Nak Magazine

Explore New Zealand

CONTENTS
01 TRAMPING TAURANGA
New Zealand is a country well-known for it’s breathtaking treks stretching from the bottom of the
South Island to the tip of the North. The land is a vast haven for flora and fauna gracefully sharing it’s
landscape with trampers traveling near and far to explore.
05 SURF SEEKERS
Mount Maunganiu has built an identity around it’s surf culture and relaxed vibes. The beach stretches
47 kilometers along the coast offering an endless amount of pristine surf spots to choose from. It’s a nobrainer
why keen surfers flock to this destination year-round.
09 FEEDS
Times are changing in Tauranga and the dining scene is evolving, with lots of new and exciting
restaurants popping up—ones that’ll even rival their friends in the big smoke. Here are the best
restaurants in Tauranga and the Mount.
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DEPARTMENTS
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Art Director Andy Helmi
Editor-In-Chief | Photographer Mikayla De Jager
Model Jake Williams
Interviewee Zac Ogle
Nak Magazine
Nakmag.co.nz
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Mount Maunganui, 3116
+64 221 4844 4839

TRAMPING IN TAURANGA
New Zealand is a country well-known for it’s
breathtaking treks stretching from the bottom
of the South Island to the tip of the North.
The land is a vast haven for flora and fauna
gracefully sharing it’s landscape with trampers
traveling near and far to explore.
Written by Mikayla De Jager
North Island to South Island, New Zealand, also known as
Aoteroa, has it all. From pristine sandy beaches bordering
each island to spectacular mountain ranges standing
tall throughout the country, it seems to be a no brainer why this
country attracts adventures from all across the globe. There are many
activities and excursions of all kinds that New Zealand is renowned
for. To name a few, skiing, surfing, fishing, boating, skydiving, bungee
jumping and the list goes on. The most iconic activity of them all
and one that can be enjoyed all across New Zealand is hiking. Better
known in the South Pacific as Tramping or Trekking. With the
combination of picturesque landscapes and terrain, New Zealand is a
hiking hot spot for visitors and locals. With a population of 5 million
and an eco-friendly mindset within the country, it is safe to say that
there is a vast amount of pristine and untouched land making these
trails that much more spectacular and breathtaking.
Present. Today tramping guides and tours are at our fingertips.
A simple google search brings up many results of blogs, information,
and official hiking trails guidelines and most of them will mention
the 10 Great Treks of New Zealand. There is no denying, these are
magnificent and noteworthy hikes but don’t be fooled. The truth is
that you would even struggle to make a list of ‘Top 50’ trails as there
is an endless catalog of breath taking trails. The Tauranga region is
no exception.
The Mount. Nestled between boundless beaches and ancient fernridden
forests, Tauranga is located on the sweet spot of the East
coast. A short journey in every direction leads to different scenery
and new terrain to explore. You really don’t have to go far, each
suburb within the Tauranga region has a unique trail to enjoy. The
most famous of the suburbs is Mount Maunganui, also known as New
Zealand’s ‘Surf City’. This East coast paradise has been crowned the
‘Best Beach in New Zealand’ by Tripadvisor and ranks among the 25
best beaches in the world. It makes sense that this place is adored by
locals and flocked by domestic and international tourists yearly. The
beaches are incredible and stretch as far as the eye can see and cute
shops and restaurants compliments the beach culture well. But the
most prominent feature in this area and an iconic must-do in New
Zealand is the Mount Maunganui Summit, better known as ‘The
Mount’ amongst many and more traditionally, Mauao Summit in the
Maori Culture. This summit stands 232-meters above sea-level and is
located right next to the hub. The trek itself is not too long, it takes
about an hour to get to the top. Each step you take is accompanied
with breathtaking views and once at the top you are awarded with
Let’s go back in time. Historically trekking New Zealand has been
a way of life. Maori were the country’s first trampers, although they
made trips mainly for food-gathering, trade in pounamu (green
stone or New Zealand jade), and warfare. Skillfully doing so. When
the first Europeans arrived in the 1800’s they had to explore on foot
as the forestation and nature was too dense for horses to get through.
To gather food and resources they had to rely on these trails. Soon it
went from being a way of life to becoming very popular as a hobby
in the 1940-1970. Tramping clubs were established across the country.
Trails evolved. Members within the club built huts, cut trails, and
mastered the art of living in the wilderness. This enthusiasm has
cultivated into the prominent hiking culture evident today.
Jake Williams
Tramping Mount Maunganui.
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a panoramic view of the city surrounded by iconic New Zealand
nature. To even try to describe these views in words would be an
understatement. Once you get to the top you take in crystal-clear
views of the stretching coastline, the town itself looks quaint in the
distance, and you can even spot White Island, an active Volcano,
puffing away in the far distance. Following the coastline you can see
the next suburb in the far distance, Papamoa. This brings us to the
next two treks of note in Tauranga.
Rolling hills. Papamoa is a small suburb located fifteen minutes from
the Tauranga city center. It oozes relaxed, hip, beach town. Like
the Mount, this area has unique and rustic restaurants and hub for
shopping. People are attracted to this area for its pristine beach and
of course the nature treks hugging the area. There are quite a few
different options but the most popular in this area is Papamoa hills
and Kaiate Falls Hike.
Papamoa hills, known by locals as ‘Pap Hills’ is a 3.7 kilometer trek
surrounded by farmland. The trek gradually rises fairly steeply and
leads through open farmlands and native New Zealand bush. This
hike definitely gets the heart racing but where it is quite convenient
is that the trail itself is packed down and even making it easy to
navigate. Making it somewhat easier to get to that dream-like view
at the top. The dramatic summit is breathtaking and allows you to
see all of what Tauranga has to offer - beaches,farmland, forest, and
the small city outlines. Including an adjacent, distant view of the
Mount Maunganui Summit, so you can wave to a friend enjoying the
trek on the other side of Tauranga. Pap hills is an incredible spot to
enjoy picturesque sunrise and sunsets moments and is a trek highly
recommended by locals.
Welcome to Tauranga’s Jurassic Park. A short 10 minute drive West
from Papamoa Hills is another notable trek which offers another
world of views that is quite different to the previously mentioned
hikes. We now enter the Jurassic Park of hikes, Kaiate Falls also
known as Te Rerekawau, where scaling waterfalls rush through
freshwater. The small rock pools at the end of the plunge pools will
accommodate those who enjoy a more relaxed experience. To end the
hike with a bang, it takes about 15 minutes to get to the top from the
waterfalls where a panoramic view of deep forest ranges greets you.
For trekkers who are looking to be blown away and want to enjoy the
tranquil rush of waterfalls, this is your trek.
These three trek locations within Tauranga are only the tip of
the iceberg when it comes to the options available in the area
but contribute heavily to the Trapping culture within the region
and greater New Zealand. Each offers such a different experience.
The Mount Maunganui Summit Trek gives you 360 degree views
highlighting the oceans on one side and land on the other. It is
definitely the most popular trek in the area because of its incredible
beauty and the popularity of the Mount Maunganui suburb. Adjacent
from the Mount, Papamoa Hills Summit gives you a more inland
experience surrounded by open farm lands and distant ocean views.
This trek is easy to navigate and the trail is well established. Kaiate
Falls is another world in comparison to previous treks mentioned.
Trekkers love this trail because of its deep forest experience and
scaling waterfalls along the way. What the treks in Tauranga have in
common is indescribable and breathtaking views.
In New Zealand, hiking isn’t just a fun activity. It is also a passion
that runs deep through the culture and identity of the people. From
being a way of life to exploring, it is undisputed that tramping is an
incredible way to see what landscapes this country has to offer.
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With the combination of
picturesque landscapes
and terrains, New Zealand
is a hiking hot spot for
visitors and locals.
AD
deep New Zealand forestation. This trail is 800m long with stone
wading locations by the waterfalls. When entering the hike, it only
takes about 10 minutes to reach the first waterfall. The 3-tier falls
scale 25m in height and is impressively beautiful. Continuing on the
trek, you feel engulfed in the beauty of nature. Trees traverse across
your eye-line and it is a breath of fresh air in many ways. The second
waterfall you will come across is the largest of the two with a deep
plunge pool below. For those adrenaline junkies, this is an ideal place
to climb the side of the waterfall and take a leap of faith into the
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SURF SEEKERS
Mount Maunganiu has built an identity
around it’s surf culture and relaxed vibes.
The beach stretches 47 kilometers along the
coast offering an endless amount of pristine
surf spots to choose from. It’s a no-brainer
why keen surfers flock to this destination
year-round.
Written By Mikayla De Jager
To say this place is a surfers paradise, is an understatement.
Mount Maunganui, also known as Mauao, is very well known
for its rich surf culture and history. The main reason being
because it’s breathtaking beaches and seemingly endless amount of
surf breaks. It has been crowned the ‘Best Beach in New Zealand’
and ranks among the twenty-fifth best beaches in the world. It is
magnificent because of its coastline and nature but even more
desirable because of the small city the beach borders. Imagine!
Waking up in the hub, grabbing a surfboard, and walking two blocks
either way and riding some pristine waves. No wonder it’s called the
‘Surf City’ of New Zealand. We will get further into the wonders that
is Mount Maunganui later on, for now let’s go back in time to when
it first started.
Time machine, we’re going back to the 1900’s! In 1963 the first
National Championships were held in Mount Maunganui but the
Maori’s, New Zealand’s indigenous peoples, were surfing way before
then. It is a big part of their culture and is the building blocks to
New Zealand surf culture.
Surf City. There are many reasons why this place is known for surfing.
For starters, the beach is 47km long and stretches along two of
Tauranga suburbs - Mount Maunganui to Papamoa. So you can only
imagine how many surf breaks there are along this coastline. Too
many to count! This is ideal for surfers because when one break is
not on, there no doubt will be another spot that would be pumping.
During Winter many keep their long-boards close to their heart.
Long-boards are ideal for the clean, small, and fun waves this area
has to offer. There are many long-board competitions in the Mount.
Many come to see the long-boarders pull out their steezy style and
hang ten! It’s a great time and for those who don’t know how to surf
and would love to learn, this is the ideal conditions! We definitely
recommend getting some surf lessons and there is definitely no
shortage of surf schools along the coast. When summer rolls
around, there are definitely days of small cruisey waves but many
intermediate and professional surfers keep their eyes close on the
forecast. Summer is when the cyclone swell rolls in and the waves
can peak at eight to ten feet, if not bigger, throughout this season.
When this swell hits, hundreds join the party. Many passionate
surfers travel from across New Zealand for the experience. Surfing is
the star of the show but there are many factors contributing to the
surf culture in the Mount. It is a full on community of chillers, food
festivals, great coffee, and iconic music that builds the ‘Surf City’
DNA here. That’s about enough of us going on about it, it is time to
have a chat with one of Mount Maunganui’s biggest fans and an avid
Jake Williams surfer, Zac Ogle.
Surfing Mount Maunganui Beach.
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Jake Williams running to
catch that perfect set.
Photography Mikayla De Jager
Zac, lets get to know you better! How long have you lived in
Tauranga region and what do you do for a living?
Lets! I’ve lived in Tauranga for almost tree years now, I think..haha.
I’ve hit the jackpot! I’m the head graphic designer and apparel
designer for Crate Clothing, which is a New Zealand owned Street
Wear brand. There are two flagship store, one in Hamilton, and
another located in the Mount. Which is the one I manage. It’s an epic
little shop right in the hub, with street/surf apparel.
What would you say is an unforgettable memory you have during
your time living here? Pros and cons?
There are so many great memories but the hands down best one
is meeting my soon to be wife at the local pub. We’ve just bought
a house together here in the Mount. Words can’t evening begin to
explain how stoked I am to be living so close to the beach with my
fiance and our little pup. There aren’t many cons when you live in
paradise! Haha. Pros would be living so close to the beach, epic
climate, friendly people.
What are your hobbies?
If I had to narrow it down I would have to say my top favorite hobbies
are surfing, fishing, fashion… sewing really, and art is definitely a
passion of mine.
As a keen surfer, tell us what the Tauranga/Mount surf culture
means to you? What is your surfboard of choice, your ride or die?
Around the mount my go to board would have to be my 9”2 long
board as most of the time the waves aren’t the biggest here and with
the long boards you can still have fun on the smaller waves. It’s a
great time! The surf culture is big in the Mount! If the waves are on
you will drive past and think, does anyone in the mount have a job?
When the waves are on it’s a zoo out there so it’s fun to get a crew and
go on the search around the coast for a break that’s pumping and less
of a crowd. The culture of long hair surfer dudes is definitely still the
trend that’s been around for years!
How old were you when you started surfing?
When I was about 10 years old, that is when dad got me up on a
board for the first time but didn’t take the sport up properly until I
was around 19 years of age. Then I fully got into it. It’s been about
eight years of being a merman, I don’t look back now.
Wow, epic! What enticed you to start surfing again at 19 and what
sparked the passion to fully immerse yourself? Do you have an
unforgettable surf memory during?
Life! I was riding motocross at a national level and got badly hurt
and was looking for another sport that would challenge and push
me and I had always loved surfing and the culture around it! Surfing
isn’t just about catching waves to me! It’s a way to release stress and
feel the balance between you and nature, It’s almost like meditation
sitting out there in the waves! But of course the feeling of ripping
down a wave and slashing a big turn is a feeling like no other! I’d have
to say an unforgettable memory for me would have to be surfing for 6
hours in 4-5ft. There was no wind, the waves were glassy and perfect!
What surf spot in this area is the best kept secret in New Zealand
and your favorite spot here in Taraunga?
I would have to say my favorite spot would probably have to say
Raglan Whale bay, It’s so consistent in raglan you know you’re always
going to score good waves! I’d have to say the Mount a favorite in
summer. That’s usually when the cyclone swells come from the
tropics. There is a sweet spot for surfing in Arataki called, Arataki
Drain pipes, which is in my eyes the best kept secret in the NZ surf
world. (but shhhh).
What surf break outside of New Zealand would you like to surf and
if you could take one person with you who would it be?
I’d like to go over and surf Indonesia so many epic breaks! I would
probably take my mate Tricky. We are at a similar level in surfing and
it’s always a good time surfing when it’s with your best mate!
What’s your post-surf ritual? I’d imagine you enjoy a best cuppa
coffee the Mount has to offer?
I normally surf in the morning when conditions are best. So I’d have
to say that my post-surf ritual is usually rushing to get to work on
time. Classic! I’ve never had a coffee in my life. Can’t stand the taste.
When I need that extra boost I usually just grab an energy drink.
Who do you look up to in the international surf game? Is there
anyone locally that you admire as well? Why?
Kelly Slater for sure, the dude is a legend! Locally, Kehu Butler. He
is the local shredder! They rule the surf and are absolutely amazing
at their craft.
Other than surfing, what else do you enjoy about the surf culture?
I love getting in the van and exploring our beautiful country and
finding new waves with friends! I definitely have some great roadies
under my belt.
One last questions, I am sure our readers are dying to know. If you
could be any animal what would you be and why?
Probably a big cat like a panther or something bad ass!
Well thanks Zac for taking the time to chat to us here at NAK. It’s
been an absolute pleasure and we will manifest big waves for your
near future.
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7 | Nak Magazine | ISSUE 21

ISSUE 21
July 2021
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