Here there are also a good range of shops and cafes, but shops are mostly closed on Sundays.  Its not possible to walk back to the ship from Tauranga so you will need to make sure you catch the shuttle back in good time.

Taxis

Taxis in New Zealand are strictly regulated, like all passenger transport, and can usually be found close to the ship in their designated ranks. Taxis can not refuse a fare if asked and can not charge more than the fee shown on the taxi meter which must be switched on once the journey begins. Some taxis also accept payment by credit card, but not all, so its best to check before starting the journey.  If you need a special mobility taxi [suitable for wheel chair users] then the Mount Taxis Company have a few of these.

Information office

There are 2 Visitor Information offices [I-Sites], one is located inside the port adjacent to the ship, the Mount Maunganui I-Site is now closed on ship visit days. The other is in the Tauranga City centre, a 15 minute bus ride away.  You can book Mount Classics operated tours on the day at both I-sites, but availability is limited.

Telephone Info

The emergency number in New Zealand is 111 [though 911 also works].  The dialing code for international calls is 00, followed by the country code.  The local area code is 07 which need not be dialed for local calls.  Low cost phone cards can be purchased from the I-Site offices and at many other retail outlets.

Shopping

The Mount Maunganui main street, just 150 metres from the port gates, offers a wide range of shops, cafes and restaurants.  There are a number of banks [with ATM machines] a post office, pharmacies, a doctor, Internet cafes, all within a short walk.  For more extensive shopping options then the Bayfair Shopping Mall is just 4km away [bus or taxi] and has 90 shops all undercover.  A Food Court also offers a wide range of good value eating options.  Just opposite Bayfair is a golf driving range and mini putt course.  The main city is Tauranga, a 4km bus or taxi ride across the harbour bridge, where you will find a wide range of shops and cafes.

Walks

This is one of the best ports in New Zealand for walking as the ships berth is very close to a number of great local walks.
Take a stroll along Pilot Bay, adjacent to the ship and in about 15 minutes you will find yourself at the base of Mount Maunganui, the extinct volcanic core that gives its name to the town.  You can either take an easy walk around the base track [allow 45 minutes] or if you are feeling fit, why not try the 800 ft climb to the top for a truly spectacular view, there are a number of paths that lead to the summit, all are clearly marked so you wont get lost, just tired. Information boards at the start of the walks tell you some of the history of The Mount.
The circular walk brings you back to Pilot Bay, but why not take a short detour and head out along the famous Mount Ocean Beach, lined with cafes, a great place to enjoy the atmosphere of this, New Zealands favourite summer resort destination.
After all that exertion you may want to relax in the Mount Hot Salt Water open air pools, located at the base of The Mount, between the Harbour and Ocean beaches, these are open all day and are available for visitors to use for a small charge.  You can also arrange massages here and there a wide range offered.