Down town the Mount has over 230 stores and businesses, a shopping and dining destination all year round.  It’s home to a thriving cafe and restaurant culture of around 60 places, boasting a plethora of NZ and international cuisine.  Whether you’re in the mood for fish n’ chips on the beach or a fine dining experience, there are plenty of options to tempt your taste buds.

You’ll also find some of the best boutique shopping in NZ here, featuring more than 30 specialist women’s clothing stores including many high-end fashion boutiques. All in an easy walking village setting combined!

MT MAUNGANUI

​Voted New Zealand’s best beach, ‘the Mount’ is the ultimate destination. With perfect white sand and thundering waves, you won’t find a better place to go for a run then socialise.

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You just can’t beat the Mount’s Main Beach.This is the ultimate spot to swim, surf and sunbathe and this glorious stretch of golden sand has been voted the best beach in the country.

You’ll find thousands of beachgoers every day here in summer but there’s more than enough room for you to spread out on the sizzling sand and enjoy a dip in the warm ocean waves.

Sea temperatures can reach 21°C or more in summer so this is a popular place to swim. Conditions are generally safe but waves can occasionally be rough and rips can form. The Mount Maunganui surf lifeguards regularly patrol this beach so look for their flags to find the safest area to swim.
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This beach sits at the base of Mauao, Mt Maunganui’s iconic mountain, and runs for approximately 1km along to Moturiki (Leisure) Island.

Moturiki is connected to the beach by a man-made land bridge and features a spectacular blowhole at the far end of the island which bursts into life during a large swell or high tide. It’s also a great place to enjoy panoramic ocean views and look back along the coastline. A well-formed walking track will lead you from the beach right to the very top and takes about 15 minutes.

Moturiki Island is also the best place to fish in this area because the beach itself is usually too busy for surf-casting. You can catch snapper, kahawai and gurnard off the rocks here.

Surfers and boogie boarders love the Main Beach and you’ll find hundreds of people riding waves of all sizes here. Sign up for a surf lesson and hire a board on the sand dunes beside the beach. Local surf instructors teach complete newbies through to experienced surfers who want a hand refining their technique. You can often find a good left-hand break off the northern (Mauao) end of the beach, or a good right-hand wave at the southern end.

Main Beach is also a fantastic place to people-watch. You’re likely to come across both impromptu and organised games of beach volleyball, soccer, cricket and more. National and regional surf lifesaving competitions are held on this beach in summer, drawing large crowds and lots of other entertainment.

Car parking is available right along the beach, although it’s extremely busy during weekends and over summer. Public toilets can be found at Mt Drury Reserve opposite Moturiki (Leisure) Island, and a popular boardwalk runs the full length of Main Beach up behind the sand dunes.

Right across the road you’ll find a string of cafes and restaurants where you can grab a coffee and something delicious to eat, or an ice-cold treat from one of the local ice-cream parlours.
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The Mount’s Main Beach is extremely popular because it ticks every box – a fantastic place to relax and have fun with the whole family.