Hello, everybody!
Today we are on the East coast of the North Island of New Zealand
and we would like to tell you about sunny and beautiful Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty.
Nowadays it is home to about 138 000 people,
but the Bay of Plenty is considered one of the fastest-growing regions in New Zealand,
which made Tauranga the fifth biggest city in the country.
By the way, just forty years ago the city’s population was about 50 000 people only.
Tauranga is one of centers of business, tourism, international trade and agriculture,
largely due to the good warm climate and its location.
Lots of kiwi fruit, avocados and citrus grow here.
Port of Tauranga is one of the largest ports in terms of total cargo volume.
Moreover, not only cargo ships, but also cruise ships arrive here.
Some major companies have headquarters and industrial premises in Tauranga.
Right now, we are in Mount Maunganui suburb on the mountain of the same name.
Down here you can see a long coastline, extending for many kilometers.
These beaches with crystal water attract plenty of people,
who love swimming, surfing, kayaking and kitesurfing.
Some people like do paragliding from the top of the mountain.
It is a quite popular place for hiking, too.
Tauranga offers many water activities: swimming with dolphins, cruises, fishing, etc.
There is a small marina at one of the side of the mountain foothills.
The mountain protects a bay from the wind,
that’s why the water here is usually calm and warm.
Just around the corner there are bathhouses and hot springs, where you can rest and relax.
Tauranga has a big variety of parks all over the city.
Generally, it is outdoor activities that are popular here.
Different music festivals, accompanied by tasty food and wine, are organized here, as well.
Sports fans can enjoy football and rugby games, as well as car races, at the stadiums.
The beach, where we are now, is called Papamoa –
it is the extension of that coastline we observed from the top of mountain.
Here are residential areas, mostly new, at the same time the cost of housing is much lower, than in Auckland.
So, those, who wish to live by the ocean, may realize their dream right here!
By the way, an average cost of housing in Tauranga is 592 000 NZD.
Median salary is 43 000 NZD and the average one is 69 000 NZD a year.
There are many cafes, bars, restaurants, movie theaters and a nice quay in the central part of the city.
Shopping malls can be found in the center, as well as in Mount Maunganui suburb.
Tauranga may attract the attention of prospective students, too.
The governmental institute Toi-Ohomai offers lots of programs in
construction, agriculture, business, IT, design and even marine studies,
when students spend, in fact, a half of the program under water.
In addition, Toi-Ohomai cooperates with the University of Waikato,
so, some programs from the university are also available here.
Moreover, there is a great and cozy language school with a real family atmosphere – Mount Maunganui Language School,
and a campus of Aspire2, one of major and popular private education providers.
You may visit Waimarino Adventure Park, which is about 10 minutes’ drive from the city.
Here, children and adults can walk, jump and dive, go kayaking and just have fun with the family.
There is another great park - McLaren Falls Park, which is about 20 minutes from the city.
It is a beautiful place, where you can take a walk and swim in refreshing water.
Tauranga, as the Bay of Plenty itself, grows and develops rapidly,
attracting more students, professionals and businessmen, who create new jobs.
Although the city does not offer as many job opportunities as Auckland,
Tauranga keeps attracting families, who want to have a comfortable life at affordable price.
Thanks for watching! This is Natalia. Bye-bye!