KEY POINTS:
Where: Located along the golden shores of the North Island's east coast and an easy two-hour drive from Auckland, the Bay of Plenty is a perfect place to head now that the warmer weather has arrived.
What to do: The region is well known for its beaches, wineries, boutique food producers, hot pools and restaurants. And its spring calendar is full of events that make for a value-added visit.
From today until next Saturday, Blokart Heaven at Papamoa hosts the inaugural Blokart World Championships, at which international competitors will battle it out in their wind-powered karts at high speed.
Also this week is the Katikati Open Air Art Festival, where visitors can watch artists at work on murals then vote for their favourite. The festival also features street entertainment, music, poetry and even a raft race.
November 11 to 16 marks the biennial Bayleys Garden and Artfest. This six-day event includes a trail of 115 gardens and art stops around Katikati, Tauranga, Mt Maunganui and Te Puke. Other events include a wearable flower show, floral expose, an artisan food market and a family day. For more information see www.gardenandartfest.co.nz.
Meanwhile, seafood lovers should head to Bay of Plenty on November 29 for the Tauranga Moana Seafood Festival. It features sumptuous seafood to taste and a great line-up of live entertainment is scheduled on several stages. The festival runs from 5.30pm to 10.30pm, tickets are $20 from www.ticketdirect.co.nz. More details at www.bayofplentynz.com
