There’s a moment most parents have at the Mount. The kids are already running for the water before you’ve put down the beach bag, the sun is out, Mauao rises green and solid behind you, and you realise there’s genuinely nowhere else you’d rather be. Mount Maunganui has a way of doing that to families.
It’s one of New Zealand’s best places to holiday with children, and that’s not just the salt air talking. The beach is patrolled, the cafes are good, there’s a geothermal hot pool directly across the road from where you’re staying, and the list of things to do in Mount Maunganui with kids runs from free coastal walks to indoor climbing centres and New Zealand’s biggest wave pool. This guide covers the lot.
6 on Adams is right at the base of the Mount, 200 metres from the main beach and 100 metres from Pilot Bay. The self-contained apartments have full kitchens and in-unit laundry, which matters more than it sounds when you’re travelling with kids. Everything in this guide is either walkable from the front door or a short drive away.
Here’s what’s covered:
Beach Days at Main Beach, Pilot Bay and Shark Alley
Coastal Walks – Pilot Bay Boardwalk and Marine Parade
Moturiki Island (Leisure Island) Exploration
BayWave TECT Aquatic and Leisure Centre
Rocktopia Indoor Climbing
Moturiki Island Coastal Exploration
Local Playgrounds at Mount Drury Reserve and Moa Park
Fishing, Kayaking and Water Activities at Pilot Bay
Beach Days at Main Beach, Pilot Bay and Shark Alley
Mount Maunganui Main Beach is 200 metres from 6 on Adams and is one of the most popular surf beaches in the Bay of Plenty. It’s patrolled by surf lifeguards during summer and is best for older children and confident swimmers. Always swim between the flags. Surf Life Saving New Zealand publishes beach safety guidance if you want to check conditions before you go.
For families with toddlers or younger children, Pilot Bay is the better call. It’s on the sheltered harbour side of the peninsula, just 100 metres from 6 on Adams, and the calm, shallow water makes it ideal for small kids to wade and splash without the anxiety of surf. The grassy reserve alongside is great for picnics and letting little ones run. Kayak and paddleboard hire is available here in summer for families who want to get out on the water.
Shark Alley is the local name for the sheltered stretch between the main beach and Moturiki Island. Despite the name there’s nothing alarming about it. The smaller, gentler waves make it popular with families, and it’s a great spot for children who are building confidence in the sea for the first time. The natural enclosure gives parents peace of mind.
Coastal Walks – Pilot Bay Boardwalk and Marine Parade
With Mauao’s tracks closed while remediation work continues, the good news is there’s still excellent walking right on the doorstep of 6 on Adams and none of it requires a car.
The Pilot Bay boardwalk runs along the harbour foreshore directly outside the property and offers easy, flat walking with views across Tauranga Moana. You can watch the ships moving through the harbour entrance, catch a sunset from one of the benches, and let younger children run along the grassed reserve beside the water. It’s entirely pram-friendly and takes as long as you want it to. The Pilot Bay foreshore is one of those walks that becomes a daily habit during a stay at the Mount.
For something longer, the Marine Parade Coastal Path runs 3 kilometres parallel to the main beach and connects to the existing Main Beach boardwalk. Opened in December 2023, the path is 4 metres wide and designed to accommodate walkers, cyclists, pushchairs, and wheelchairs. Being slightly elevated above the beach, it offers sweeping views along the coastline from Mauao out toward Pāpāmoa.
You will find wooden bench seats, picnic tables, public barbeques, and a playground along the route. It’s the kind of walk that’s easy to do with kids of any age and just as easy to repeat on a different day. Start from the cafe end opposite Mauao and walk southeast,or you can do it in reverse and stop for an ice cream at the end.
Moturiki Island (Leisure Island) Exploration
Most people at the Mount head straight to the beach. Moturiki Island, also known as Leisure Island, is the one that tends to surprise families, and it’s well worth an hour of your time.
The island is connected to the main beach by a land bridge, so there’s no boat required. It has a layered history: originally a Māori pā, then a quarry, then home to the Marineland aquarium in 1966 and later a waterpark, before becoming the walking reserve it is today. The stones from the quarry were used as railway ballast around the Bay of Plenty in the early 1900s, which is a decent piece of trivia to deliver to children mid-walk.
At high tide, the blowhole at the northern tip of Moturiki Island shoots seawater dramatically into the air. Timing a visit around high tide turns a short walk into something genuinely memorable. The rock pools around the island’s edges are worth exploring too, and the elevated sections offer good views back over the main beach and surfers below. It’s completely free and takes about twenty minutes to reach the blowhole from the beach.
BayWave TECT Aquatic and Leisure Centre
When the weather turns, BayWave TECT Aquatic and Leisure Centre is the answer. Around ten minutes’ drive from 6 on Adams, it’s fully indoors and operates year-round, so it’s a reliable backup plan for any Bay of Plenty holiday regardless of what the sky is doing.
BayWave has the largest wave pool in New Zealand and draws over 300,000 visitors a year. Beyond the wave pool, there’s a 25-metre lap pool, hydroslides, a spa, and the Aqua Play Station. That last one is designed specifically for children aged three to twelve, with water guns, a tipping bucket, slides, and fountains, and it’s included with general entry. Younger children can happily spend an entire afternoon there.
Guests staying at 6 on Adams receive a 20% discount on entry to BayWave. It’s a good idea to go earlier in the day during school holidays to beat the crowds. The onsite Poolside Cafe means you don’t need to plan around lunch, and no booking is needed for general swim sessions.
Rocktopia Indoor Climbing
Another excellent wet-weather option, Rocktopia is an indoor climbing centre in Mount Maunganui suitable for children from age two. The Clip ‘N’ Climb area has 26 different challenges, ranging from beginner-friendly to genuinely testing. All participants get a safety briefing before they start, which means parents can relax while kids figure out they’re braver than they thought.
For older children and parents who want more of a challenge, the sport climbing and bouldering zones offer serious routes at a range of grades. It’s a great option for families with a wide age range, because younger kids and older ones can be doing something meaningful at the same time in the same space.
Wear sports shoes and book ahead if you’re visiting in school holidays.
Local Playgrounds at Mount Drury Reserve and Moa Park
Mount Drury Reserve Playground is the largest playground at the Mount and a short walk from 6 on Adams. It’s well set up for a morning out with young children, with a flying fox, climbing nets, swings, slides, a disability swing, a BBQ area, and public toilets. Mount Drury suits children of all ages and works well as a morning activity before a beach afternoon.
Moa Park on Ocean Beach Road is popular for its ship-themed play structure, which younger children in particular tend to love. It frequently hosts birthday parties on weekends, which tells you something about how much kids enjoy it. Public toilets are onsite here too.
Both are maintained by Tauranga City Council and are easy to work into any day at the Mount.
Fishing, Kayaking and Water Activities at Pilot Bay
Pilot Bay is already where you’ll head for calm-water swimming, but it has more going for it than a quiet paddle. Salisbury Wharf sits right there on the harbour side, and it’s one of those genuinely enjoyable low-key activities that families tend to stumble on and then do every day for the rest of the holiday. Drop a line off the wharf, wait with children, and see what happens. No experience needed, no gear required beyond a basic line and some bait. Snapper and kahawai are the common catches, and the anticipation of the wait tends to hold kids’ attention far better than expected.
6 on Adams is 100 metres from Pilot Bay, so it couldn’t be easier to get there. Kayak and paddleboard hire is available in summer for families who want to explore the harbour from the water, and the calm conditions mean even younger children can join in with confidence.
For families wanting something bigger, Waimarino Adventure Park is around a 15 minute drive from the Mount and offers water slides, an aqua log ride, and wakeboarding on the Wairoa River. Surf lessons are also available along the main beach from local surf schools and are a good option for children aged eight and over who are already comfortable in the ocean.
About Mauao and the Mount Hot Pools
Mauao, the volcanic cone that gives the suburb its name, is the most iconic feature of the Mount. The te reo Māori name means roughly ‘caught by the dawn,’ and on a clear day the summit views across the Bay of Plenty are genuinely worth the climb. Mauao’s walking tracks and the Mount Hot Pools are currently closed to the public.
Tauranga City Council is working through an extensive remediation programme. The summit track is expected to reopen once safety assessments and track work are complete, with a possible re-opening in September 2026. The base track is expected to take longer. For the most current information on reopening timelines, the Tauranga City Council website is the best place to check before your visit.
The hot pools across the road from 6 on Adams remain closed while the council assesses the site. In the meantime, 6 on Adams guests receive a 20% discount on entry to BayWave, a worthwhile alternative with New Zealand’s largest wave pool, hydroslides, and family facilities all under one roof.
Ready to Book Your Family Stay at the Mount
From toddling around Pilot Bay at low tide to conquering the summit of Mauao, Mount Maunganui has something to offer at every age and stage. The Mount is compact enough that a good holiday doesn’t require a car or a complicated itinerary. Most of what’s listed here is walkable from the right base.
6 on Adams puts your family 200 metres from the main beach and 100 metres from Pilot Bay, with self-contained apartments ranging from studios through to a three-bedroom penthouse. Full kitchens, in-unit laundry, secure underground parking, and a 20% guest discount on the Mount Hot Pools across the road make it one of the most practical and genuinely enjoyable places to stay at the Mount.
Browse our family-friendly apartment types and check availability for your next Mount Maunganui stay, or see more of what’s on our doorstep on the 6 on Adams local attractions page.
Book direct with us – our warm and friendly team are looking forward to making your stay the best family fun getaway!
