If ever there was a city in which to indulge in some free-time - Tauranga is it! There is something for everyone, from the adrenaline rush of a skydive or a 4 wheel drive experience, to a walk around Mauao or a soak in the hot pools.

With its warm climate, no wonder Tauranga is famous for its outdoor pursuits, whether it’s just lazing on the white sand or surfing the country’s best beaches at Mount Maunganui. There are plenty of boating, diving and fishing opportunities or, if you are more accustomed to staying on dry land, a myriad of sporting, tramping and recreational choices awaits you. Adventurers can immerse themselves white water rafting, kayaking, scuba diving, big game fishing, parasailing, kitesurfing and sky diving. In addition, an extreme sports park is being planned to ensure Tauranga is a leader in the sports of skateboarding, BMX and inline skating.

For those with a more laid-back lifestyle in mind, there are bush and waterfront walking trails, golf courses, wineries and markets to visit. The beach provides opportunities to go sailing, fishing and swimming, as well as whale and dolphin watching, with the warm climate ensuring these activities can be enjoyed all year round.

The city of Tauranga also has a thriving café and restaurant scene and a night-life diverse enough to suit all tastes – from fine dining to relaxed cafes, or the best fish & chips you’ll ever taste at sunset on the beach. In addition, the city is less than an hour's drive from the massive geothermal basin of Rotorua, two hours to the snow ski slopes of Tongariro National Park and a short boat trip to White Island, New Zealand's only live marine volcano.

Throughout the year, Tauranga has a number of popular events and festivals which draw people into the region from far and wide.

Blues, Brews & BBQ's is a boutique outdoor beer festival held in January each year during the peak holiday season. It pays homage to the craft of brewing, enabling small and large brewers alike to present their premier beers to a large and appreciative audience. The barbecue is also a real taste sensation with some of the leading chefs from each region serving up gourmet grill fare including ostrich, West Coast whitebait fritters and everything else that you would expect from a ‘barbie’. All this is served up to a background of live music with a strong blues flavour from New Zealand and international musicians. This event is so popular, tickets regularly sell out within a few hours.

The Tauranga Boutique Food and Wine Festival is also held every year, featuring wines from throughout New Zealand and sumptuous food from local restaurants and cafes. A host of entertainment is provided throughout the day to ensure a great atmosphere at the outdoor venue.

The Port of Tauranga Half Ironman is one of the major triathlons in New Zealand and a flagship event in the Bay of Plenty. It is the longest-running half ironman triathlon in New Zealand, with the 19th event held in January 2008. The course takes in all the prime locations at Mount Maunganui – a sea swim in the beautiful and protected Pilot Bay, a four-lap bike course along the beachfront and a two-lap run circuit including the base track of Mount Maunganui (Mauao).

A unique multi-sport attraction, the Kaimai Classic Multisport Event, incorporates some of the best scenery in the Bay of Plenty with athletes cycling, kayaking and running 67 kilometres throughout the region. The McLarens Falls to Te Puna race starts with a five kilometre bush run, followed by a 17 kilometre mountain bike ride, an 11 kilometre scenic kayak and a 23 kilometre road ride. The race culminates with a challenging 11 kilometre run over the mighty Minden, offering athletes a breath-taking view of the Bay of Plenty.

With some of the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand, it's no surprise there are a number of ocean-based sporting competitions regularly hosted in the Bay of Plenty. The More FM Pro Tour International Beach Volleyball makes great use of hot days and Mount Maunganui's popular Main Beach, showcasing the game at its highest level.

The region's ability to attract international sporting events will increase significantly when New Zealand's first artificial surfing reef is completed at Mount Maunganui. Designed using sophisticated computer models, the Mount Surf Reef will be 250 metres offshore and 0.4 metres below the lowest tide level, providing world class surfing waves for a 50-100 metre ride. The reef will also provide a unique marine habitat which will be the focus for research into multi-purpose benefits.

In addition, an extreme sports park is being planned to ensure Tauranga is a leader in the sports of mountain biking, rallying, motocross, 4x4, equestrian, tramping, orienteering, skateboarding, BMX and inline skating. Set in some 1260 hectares of land largely comprising forestry and bush, the park will be developed in stages over the next two decades.

The coastal Bay of Plenty is home to popular bike trails to suit both beginners and keen adventurists. Take a scenic bike ride or opt for an adventurous mountain biking experience. Oropi Grove is a mountain bike park with plenty of good single tracks. This park, situated off Oropi Road, offers many challenging trails through the forest on a single track with a bit of gravel road.

The Baywave TECT Aquatic & Leisure Centre is dedicated to providing a pleasant, enjoyable and safe experience at a community leisure centre second to none. Comprising a hydroslide and wave pool, recreational, competitive and aqua aerobics swimming facilities, a health club and childcare facilities, Baywave also provides learn to swim, holiday and after school care programmes as well as arranging birthday parties at the complex.