Te Puke

Te Puke, Tauranga Overview

Te Puke is a suburban town on the western coast of the Bay of Plenty in Tauranga, New Zealand. It is famous for its Kiwi Fruit production. Apart from this, the town is also known as a great holiday or honeymoon getaway. The place has scenic surroundings and a charming ambience perfect for escaping city life. Here, travellers can go exploring the town, sightseeing, shopping and even learn about their culture and history.

Founded in 1880, Te Puke is a small town with a population of over 8000, with an initial settlement of about 25 buildings. After that, the swamps were cleared, and crops were grown. The climate and soil in Te Puke make it a suitable place for horticulture too. In the initial days, the town produced tobacco, hop and rice. Later on, citrus fruits were grown in plenty. Thus, Te Puke was commercially known for its Oranges, Apples, Lemons, and Grapefruits etc. 1959, the town was primarily known for the Kiwi fruits grown on the land.

Best Time to Visit

Summers
The best time to visit Te Puke is during the summer season when the temperature is warm (20ᵒC to 26ᵒC). This time of the year is perfect for outdoor activities. Summer begins in December and goes on till February.
Spring
September to November, springtime, can also be a great time to explore Te Puke. The average temperature during spring is around 20ᵒC; cooler than summers.
Rainfall
It occasionally rains in the region, and the minimum temperature remains around 13ᵒC.

Things to Do At Te Puke

Kiwi Knowledge
Since Te Puke is famous for the Kiwi Fruit, travellers can visit an orchard at a small entry fee and see how the delicious fruits are grown.
Honey Harvests
There are some honey harvesting farms too. Here, visitors can check out a working hive and even purchase some for themselves. These visits are assisted and highly interactive. So, visitors can learn a lot from their visit. These activities are best done in groups, especially for families.
Clay Bird Shooting
Te Puke also has a game zone and an adventure park where travellers can head for some exciting time. Those who have a liking for shooting can choose to go for a Clay Bird Shooting game at SKB Sporting Field. Here, participants get to experience the thrill of bird hunting without really harming the avian species.
TECT All Terrain Park
Thrill-seekers can also head to TECT All Terrain Park where they get to design their adventure sports in a massive outdoor setting.
Golfing
The town has an expansive Golf Course where families can enjoy a game of Golf. This course is also identified as the longest golf course in the region and the sixth-longest in the country. It measures about 6600 metres long. The surroundings and the lush green fairways are enchanting and sure to make the game a memorable one.

How To Reach Te Puke

Roadways and Baybuses
Te Puke is accessible by roads from Tauranga. The best and the most affordable way to reach Te Puke is by Baybus. These buses ply regularly between the destinations.
Cabs and Taxis
Otherwise, travellers can hire a cab from Tauranga, which is located about 25 kilometres away from Te Puke.
By Air
Tauranga has its airport, Tauranga Airport, which connects other cities in the country by domestic flights. The airport is situated 21 kilometres away from Te Puke.
The Course of the Tour
To reach the town from Tauranga City or the airport, travellers need to take the route that goes via SH 2 - Te Puke Highway - Jocelyn Street - Stewart Street.