Papamoa Beach Resort (formerly Papamoa Beach Top 10 Holiday Park) has an ideal location alongside a Bay of Plenty beach on New Zealand’s North Island. The oceanfront resort has great grounds, a variety of accommodations (including many with ocean views), and access to a beautiful beach. Papamoa Beach Resort is a well-above-average holiday park (probably why it’s now called a resort) and is a relaxing place to stay near Tauranga and Mount Maunghanui.
The highlight of Papamoa Beach Resort is the beautiful location, on grass-covered dunes just above the ocean. Wooden staircases from the resort lead right down to a long sandy beach that is perfect for a casual stroll.
Up the beach to the northwest, you’ll have an excellent perspective of Mount Maunganui, an impressive peninsula-topping peak. At dawn, watch the sunrise over the southeast end of the beach. Take a morning walk on the beach or enjoy the view right from your room or campsite with your morning tea.
Exploring the beach below the resort, you may see an incredible amount of seashells, laid out on the sand like a yard sale. Papamoa Beach has quite a diverse collection of shells. Beyond the fantastic oceanfront experience, the holiday park also appears to be bug free, thanks to the prevailing sea breezes that make the stay even more pleasant.
Papamoa Beach Resort has a variety of accommodations. They offer one and two bedroom villas, many with ocean views. There are also holiday units for bigger families or other large groups. Cabins provide more of a camping experience, taking advantage of communal amenities.
If you have a tent, RV, or campervan, get one of the 260 campsites spread around 16 acres of grassy property. Powered and unpowered sites are available based on your needs. Campers have access to communal bathrooms with complimentary hot showers. Laundry facilities, kitchens, and barbecue areas are also available. The kitchen has everything you would expect, but as with all holiday parks, you are responsible for bringing your own food and cooking and eating utensils.
For children, the park has a jumping pillow (like a trampoline) and playground. Pricing for the campsite is by the individual and ranges from $21 per night to $50 per night depending on the season (so $42 to $100 per night for two adults). There is no additional charge for children 14 and under. The prime ocean view sites may come with a markup. They are a scenic treat and you will probably find them worth the higher price. Check-in time is noon and you should check out by 10 a.m. All prices shown are in New Zealand Dollars as of 2015. The photos below were taken in the summer of 2014 when Papamoa Beach Resort was part of Top 10 Holiday Parks, so the facilities may have changed somewhat. To see more photos, get additional information, check rates, and book a stay visit papamoabeach.co.nz. You can also email resort@papamoabeach.co.nz or call (64) 7 572-0816.
Directions: From Tauranga, take Stat Highway 2 southeast along the coast. Pass through Kairua and take the exit for Papamoa. Go through a roundabount and make a left at the second roundabout onto Domain Road. Go two kilometers, cross Papamoa Beach Road, and bear left to enter the holiday park.
Address: 535 Papamoa Beach Road, Papamoa, Bay of Plenty, 3118, New Zealand
Coordinates: -37.6966, 176.28435 (37° 41′ 47.75″S 176° 17′ 03.65″E)
Use the map below to view the track and get directions:
 | Mount Maunganui This 6.8 kilometer trek combines picturesque tracks around the base and up to the summit of a 232-meter tall mountain on the tip of a peninsula in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand. |
 | Okere Falls Track This scenic 3-kilometer walk through Okere Falls Scenic Reserve has views of multiple waterfalls, cascades, and pools on the Okere River near Rotorua. |
 | Kaituna River Whitewater Rafting Take a memorable trip down the Kaituna River (Okere River) through Okere Falls Scenic Reserve that includes a thrilling plunge over Tutea Falls, the tallest commercially rafted waterfall in the world! |
 | Blue Lake This 6.15-kilometer circuit near Rotorua provides a pleasant loop across lakeside beaches and forests, rising to a lookout over Blue Lake and nearby Green Lake. |
 | Crater Lake This 1-kilometer walk in Rainbow Mountain Scenic Reserve goes to an overlook with views of a turquoise pool below vibrant cliffs. |
 | Kerosene Creek This short walk follows Kerosene Creek down to a hot pool below a crescent-shaped waterfall. Bring your bathing suit and wade into warm, welcoming waters. |
 | More trails in New Zealand Explore other destinations for walking and hiking (as well camping and lodging) in New Zealand. |
 | Rotorua Top 10 This holiday park has campsites, cabins, and motel accommodations in a fun setting near the center of Rotorua with amenities that include mineral hot pools. |
 | Murupara Motor Camp Set in a small town in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand, this motor camp is half holiday park and half motor lodge, offering a variety of accommodations in a location that is both removed from busy tourist centers and close to lots of fun outdoor activities. |