Welcome Bay
Great family suburb
Welcome Bay is close to shopping in 4 different towns for your convenience, with easy access to Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Te Puke, but does have it’s own shopping village with a pharmacy, a hairdresser, dairy/convenience store, variety of ethnic takeaways, laundromat. Within the community there are 2 health centres, chiropractors, physiotherapists, a variety of beauty clinics, and fitness facilities and The Welcome Bay Tavern and Bottle Store.
Welcome Bay is well served with public transport, 3x schools, numerous childcare facilities, a vet clinic and is approx 7-10kms to Tauranga CBD. Maungatapu and Ohauiti are neighbouring suburbs.
Welcome Bay has numerous parks, playgrounds and green areas for power walks, training runs or leisurely strolls.Most areas of Welcome Bay have great views of water, rural or residential.
There is a community hall available to hire.
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Welcome Bay Underpass
If you’ve driven through Welcome Bay recently, you may have noticed the updated two-lane underpass, which was completed in June 2018, and allows traffic on State Highway 29A to flow smoothly above Welcome Bay drivers heading to and from Tauranga. This design helps ease congestion at the Maungatapu and Hairini roundabouts while also making travel safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
A Bridge with a Story
One of the standout features of this project is the ‘waka-inspired’ pedestrian and cycle overbridge. Designed to reflect the rich cultural heritage of the area, this 36-metre-long and 4.9-metre-wide bridge is painted a striking ‘Pōhutukawa Red.’ It connects to the existing pedestrian underpass, giving walkers and cyclists a safe way to cross the busy Maungatapu roundabout.
Nature at the Heart of the Project
Beyond just improving traffic flow, this project has also been a win for the environment. More than 60,000 plants have been introduced to the area, most of them native grasses and shrubs, which blend beautifully with the existing trees. Wetlands around Te Pahou have been restored, creating a thriving natural habitat. The Kaitemako Stream, home to a variety of native fish, has also benefited from a new culvert, designed with special ‘fish hotels’—six resting pipes embedded in the stream banks. And for fish that need to reach the wetland to spawn, a rope ladder has been installed to help them along their journey!
This underpass has made a noticeable difference for commuters, cyclists, and walkers alike. With improved safety, better traffic flow, and a thoughtful approach to environmental preservation, this project is a fantastic step forward for the Tauranga community.
Next time you’re driving through, take a moment to appreciate the smooth ride and the stunning natural surroundings—it’s all part of making our city a better place to live and travel!
Take in the beautiful scenery in the many parks and playgrounds
Waipuna Park is large enough for rugby, rugby league, cricket, cross country.
With plenty of trees, Waipuna Park is an ideal place for a family picnic. An upgrade of the existing playground has been completed, with new swings, a barbecue, water fountain, accessible picnic table, seating, a new a 3×3 basketball court, and a new concrete pathway that starts at the northern end of the park, running alongside the middle sports fields on Kaitemako Road and into and around the playground and basketball court. Cricket nets have been installed at the northern end of the park. The family friendly environment is pram friendly, has parking, toilets and a pavilion for hire. There are walkways and board walks from Waipuna Park to Johnson Reserve, – it’s worth walking to see the waterfall. Johnson Reserve is dog friendly with doggy poo bins available. Ideal for entire family. Perfect path for dogs and kids, with large grassy areas and eucalyptus trees. Benches scattered about in quiet setting.
Check out Pippys Pantry if you need coffee and food. Catch up with friends enjoy your coffee,either takeaway or on the bbq tables with umbrellas and enjoy the view of the park.
Johnson Reserve – natural play equipment is constructed of timber and rope has been added at the southern end near the Meander Drive entrance and new seating, picnic tables, rubbish bins and a drinking fountain have been installed.
Tye Park can be used for water activities ie kayaking, sailing, jet skiing or boating; there is a bbq for families to use or bring your own picnic; an excellent childrens’ adventure playground and well maintained toilet facilities and a boat ramp.
Waitaha Reserve has a play area with kids swings and slides, a skate bowl and a basketball hoop- bring your picnic blanket and enjoy the view of the inner harbour.
There are numerous parks scattered throughout Welcome Bay that are dedicated for kids adventure playgrounds.
Kaiate Falls in rural Welcome Bay
Kaiate Falls (also known as Te Rerekawau Falls) is approx a 20min drive from Tauranga CBD. Walk through the forest on the walking tracks which are well formed, although quite steep in some places.
The main track leads to the top, and then to the base of these series of falls. Track junctions are well sign-posted. Kaiate Falls is a beautiful spot to cool down on those hot summer days, or even after extensive rainfall the falls come alive and a spectacle to behold. An ideal setting for explorers young and old.
