Closed: The Base Track, along with every other track on Mauao, is closed until further notice. A fatal landslide hit the mountain on 22 January 2026 during a severe weather event, killing six people at a nearby holiday park and triggering 42 separate landslides across the mountain’s tracks. Tauranga City Council is carrying out remediation work and there is no confirmed reopening date, so check the council’s Mauao landslide update page before you plan a visit. The mayor has said the council is aiming for a partial summer reopening of some tracks, including parts of the Base Track, but this depends on rockfall and safety assessments and is not guaranteed. Please do not try to get around the fencing or walk onto the mountain while the closure is in effect, the ground is still unstable in places.
- Flat, wide gravel track that circles the base of Mauao with the sea alongside you almost the whole way around.
- About 3.5 km and 40 minutes at an easy pace, the easiest of all the walks at Mt Maunganui.
- Rock pools, fishing spots off the rocks, and close up views of container ships entering Tauranga Harbour.
- Currently closed after landslide damage, see the notice above before you head out.
See all the Mt Maunganui Walks for other options nearby.
Quick facts
Getting there
Head over the harbour bridge from Tauranga towards Mt Maunganui. Once you’re over the bridge, at the second set of lights, turn left into Totara Street, it’s a free turn. Follow Totara Street to the end, about 1.3 km.
At Rata Street turn right, then almost immediately turn hard left onto Maunganui Road. Drive through the shopping centre and over the speed bumps to the end, about 1.5 km. The Mount hot pools will be in front of you, turn left, drive about 150 m, then turn left again into Pilot Bay.
Pilot Bay is the inner harbour, a sheltered spot and a safer swimming option for kids than the ocean side. Parking can be tight, especially in summer. To find the start of the track, walk towards the mountain keeping Pilot Bay on your left, follow the road between the caravan park and the beach around to the old wharf. The track starts at the end of that road, just follow the other walkers and runners.
Buses run from Tauranga to the Mount every day, and the ferry operates over summer.
If you fancy getting out on the water too, a Stand Up Paddle Board Express Lesson is an easy add on for before or after your lap of the mountain.
The walk
This walk takes about 40 minutes at a slow pace with a couple of stops along the way. Mauao is 231m high and 3.5 km around the base, with four different tracks covering the mountain from top to bottom, this one stays flat and sticks to the base.
Walk up Pilot Bay Road and call into the toilets on the right as you pass the caravan park. Carry on to the old wharf, you can fish off this wharf if you want to. Keep left, the tracks running off to the right head up to the summit, a much bigger workout. About 3 minutes into the walk you’ll hit the first gate. All the gates are push to open and self closing, no latches to release.
Look back at the start and you’ll see the Mount’s twin towers, along with fishing boats anchored in the bay. It’s also a popular spot for fishing off the rocks.
Around the first point you’ll walk into the main entrance of Tauranga Harbour. This beach isn’t safe for swimming when the tide is moving, you could easily get swept in or out of the harbour. Stay in Pilot Bay for a swim instead.
Take a walk down to the beach and sit for a while, you might see a container ship cruise by. They’re bigger than you expect when you’re sitting on the sand looking up at all that steel, close enough to hear the engines pushing hundreds of tonnes through the water.
The northern side of the mountain is the stretch I enjoy the most. Sitting under the trees in a cool sea breeze, listening to the waves break over the rocks at your feet, it’s very soothing.
The eastern side keeps up the eye catching views, rocky inlets giving way to sandy beaches.
The boardwalk along the waterfront is easy to find from here. Open the gate and head down either the steps or the ramp, past the caravan park and the surf club, out to the front of the cafes. The boardwalk itself runs for another 300m along the beach front.
What you’ll see
The sea is on one side of you for almost the entire loop, in places the walkway is only metres from the water. There are rock pools to explore along the way, and plenty of spots to stop, sit on the sand and listen to the waves. On the harbour side you’ll likely spot container ships and pleasure craft heading out to sea. Mauao is also a wildlife reserve, home to nesting New Zealand dotterels and grey faced petrels.
Who it’s for
This is the easiest walk at the Mount, flat, wide and well formed, so it suits families, older walkers, and anyone after a gentle stroll rather than a workout. If you want more of a climb, the Mt Maunganui Summit Walk heads up from the same base.
When to go
Once the track is open again, try to avoid weekends, Christmas and days when cruise ships are in port, the Base Track gets extremely busy at those times. Tauranga runs a degree or two warmer than the surrounding towns, which makes it a pretty reliable spot for a walk most of the year, though the ocean side of the mountain can get windy.
If you’re keen to try something new while you’re in the area, a 2hr Beginner Group Surf Lesson is a fun way to fill out the rest of your day.
Important stuff
- Closure: The Base Track and every other track on Mauao are closed, with permanent fencing installed at access points. Tauranga City Council is carrying out remediation work on the Base Track and has finished repairs on the summit’s 4WD track. Check the current rules on the council’s Mauao landslide update page before you go, and do not bypass the fencing, the site is still considered hazardous.
- Dogs: Not permitted on the Base Track, even once it reopens. Mauao is a wildlife reserve protecting nesting New Zealand dotterels and grey faced petrels, and there’s a $300 fine for taking a dog onto the mountain.
- Toilets: At the surf club, and near the wharf end at Pilot Bay.
- Crowds: This walk gets extremely busy on weekends, over the Christmas period, and whenever a cruise ship is in town.
My honest take
I’ve walked this one plenty of times and it’s still my go to when I want the sea without the climb. The northern side under the trees is my favourite stretch, cool and shaded with the waves right at your feet. Watching a container ship ease past from the beach on the harbour side never gets old either, they’re a lot bigger up close than they look from a distance.
After a lap, I’ll usually call into one of the cafes near the surf club for a coffee, or on a cold day, the hot pools are right there to warm up in. It’s a shame it’s closed for now, but given the scale of the landslide damage, I understand why the council isn’t rushing it.
If you want to stay out on the water a bit longer, Orca Wild Adventures: Dolphin Swimming is another option I’d happily point you toward.
Common questions
How long does it take to walk the Mt Maunganui Base Track?
About 40 minutes at an easy pace for the full 3.5 km loop around the base. That’s different from walking up the mountain itself, the Summit Walk takes longer and involves a real climb.
Is the Mt Maunganui Base Track open right now?
No. The Base Track and every other track on Mauao are closed after landslide damage, with no confirmed reopening date. The council has said it’s aiming for a partial summer reopening of some sections, including parts of the Base Track, but that depends on safety assessments and isn’t guaranteed.
Are dogs allowed on the Base Track?
No. Mauao is a wildlife reserve protecting nesting New Zealand dotterels and grey faced petrels, and there’s a $300 fine for taking a dog onto the mountain.
Is the Pilot Bay boat ramp open?
It has reopened, but it sits within an active landslide risk area, so access could be restricted or closed again at short notice.
What’s happening with the boardwalk near the surf club?
It’s being replaced after landslide damage. Construction was due to start in late October 2026, with the new boardwalk expected to be open by the end of November 2026.
Other walks nearby
Back to the Mt Maunganui Walks hub.
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