Whakatane - Auckland

The Pacific Coast Highway leads you to some of New Zealand's most popular beaches, including the seaside playground of Ohope Beach, the tranquil delights of Papamoa, and dig your own spa pool at Hot Water Beach. Visit the Kiwifruit Capital and Mount Maunganui. Witness the natural wonders of the smouldering White Island, Cormandel's Cathedral Cove and Karangahake Gorge.

Where can you combine the adventure of kayaking with the breathtaking sight of glowworms twinkling above you? The answer lies with Waimarino Adventure Park in the Bay of Plenty. Take a kayaking trip that starts at dusk on picturesque Lake McLaren to one of the region's hidden gems.

With only the moon and the stars to guide you, you'll paddle in a two-person kayak towards the glowworm canyon. Kayaking at night is an experience like no other – you'll feel closer to nature than ever before as your senses are sharpened and your paddling blends with the sounds of the night.

Once you reach the glowworm cavern and are guided inside, the sight will surely take your breath away. All around you, glowworms adorn the walls of the canyon, and the starry night sky above is still visible as you float among a galaxy of living lights. Truly mesmerising!

Few people know about Maketu, a small beachside community just south of Tauranga. It's here that Briar's Seaside Rides run small, personalised horse treks along the beach and local farmland.

Feel the wind in your face and hear seashells crunching under hoof as calm-tempered horses take you and your family on a wonderful adventure. On clear days you can see the whole Bay of Plenty coastline from Coromandel to East Cape, as well as White Island puffing away on the horizon.

Tour durations range from 1.5 to 3 hours with overnight treks available on request for experienced riders. Either way, horse treks are a fantastic way to see the Bay of Plenty without requiring too much exertion – the horses do all the work for you!

If you do feel comfortable in jodhpurs, however, there's a chance for you to speed up to a canter or gallop along the beach in parts of the trek. And for novice riders there's a free 5-minute lesson before you get in the stirrups. Just don't forget your camera – the views are incredible!

It's the ultimate summer trifecta – good music, great beer and classic Kiwi fare. Without a doubt, the Blues, Brews & BBQs festival in Mt Maunganui is one of the hottest events on the Bay of Plenty calendar – and with good reason.

The festival boasts the largest collection of fine ales for any single event of its type, making it New Zealand's biggest celebration of brewing. While New Zealand is well recognised for its fine wines, our craft breweries go relatively unnoticed, despite producing world-class quality beers and ciders.

Well-known examples include Mac's, Monteith's and Speight's Craft Ales, many of which are popular for their traditional brewing methods, all-natural ingredients and quality taste.

To cater for all tastes, there's a selection of fine wine from the local Mills Reef Winery, cider is making a comeback with Bulmer Cider joining the line-up, and there will even be a tipple or two of schnapps to be found.

Locals and out-of-towners flock to Blake Park every year to partake in the festival, which has a strong family focus. It's a sure bet for summer, with a good time guaranteed for all.

If you're not into blues, then simply go along for the atmosphere. If you don't drink brews, there are plenty of non-alcoholic drinks on offer. And if you don't like barbecues, well, can you really call yourself a Kiwi?

Swimming with dolphins is a truly unforgettable experience, and it's something that the whole family will have fun doing. What's more, the Bay of Plenty is one of the best places in New Zealand to take the plunge – it's estimated that around 40,000 common dolphins have made the Bay their home.

Professional guides will take you on a cruise past spectacular scenery to reach the dolphins and see them frolicking in their natural habitat. Dolphins are naturally curious and friendly creatures, so usually they aren't afraid to get up close to you.

Most operators provide all the gear, but it pays to check what you will need to bring when you book. The minimum age for swimming with dolphins is usually five years old. It doesn't matter if you don't want to get in the water – these trips are also rewarding for anyone who just wants to check out the dolphins from the comfort of the boat.

"Surf down memory lane at the Mount Surf Shop" – so says their call to arms! Totara St in Mt Maunganui is home to New Zealand's only surf museum. With boards, books and memorabilia galore, local man Dusty Waddell's private collection is awesome to say the least.

There's a whopper range of over 500 surfboards on display: early wooden examples, psychedelic specimens from the sixties and the handcrafted polyurethane and fibreglass boards that professional surfers use today.

From short boards to very-longboards – you'll see a replica of the 4-metre planks they used to surf on in the 1930s! Gnarly!

The museum also showcases a few private possessions of Mickey Dora – legendary Malibu surfer, stuntman and fraudster. These include the Duke Kahanamoku Big Wave Invitation Trophy, personal photos, a snuffbox and wetsuit.

This collection of all things surfing is a great stop for wave enthusiasts and first-time surfers alike - and it's an iconic landmark for Mt Maunganui.

It's the scene of one of New Zealand's most famous battles – but not between people or tribes. This battleground was home to a conflict of a different type, where people actively fought to save a magnificent native podocarp forest.

Today, their efforts are incarnated in the beauty of the Whirinaki Forest Park. Whirinaki's beauty is conserved for everyone to enjoy through a fantastic network of walks, tracks and huts geared up for the amateur ambler through to the serious trekker.

Dubbed 'The Dinosaur Forest' by the esteemed Professor David Bellamy, Whirinaki will delight your senses as you walk in wonder past prehistoric trees, rushing rivers, caves, waterfalls, and a rich diversity of plant and wildlife.

While you won't see a raptor or T-Rex on your visit, you might be able to imagine yourself in the Jurassic age as you trudge along Whirinaki's damp forest trails of kahikatea and rimu.