Location: Bay of Plenty Region
Top Things to do in Bay of Plenty Region
Top Restaurants in Bay of Plenty Region
What to do and see in Bay of Plenty Region, North Island: The Best Specialty Museums
The Bay of Plenty (Māori: Te Moana-a-Toi) is a large bight in the northern coast of New Zealand's North Island. It stretches from the Coromandel Peninsula in the west to Cape Runaway in the east, a wide stretch of some 259 km of open coastline. The Bay of Plenty Region is situated around this body of water, also incorporating several large islands in the bay. The bay was named by James Cook after he noticed the abundant food supplies at several Māori villages there, in stark contrast to the earlier observations he had made in Poverty Bay.
Restaurants in Bay of Plenty Region
1. Bibleworld Musuem & Discovery Centre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 50 reviews
From June 2020, Bibleworld is open by appointment only. Visit our website to book an appointment - www.bibleworld.org.nz Bibleworld Museum and Discovery Centre is an enjoyable and interactive museum for adults and children to learn about the ancient world in which the Biblical events took place. We have a great range of scale models, ancient artefacts, replicas and hands on activities for all ages.
Reviewed By kim60_11 - Sunbury, Australia
We spent a very cold and rainy day in Rotorua, looking for possible indoor activities. So we dropped in to Bibleworld. A very enjoyable and informative visit - the displays are well presented, just enough detail to absorb and the interactive quiz exhibits are fun for adults and children. Congratulations to the couple who put it together; their passion and dedication to the place is obvious and they deserve to have many visitors. Entry is free but donations appreciated.
2. Mataatua: The House That Came Home
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 132 reviews
After more than 130 years away, Mataatua Wharenui - New Zealand's only repatriated and most travelled Maori meeting house - stands once again as the unifying soul of the Ngati Awa (one of the Maori tribes of the Bay of Plenty) New Zealand. Built in 1875, it travelled to Sydney, Melbourne, Victoria & Albert Museum and South Kensington Museum (London), Dunedin and Otago (South Island) before being rebuilt back in its place of origin, Whakatane, in 2011. Your journey at Mataatua (The Face of God) will Ignite the Soul within, as you discover the extraordinary story of the house that has travelled through time. Mataatua is a living and breathing being and our experience provides an opportunity for intimate engagement with the people of Ngati Awa. Be enthralled as the carvings and legends of Ngati Awa are brought to life through world-class digital technology. A spine tingling experience, HIKO; Legends Carved in Light, is the 2011 GOLD Nga Aho award winner from the New Zealand Designers Institute.
Reviewed By georginasisam - Auckland Central, New Zealand
A wonderful experience that broadens and deepens your knowledge of Maori and local culture. Highly recommend for anyone visiting Whakatane. Excellent hosts and guides. Welcoming, authentic, knowledgeable, interesting and talented. I wish all tours were like this one!
3. Te Amorangi Museum
4. Opotiki District Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By Tawhitokino
Opotiki museum is a brilliant provincial asset, with high quality and extensive displays covering a wide range of local history. Without doubt the highlight is the roadside shops with a large quantity of original contents from many time periods and a brilliant record of how things were done before computers arrived - a fabulous and sometimes overwhelming insight into a bygone era.
5. The Elms
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 124 reviews
Kia ora and welcome to The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga, one of the Bay of Plenty’s oldest heritage sites. As a place of early contact between Maori and Pakeha, this historic site remains at the centre of Tauranga’s history and identity today. Encompassing category one listed heritage buildings and nationally significant collections – all set within a diverse and tranquil garden setting – this one hectare property is a must-see destination for visitors to the region. For generations The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga has been a place for community to gather and learn - this tradition continues today. We invite you to come and journey through the expansive grounds, and enjoy a guided tour of the historic house and library. As you do you will get a rare glimpse into the past of this now bustling city. The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga has in time become a well known venue for special events in the Bay of Plenty. With stunning grounds and vintage buildings available for use, please consider The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga for your wedding or next function. With experienced co-ordinators on site we are ready to help plan your special events at this beautiful venue.
Reviewed By 51SandraS51 - Auckland, New Zealand
Unfortunately the house is being restored, but there is plenty to see during your visit. Our guide Judy, was very informative and it was really like stepping back in time. The old buildings - including the library (this is open), the new garden area - are really worth a visit.
6. Classic Flyers Aviation Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 55 reviews
Reviewed By Peggs
Classic Flyers isn't a big showy aviation museum, its a trust operated by a group of plane enthusiasts and volunteers who open their doors to the public. It lacks the finesse of other museums, but we loved it none-the-less. We took our kids to visit during the school holidays. We were helped by two of the volunteers, who were very knowledgeable and very happy to give our 9 year old (who loves planes) a lot time. One of the volunteers also showed us through the other hangers, making for a truly memorable experience. While its good in all weather, its better to visit on a fine day as there are outdoor aircraft displays which aren't so much fun when its raining. Definitely worth a visit.
7. Brain Watkins House Museum (Tauranga Historical Society)
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 6 reviews
The Brain Watkins House is owned and managed by the Tauranga Historical Society, whose volunteers maintain the house as a museum and open it to the public each Sunday from 2-4pm. Admission for public viewing is $5 (children free). Private group tours are arranged on request This unique historic property is located near the central business district of Tauranga city. Built in 1881 by Joseph Brain, it is registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category II Historic Place. Occupied by one family for nearly 100 years and filled with original contents, the house offers an insight into the life of a middle class European family of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It has many stories to tell, from the horse given shelter in the hall during the Tarawera eruption to the young couple separated by the First World War who reunited and married in their 70s. Tauranga Historical Society works to preserve and promote the historical and cultural heritage of the Bay of Plenty.
8. The Noble Doll Collection
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
