BEFORE& AFTER
AS WELL AS SURFING AND SUNBATHING (SPF IN TOW!), THE BOP HAS MYRIAD ACTIVITIES TO KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED
Enjoy a picnic at Bowentown, a familyfriendly cove near Waihi Beach, then shake off the post-feast sleepiness with a wander over the hill to explore the opposite side of the peninsula. A short drive from Whakatane is Ohope, where just 15 minutes walk from the main beach you’ll find magical Otarawairere Bay, accessible only by foot or kayak. No visit to the Bay of Plenty is complete for international guests without a trip to Rotorua. Or take a break with your bridesmaids at Polynesian Spa (polynesianspa.co.nz), where you can indulge in thermal-mud spa treatments. Take a tour to explore two of the region’s offshore gems: active volcano White Island, and wildlife and plant sanctuary Whale Island. Visit whiteisland.co.nz. Spend a romantic evening paddling amid the swans on a lake lit by glow worms. At McLaren Falls Park in the Kaimai Ranges, you’ll be guided through the tranquil waterways at dusk. Visit waimarino.com. Appease your adventurous side with the rush of a whitewater rafting expedition. Wet ’n’ Wild has options on the Wairoa River and elsewhere in the area. Visit wetnwildrafting.co.nz.