Tauranga City Council

Papamoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park

This park is a unique mix of pa sites, native forest and farmland.

The summit offers outstanding panoramic views of the Bay of Plenty coastline.

To the west is Mauao (Mount Maunganui) and Te Awanui (Tauranga Harbour), to the south-east is the Te Puke area, with Mount Ngongotaha visible to the south. Also visible are Mayor (Tuhua) and Motiti Islands and the still active volcano, Whakaari (White Island). The Coromandel Peninsula extends as a backdrop to the north with East Cape carving its way into the Pacific Ocean to the east.

Some tracks in the park are steep and the weather can change quickly. Make sure you wear suitable clothing and shoes, and have a reasonable level of fitness.

Papamoa hill is the highest point on the ridge (224m above sea level).

The Park can be seen from the coastline and from a wide area of the surrounding plains.

The Bay of Plenty’s first regional park, the Papamoa Hills Regional Park or Te Rae o Papamoa, opened to the public in July 2004. The focus of the Park is the rich Maori cultural history. It has a large number of archaeological sites and has many historical and ancestral associations.

History, Culture & Heritage

The Park is a significant cultural, recreational and historical asset to the people of the Bay of Plenty region. The Park is significant in New Zealand’s archaeological landscape as there are few examples of historical occupation of such complexity in such a relatively small area.

This can be attributed to a large extent to the careful management of the land by the McNaughton family since the late 1800s. It is an extremely valuable public asset that should be preserved and celebrated in the future.

How to get there:

From Tauranga or Mount Maunganui head south on State Highway 2 towards Te Puke for about 20km. Turn right into Poplar Lane. The parking area is 800m off the main highway on your right. From Te Puke, head north for approximately 5km before turning left into Poplar Lane.