Time is precious, so starting your next New Zealand road trip in one of the most scenic corners of the country is a good use of it. The Bay of Plenty is a playground of serene coastline, soft sandy shores and inviting beachside towns, the perfect mix of rural New Zealand and waterfront gems. Camplify owners list campervans, caravans and motorhomes along this coast, from Tauranga and Mount Maunganui through to Te Puke and Ōhope. You arrange pick-up directly with the owner, get a full run-down of how the van works, and can ask for insider tips on travelling the area. Start your road trip from one of these eight Bay of Plenty spots and the rest of the region opens up in front of you.
1. Tauranga
The largest city in the mighty Bay of Plenty, Tauranga is a hub for holidaymakers. Keep busy with water activities like fishing and swimming, or keep the pace slow and work your way through the city’s dining spots. Kiwi Comforts is a Bürstner Lyseo motorhome listed here that sleeps four, with drop-down beds that fold back into the ceiling so the living space stays open through the day. Stock up at a local supermarket and settle in, thanks to the cupboard space and a rack that carries two e-bikes. Luna is a 2005 Nissan Vanette in Tauranga that sleeps two, takes pets and starts from around $89 a day if you are travelling as a pair on a budget. Check out the historic suburb of Gate Pā, then venture out to Papamoa Beach for pristine shoreline and good cafes.
Browse the rest of the fleet on campervan hire in Tauranga.
2. Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui is known for its laid-back beach vibe, the long ocean beach and the esplanade of ice cream shops and cafes behind it. ‘The Mount’ is a relaxed summer spot, and the campervans listed there reflect this. Valerie is a Toyota Hiace that sleeps two and opens up at the rear, letting you lie on the bed with nature at your doorstep, and large windows keep the interior bright and coastal. At 4.72 metres she is short enough to park up whenever the feeling strikes, and she is listed from around $157 a day. Set up the camping table and chairs and soak in that Bay of Plenty sunshine. For a base on this stretch, Cosy Corner Holiday Park on Oceanbeach Road sits across the road from the sand, with powered sites, a solar-heated pool and a covered barbecue area. It runs as a summer park, open December to March plus Labour Weekend and Easter, so check the dates first.
3. Papamoa
Explore the 16 km of white sandy shoreline at Papamoa, a Tauranga suburb that is a destination in its own right. As with many Bay of Plenty spots, Papamoa is a great surf spot, and the campers listed along this coast suit that lifestyle. Surfer’s Escape is a 2006 Toyota Hiace listed a short run up the coast in Tauranga, sleeping two, with roof racks up top, two large solar panels and a powered fridge. Pets are welcome and it starts from around $112 a day, but the owner is clear it is not certified self-contained, so plan your nights around campgrounds.
If Papamoa is not just your starting point but your final destination, retro caravan Concord Sally can be waiting for you on arrival. She is a 1970 Concord that sleeps four, takes pets and starts from around $122 a day, and the owners deliver and set her up free at Papamoa and Mount Maunganui. There is no toilet on board, so she suits a campground rather than a freedom-camping trip. Tasman Holiday Parks – Papamoa Beach puts you straight onto the sand, with powered and unpowered sites, a heated pool and spa, a camp kitchen and a pizza oven. Pets are allowed on sites outside 19 December to 9 February, Easter weekend and Labour Weekend, so time the trip if the dog is coming. Everything else you need sits nearby, including dining spots like The Island on Domain Road and Beach Bar further along Papamoa Beach Road.
4. Katikati
Katikati is a wholesome rural town that introduces you to the Bay of Plenty with street-painted murals, sculptures and artworks dotted around town. It is a great place to roam and soak up the local community vibe, with the Western Bay Museum in the old fire station, twilight concerts through summer and a gin distillery on the outskirts. Hire from locals here and stay long enough to sample the fruit and vegetables growing around town, especially the avocados. Tapatoru Freedom Family, Solar is a four-berth Toyota Hiace listed here from around $191 a day, with solar power and an inverter so you can charge as you go. Its listing describes a new green self-contained certificate. Ask any owner to show you that green card before you count on freedom camping, because since June 2026 it is the only certificate New Zealand recognises and the fine for going without starts at $400.
5. Whakatāne
Whakatāne is a sunny town where the river meets the sea, with cultural significance to discover and a welcoming beach at the end of the road. It is a fine place to pick up your camper, because the eastern Bay is quieter and the driving between towns is easy. Park up at Riverside Whakatāne Holiday Park on McGarvey Road, which takes motorhomes, caravans and campervans, and spend a few days in the sun before continuing along the coast. Listings at this end of the region come and go with the season, so look at what is available on campervan hire in the Bay of Plenty before you fix a pick-up point. Ōhope Beach is just over the hill, about ten minutes away.
6. Ōhope
Ōhope is a beach town centered around beautiful Ōhope Beach. Surrounded by pōhutukawa trees and overlooking Whakaari / White Island, it is an especially picturesque spot in the Bay of Plenty. Here you will find Harmony, a Bürstner motorhome listed in Ōhope that sleeps four, from around $330 a night. Linen is included, there is a Nespresso machine for mornings on mains power, and it is self-contained with solar, water and a toilet for three or four nights off grid. The Bay of Plenty is often considered a summer destination, but the heating in ‘Harmony’ makes the cooler months workable too.
7. Waihī Beach
Waihī Beach sits at the northern end of the Bay of Plenty, and it rewards the detour. Start at Waihī itself, the historic gold mining town, then drive ten minutes towards the coast and the beach opens up in front of you. Long, quiet sand and a slow pace. Pick-up points at this end of the region come and go, so check what is listed on campervan hire, and be ready to collect your van at Katikati or Tauranga if nothing sits closer.
8. Te Puke
Te Puke, the kiwifruit capital of the world, is a quintessential Kiwi town. It grows kiwifruit and avocados, and it is also a good stop for the adventurous, with walking trails, waterfalls and an adventure park. Te Puke is an inland town set among forests and orchards rather than dunes. Owtavit is a Mercedes Sprinter motorhome listed in town that sleeps four, takes pets and carries a separate shower and toilet, solar and heating, from around $256 a night. Stock up on kiwifruit before road-tripping on to Papamoa, Tauranga and beyond.
Eight towns along one stretch of coast, each with a reason to stay a night longer than you planned. Sort the van and the pick-up with a Camplify owner, then let the Bay of Plenty set the pace.
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