Tauranga Hotels

Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Settled by Europeans in the early 19th century, and constituted as a city in 1963., Tauranga City is the fifth largest urban area in New Zealand, with an urban population of 116,000 (June 2008 estimate). The city lies in the north-western corner of the Bay of Plenty, on the south-eastern edge of the Tauranga Harbour. The city expands over an area of 168 square kilometres, and encompases the communities of (west to east) Bethlehem, Matua, Otumoetai, Greerton, central Tauranga, Maungatapu, Welcome Bay, Mount Maunganui, Bayfair, and Papamoa. Tauranga is one of New Zealand's main centers for business, international trade, culture, fashion, horticultural science, education and entertainment. It is home to renowned institutions covering a broad range of professional and cultural fields, and is one of the most substantial economic places, with the largest port in New Zealand, the Port of Tauranga. Tauranga is one of New Zealand's fastest growing cities, with a 14% increase in population between the 2001 census and the 2006 census. Tauranga is located around a large harbour that extends along the western Bay of Plenty, and is protected by Matakana Island and the extinct volcano of Mauao. Situated along a faultline, Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty experience infrequent seismic activity, and there are a few volcanoes around the area. The most notable of these are White Island and Mauao.