Transport
Airport: Three commercial airports operate in the Bay of Plenty: Tauranga Airport, which is a 10-minute drive from the city and offers direct flights to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch; Rotorua Airport and Whakatane Airport
Roads: The Pacific Coast Highway touring route brings travellers into the bay from Auckland (3 hours). The city of Tauranga is often their first port of call. Bay of Plenty is 1 hour from Rotorua. Car travel remains the dominant form of transport in the region. In 2002, the number of vehicles owned in the region was 189,000, with an average of 1.51 vehicles per household
Buses: Significant public transport bus services exist only in Tauranga and Rotorua. Major growth in the Western Bay of Plenty District has seen increased strain on road infrastructure, particularly with increasing traffic congestion in Tauranga. Due to this growth, a new highway network is being planned and constructed in Tauranga to join its current network on the western side of the city.
Shipping: The hub of regional economic activity is the Port of Tauranga, with well-established rail and road connections to other parts of the region. Between 2009 & 2010, a total of 42 cruise ships will visit the Port of Tauranga. Every year the port sees cruise ships from the Pacific Islands, North America and Europe, pass through the Tauranga harbour. Port of Tauranga is situated close to the heartland of New Zealand's North Island tourism industry, with the scenic wonders of Rotorua, Taupo and the Waikato, all being major drawcards for international tourists.
Train: The Bay of Plenty has 227km of rail network The main rail line in the region is the East Coast Main Trunk Railway, which extends from Hamilton in the Waikato region to Kawerau and Taneatua via Tauranga, with the Murupara branch railway extending the Kawerau terminus to Murupara. Rail networks in the region are used exclusively for freight
Cycling: Explore Bay of Plenty’s natural beauty by bike. The wonderful temperate climate makes this an excellent way to see the area. There is advice on routes and road conditions on the AA website.
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