Tauranga Sea Pods

Where urban design meets climate resilience in Tauranga Moana

This article provides information about a science-related experience to support school and whanau event/programme planning. You can explore more experiences across Aotearoa here.

Tauranga’s Sea Pods offer an immersive experience that brings urban design and climate resilience into sharp, local focus. Set within Tauranga Moana, the experience invites participants to explore how artificial seawalls in urban environments can provide habitat for rockpool-dwelling marine life.

Use the sections below to plan your visit and explore learning possibilities.

     Why Tauranga's Sea Pods?

Tauranga Sea Pods offer a distinctive opportunity to explore how urban coastal design can respond to climate change while supporting marine ecosystems. The artificial seawall structures are designed to mimic natural rockpool habitats, making interactions between built environments and marine life visible and accessible. This creates a powerful context for examining climate resilience, habitat design, and human decision-making in coastal urban settings.

Close-up of a Tauranga Sea Pod showing artificial rock pools that provide habitat for intertidal marine life in an urban coastal environment

Location: Tauranga City, Te Moana-a-Toi (Bay of Plenty)

Type: Public coastal reserve

Suitable for: Individuals, whānau, school groups

Cost: Free

Typical visit length: 1-2 hours

Best conditions: Low tide, settled weather

What learning is possible here?

Learning at Beach Road Reserve centres on observing and investigating intertidal systems, with opportunities to notice patterns, variation, and change.

• Observe and document intertidal biodiversity, noting patterns in species distribution across different tidal zones (Exploring and Observing, Pattern Seeking for NCEA Level 1 Science).

• Use simple field methods such as quadrat sampling or transects to gather and compare data across different parts of the tidal flat (NCEA Level 2 Biology).

• Record observations using iNaturalist, contributing to shared datasets while building skills in species identification and evidence-based observation.

• Reflect on how tides, seasons, and human use shape intertidal environments, using observations from the site as evidence.
  

     Planning Your Trip

Location of Tauranga Sea Pods in Tauranga City, Te Moana-a-Toi (Bay of Plenty). Map data from OpenStreetMap. See Google Maps co-ordinates here.

Visitors are encouraged to treat the site as a shared public space and minimise disturbance to the environment. Researchers are currently studying the area, so observations should be non-invasive and avoid disturbing organisms or structures. The following considerations may help shape how you plan and use this site.

• Toilets: a public toilet block is available at the playground

• Mobility access: the sea pods are visible, but will be impossible for a wheelchair or mobility scooter to access

• Food and drink: there are food vendors and eateries nearby, a water fountain is available at the playground

• Parking: parking for private vehicles and vans is available nearby. Bus drivers may need to arrange drop-off and pick-up points.

• What to bring: What you bring will depend on the purpose and length of your visit. The items below are suggested for most visits to the reserve.

  • Appropriate footwear suitable for wet and uneven surfaces

  • Sun protection (hat, sunscreen)

  • Water bottle and packed lunch (there are food vendors and a water fountain nearby)

  • Weather-appropriate clothing (wind and rain protection if needed)

  • Notebook or clipboard and pencil for recording observations

  • Mobile device or camera (optional, for photographs or iNaturalist use)

Potential Risks

The points below are provided to help you plan a safe visit and do not replace your own judgement or safety planning.

• Observe public signage in the area.

• Check tide times before planning your visit.

• This is a public space that is popular with runners and family; dogs and very small children may be present in the area.

• Exposure to sun and wind is likely; shaded areas are available under the shade sail at the playground.

• Emergency awareness:

  • Tsunami evacuation map

     Contact

This is a public reserve. For site-specific information, permissions, or maintenance enquiries, you can contact Tauranga City Council.

     Gallery

Tauranga Sea Pods provides a real-world context for exploring the relationship between urban design, marine ecosystems, and climate resilience. The experience invites participants to observe, question, and reflect on how built environments can support life on the water.

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