READY TO ROLL?
The Bay of Plenty is uncovering a new wave of skating talent thanks to the rise of epic skatepark facilities around Tauranga and the wider region, read on below to discover where to shred the Bay's best skateparks.
MOUNT MAUNGANUI DESTINATION SKATEPARK GORDON SPRATT SKATE PARK PĀPĀMOA ŌMOKOROA SKATE PATH TE PUKE SKATEPARK WHAKATĀNE SKATEPARK

MOUNT MAUNGANUI DESTINATION SKATEPARK
The Bay’s largest and newest skate facility opened at Mount Maunganui in May 2024 and is the very first skatepark in the Southern Hemisphere to include 3D-printed skateable features.
Professional skatepark designers got together with council staff and local skateboarders, roller and inline skaters, BMXers and scooter riders to create the 3000m² destination skatepark which caters for everyone from beginners through to aspiring Olympians.

Designed by Rich Landscapes, this incredible facility features a large flow bowl, big skate ditch, a mini ramp and lots of street skate obstacles like competition stairs, ledges and ramps. There’s also a learner’s skinny ledge, a learner’s wide ledge, a learner’s rail, a small quarter pipe, a large flat concrete pad and many other street-skate obstacles.
It’s the perfect place for kids to learn to push, stop, turn, drop in and ollie, and for highly skilled skaters to push themselves to the limit and show off their talent and gravity-defying skills!

The destination skatepark is easy to find on the corner of Hull Road and Maunganui Road (opposite New World supermarket) and has four different zones suitable for different ages and abilities. Zones one and two are for more experienced skaters, while zones three and four are specifically designed for newbies and those with intermediate roller skills.
There’s plenty of flat smooth space to practice footwork basics or roller derby drills, and different ground levels within the park keeps things interesting and helps build up skaters’ skills.

Parents and grandparents watching on are well catered for too, with plenty of seating, picnic tables, toilets, drinking fountains, shade sails and a BBQ all on hand. This skatepark is floodlit until 10:30pm every night, and there are ramped areas which are wheelchair and mobility scooter friendly plus dedicated mobility parking spaces. There are accessible picnic tables too.
A 12m-long and 3m-high wave is the largest known 3D-printed skate sculpture anywhere in the world! This clever and sustainable technology has also been used to print a quarter pipe and skateable ledges, making Mount Maunganui unlike any other skate destination in the country.

Not surprisingly, this park is humming seven days a week. So if you’re new to skating of any kind, or have particularly young children, consider visiting during quieter times so you get the best out of your experience.
The Bay of Plenty is fast becoming Aotearoa New Zealand’s new skate capital – so if you’re keen to show off your ollie, tic-tac and heelflip skills, or just want a smooth surface to cruise around on, come and check out one of these skateparks soon.
Location: Corner of Hull and Mount Maunganui Road.
(Parking available across the road at Mount Maunganui Sports Centre)

GORDON SPRATT SKATEPARK PĀPĀMOA
Pāpāmoa’s skatepark at Gordon Spratt Reserve had an extensive makeover over in 2023 and now features wide open, smooth concrete surfaces for skaters of all abilities to enjoy. Features include a manual pad, a street hip, a euro gap, A-frame ramp, stairs, ledges and rails. There’s plenty of room for beginners and experienced skaters to ride side-by-side.
There’s also a nearby pump track which riders will enjoy as well.
Location: 120 Parton Road, Pāpāmoa Beach.

ŌMOKOROA SKATE PATH
If you’re after a skatepark with a difference, then roll on out to Ōmokoroa. They have a unique and popular ‘skate path’ which weaves down and around natural slopes. Young children love cruising along this one-way path on bikes and scooters as they ride the small hills and gentle curves. The pathway then finishes with a more traditional skatepark area which has a quarter pipe and various rails and obstacles for skateboarders to enjoy.
Picnic tables and a playground (with a flying fox) are close by, and the whole area is accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
Location: 262 Ōmokoroa Road, Ōmokoroa.

TE PUKE SKATEPARK
Te Puke’s designer skatepark opened in May 2017 and provides over 600m² of flat space and curved transitions for flow and street-style skating. The town’s skating community had a lot of input into the design, and the result has been attracting big crowds ever since. There’s something here for skaters of all ages and skill levels including quarter pipes, ledges, rails, and banks for technical tricks.
Location: Jubilee Park, Commerce Lane, Te Puke.

WHAKATĀNE SKATEPARK
The most colourful – and possibly the coolest – skatepark in the Bay is found in Whakatāne. It was given a visual makeover in 2022 by local artist Te Marunui Hotene and his pink and purple taniwha masterpiece is unlike anything you’ll see elsewhere. This skatepark offers great flow, street elements and an open-end bowl so you can skate straight into the mouth of the taniwha.
This flowing concrete landscape is perfect for all ages and skill levels, and can be found near the CBD and close to the Whakatāne River.
Location: 1F McAlister Street, Whakatāne.
SKATE DO'S AND DON'TS
- Always wear a helmet. Wrist, knee and elbow pads are also a great idea
- Skate within your ability
- Be patient and wait your turn
- Respect other skaters and their attempts
- Look out for (and help) beginners
- Supervise younger children and avoid busy/peak times
- Share the space and look before you roll
- Don’t sit on skate obstacles
- Don’t hang your board or scooter over coping (top edge) when another skater is in the bowl
- Always use rubbish bins provided
- Don’t drink alcohol, smoke or vape around public facilities and other users