Regional Parks

In 2003, Bay of Plenty Regional Council approved the Policy on Regional Parks that allows it to secure land for use by the public. The policy gives priority to coastal peninsulas and spits, harbour headlands, salt marshes and land by lakes, rivers and wetlands.

Papamoa Hills Regional Park

The Bay of Plenty's first regional park, the Papamoa Hills Regional Park, opened to the public in 2004.

It is located near Te Puke, and many many thousands of people have explored the 100ha park and enjoyed the 45 minute walk up to its summit, which offers sweeping views of the Bay of Plenty coastline. The land has a number of pa sites and is rich in Maori historical and ancestral associations.