Te Puke

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AlasdairW

Te Puke is a town in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, with an urban population of approximately 6,700. "Te Puke" should be pronounced "teh-pook-eh" and means "The Hill" in Maori.
Te Puke's warm climate and fertile volcanic soils make it a very horticultural district, allowing it to grow a wide variety of citrus fruit such as lemons and oranges, in addition to kiwifruit. The town markets itself as the "Kiwifruit capital of the world," and is the centre of an industry which supplies a large percentage of the total world production of the fruit. Livestock are also farmed, notably dairy cattle. The surrounding area contains many pip-fruit and avocado orchards, and supporting these forms the backbone of the region's economy. Many locals also commute to nearby Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.

Get in

Tauranga Eastern Link

The new SH 2 Tauranga Eastern Link toll road will open in August 2015 (exact date to be confirmed), bypassing Te Puke. When it opens, you will need to exit at Domain Road (Papamoa) coming from Tauranga, and at the Paengaroa roundabout coming from Rotorua and Whakatane to access the town.

Drive southeast from Tauranga on State Highway 2, or take one of the Bayhopper buses from Tauranga, Mt. Maunganui, or Rotorua. Shuttle buses are also available that will get you to Auckland airport, although the firms operating these (and the tariffs they charge) seem to change quite regularly.

Get around

There is no public transport to speak of within the town itself, though the local Bayhopper buses pass through regularly.

See

Pseudopanax

Comvita Honey Tour

phone: +64 7 533 1987

address: 23 Wilson Road South, Paengaroa
Tour through the honey and health product manufacturing facilities of Comvita. Their Manuka Honey bars are yummy and you should try some delicious honey flavoured Kapiti ice cream too; interesting visitors centre as well.
Kiwi360

phone: +64 7 573-6340
An interesting look at the local kiwifruit industry, offering orchard tours, a good cafe, and a good souvenir shop.

Do

Go swimming on the local beaches at Papamoa (9 km north-east on State Highway 2, then turn right following road signs), or Maketu (Drive east 6 km on State Highway 2, then follow the signs north). Pristine, unspoiled beaches.

Spring LoadedJet boat tours, helicopter flights, 4WD tours and you-drive 4WD experiences, farm tours, and kiwifruit wine tasting.
Golf Te Puke

phone: +64 7 533-1115

address: Cnr State Highway 2/State Highway 29
Lovely 18 hole challenging, but easy walking, course. Superb playing conditions and reasonable green fees. Bar and catering on most days. Caravan and mobile home sites. Pro Shop. Test yourself against their famous - or infamous - black tees.

Work

There is usually seasonal work available in the kiwifruit industry provided your visa status permits you to work (this is often checked by potential employers). Peak season for picking and packing is from late April through to June. The work can be physically hard but pays a reasonable wage for labour (by New Zealand standards) and is not difficult.

Eat

There are cafes and restaurants on Jellicoe St (State Highway 2 as it goes through Te Puke), all offering reasonable to good food. In addition to the many take-out businesses offering pizza, gyros, a variety of Asian food, and the ubiquitous New Zealand fish and chips, Jellicoe St has a good Indian restaurant (the Mini Punjab) and a few bars that also double as restaurants.

Te Puke Hotel

phone: +64 7 573-7504
A reasonably good restaurant and bar.
The Trading Post Cafe

phone: +64 7 533-1900

address: cnr Hall and Wilson Roads
Has a very good reputation locally, offering high quality meals from brunch through to a late dinner.
Mini Punjab Restaurant

phone: +64 7 573-3350
Indian food at reasonable prices.
Sushi 1st

phone: +64 7 573-4531

address: 84 Jellicoe St
Good NZ-style sushi, with an emphasis on avocado, salmon, and chicken.
Vesey's Restaurant

phone: +64 7 573-3324

address: 50 Jellicoe St
Good Indian food, takeout food also available.
Seaside Cafe & Restaurant

phone: +64 7 533-2381

address: 2 Townpoint Rd, Maketu
Seafood restaurant with an attached fish and chip takeaway. Excellent food.

Drink

There are bars and pubs on Jellicoe St, although the nightlife is far better in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui.

Sleep

There are 2 reasonable camping grounds within easy driving distance that offer a cheaper alternative to staying in a motel. Motels in Te Puke may be a lower cost alternative to those in Tauranga or Rotorua, and the town's location between the two areas makes it a reasonable choice if you are planning to explore the Bay of Plenty.

Beacon Motel

phone: +64 7 573-7825

address: 173 Jellicoe St, SH2
Junction Motel

phone: +64 7 533-1023

address: 246 State Highway 33, Paengaroa
Princess Street apartment

phone: +64 7 573 9345

address: 7 Princess St
Serviced apartment, in a quiet urban area of Te Puke.

Go next

Rotorua
Tauranga
Whakatane