Lawn Bowls Clubs in the Bay of Plenty: A Regional Guide

The Bay of Plenty is home to more than a dozen lawn bowls clubs, stretching from the harbour-side greens of Tauranga and Mount Maunganui across to Whakatāne, Ōhope and Ōpōtiki in the east, and inland to Rotorua. This guide maps out the main clubs in the region, what each one offers, how they are organised under Bowls Bay of Plenty, and how to join one even if you have never picked up a bowl before. Lawn bowls is the outdoor game played with weighted, curving bowls on a large flat lawn called a green — a different sport from indoor ten-pin bowling, and that is the game this guide covers.

What the Bay of Plenty covers for lawn bowls

For bowls, the Bay of Plenty takes in the coast from Katikati down through Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Papamoa to Te Puke, the eastern towns of Whakatāne, Ōhope and Ōpōtiki, and the inland lakes city of Rotorua. These clubs are grouped under a regional body called Bowls Bay of Plenty, which is one of the “centres” that sit beneath the national governing body, Bowls New Zealand. A centre affiliates the clubs in its area, organises inter-club competitions and regional championships, and is the first point of contact if you want to find a club near you.

Rotorua is included because it sits inside the Bay of Plenty region, and its main club, the Arawa Bowling Club, is affiliated to Bowls Bay of Plenty. Taupō, by contrast, is organised under a different centre and is not part of the Bay of Plenty bowls structure despite being nearby, so it is not listed here.

Clubs differ mainly in the kind of greens they have. A natural (grass) green is a traditional turf surface; an artificial green is a carpet-style synthetic surface that drains fast and can be played in most weather. Some clubs mix both. If the game itself is new to you, it is worth reading how to play lawn bowls and the basic rules of lawn bowls before you turn up, so the club visit makes more sense.

Lawn bowls clubs in the western Bay of Plenty

The western Bay, around Tauranga, has the highest concentration of clubs in the region, from large multi-green venues to small, friendly community clubs.

Tauranga Bowling Club

The Tauranga Bowling Club is the central-city club, based at 37 Cameron Street on the edge of the Tauranga and Wharepai Domains in the CBD. It is one of the city’s oldest clubs, with roots in the early 1900s, and it plays on two natural (grass) greens. It runs a Twilight League on Thursday evenings and has recently installed floodlights, so members can bowl after dark. Membership options include full playing, social and associate packages, plus casual options for newcomers. If you want the wider picture of the city’s bowling scene, see our guide to bowling in Tauranga.

Tauranga South Bowling Club

The Tauranga South Bowling Club marked its centenary in 2024 (it was founded in 1924) by opening a covered, roofed green — reported as New Zealand’s twelfth all-weather covered green and the first in the Bay of Plenty. The roughly NZ$1.7 million project, part-funded by selling one of the club’s greens, included a new artificial surface beneath the roof. A covered green lets the club run bowls through rain and summer heat alike, which extends the playing season well beyond what an open grass green allows.

Bowls Mount Maunganui

Bowls Mount Maunganui is one of the largest clubs in the region, with close to 200 members. It is based at 45–47 Kawaka Street and plays on two grass greens and one artificial green. The club was formed in May 2010 when the original Mount Maunganui Bowling Club (established in 1925) amalgamated with Bowls Cosmopolitan Mount Maunganui. It sits within Club Mount Maunganui, a multi-sport venue that also has croquet and pétanque, so there is a full clubhouse and bar alongside the greens.

Papamoa Bowls

Papamoa Bowls is a small, welcoming club at 2 Alice Lane, Papamoa Beach, with around 92 members. It plays on a single all-weather artificial green that is open from daylight to dark year-round, which suits beginners who want to practise outside set club days. The club offers free coaching to members and a 50% discount for new bowlers joining for the first time. It took its current name in April 1998, having started life as the Papamoa Sports Bowling Club, and its clubrooms seat about 50 people.

Katikati Bowling Club

The Katikati Bowling Club, at 8 Park Road in Katikati, has been bowling for more than 90 years and is a mixed ladies’ and men’s club with roughly 115 playing members and about 25 non-playing members. It offers both a grass green and an artificial green, and runs social events such as housie and quiz nights that are open to the public — a common way for northern Bay clubs to stay busy outside the main playing days.

Te Puke Bowling Club

The Te Puke Bowling Club serves the inland horticulture town between Tauranga and the eastern Bay. It is an active member of the Bay of Plenty centre and has produced competitive players at regional championship level in recent seasons. As with the smaller clubs, it is best to confirm current greens, playing days and membership directly with the club before visiting.

Lawn bowls clubs in the eastern Bay of Plenty

The eastern Bay clubs are more spread out, centred on Whakatāne and Ōhope, with Ōpōtiki furthest east. Distance between towns means inter-club play here often stays within the eastern cluster.

Whakatane Bowling Club

The Whakatane Bowling Club, on Merritt Street, was formed in 1907 and has close to 100 members. It plays on two Tiger Turf greens — a brand of artificial surface — which keeps the club playing reliably through the region’s wet spells. It is the main club for the town and a hub for eastern Bay competition.

Ōhope Bowling Club

The Ōhope Bowling Club sits on Harbour Road in the coastal settlement of Ōhope, just over the hill from Whakatāne. It has two artificial greens, making it another all-weather option. The club has a long history in the area and remains an active social and competitive club for the eastern Bay.

Opotiki Bowling Club

The Opotiki Bowling Club has been operating since 1912 and is the easternmost club in the centre. It has one artificial green and one grass green, and reports at least 30 full-playing members — a smaller club that leans on casual twilight bowls and social tournaments to bring people in. Because of its distance from the main Tauranga base, it mostly competes with nearby eastern Bay clubs such as Ōhope, Whakatāne and Kawerau.

Lawn bowls in Rotorua

Rotorua’s main club, the Arawa Bowling Club, is the Bay of Plenty centre’s inland outpost. It is based at 64 Lytton Street, Glenholme, and plays on two natural greens. The club runs a twilight league, coaching for newcomers and a youth programme, and it affiliates to Bowls Bay of Plenty rather than to any Waikato centre. For visitors to the lakes district, it is the most convenient place to get on a green.

How to join a Bay of Plenty lawn bowls club

Joining a club is straightforward and you do not need any gear or experience to start. The national body sets out three simple steps: find a club near you, get in touch with it directly, and arrange a visit. Most Bay of Plenty clubs will happily put a set of club bowls in your hands for a first try.

Find and contact a club

Pick a club by location and by the kind of green you want to play on — an artificial green (Papamoa, Whakatāne, Ōhope) plays in almost any weather, while a grass green (Tauranga, Arawa) is the traditional surface. Email or phone the club before turning up, since many run on volunteer hours and are not staffed all day. Ask whether they hold a “come and try” day or offer beginner coaching.

Membership types

Clubs usually offer several tiers so you can match your commitment to how often you will play:

• Full playing membership — for regular players who want to enter club competitions and inter-club games.
• Social or associate membership — for people who mainly use the clubrooms and social events rather than competing.
• Casual options — pay-as-you-play or short introductory deals, ideal while you decide whether the sport is for you. Papamoa, for example, gives first-time bowlers a 50% discount.

What to wear and bring

For a first visit you only need flat, smooth-soled shoes and comfortable, casual clothing. Flat soles protect the green from damage, which is why they are a firm rule at every club; our guide to flat-soled shoes and dress codes explains what qualifies and what to avoid. Club whites or club colours only come into play once you enter formal competition, and the club will tell you when that applies. Beginners do not need to buy anything up front: clubs lend bowls while you learn, and you can read up on choosing a set of bowls as a beginner once you are sure you want to keep playing.

Coaching, twilight and social bowls

Most Bay of Plenty clubs offer free or low-cost coaching to new members and run relaxed evening sessions in the warmer months. Twilight bowls is a short, casual format played in the early evening, often paired with food and music, and it is the easiest way to try the game socially. Once you have the basics, you will play one of the standard formats — singles, pairs, triples or fours — which our guide to singles, pairs, triples and fours explains in full.

What does it cost to play lawn bowls in the Bay of Plenty?

Costs are low compared with many sports, but they vary by club, so treat any figure as a guide and confirm the current amount directly. Annual full-playing membership at New Zealand clubs typically falls in a broad range of roughly NZ$100 to $250, with social and associate memberships costing less. Several Bay of Plenty clubs sweeten the first year — Papamoa’s 50% new-bowler discount is one example. On top of the subscription you may pay small entry fees for tournaments and buy your own bowls eventually, though a basic second-hand set is inexpensive and clubs lend bowls while you start out. There is no green fee to practise once you are a member at most clubs.

Common mistakes when choosing a club

The main mistakes new bowlers make are about fit, not skill. Avoid these and your first season will go more smoothly:

• Assuming every club plays on grass. If you want to bowl through winter or wet weather, choose an artificial-green club such as Papamoa, Whakatāne or Ōhope rather than a grass-only club.
• Turning up unannounced. Volunteer-run clubs are not always open; a quick call or email first means someone will be there to welcome you and lend you bowls.
• Buying bowls too soon. Bias and size matter, and the right set depends on your hand and the green; borrow club bowls until you know what suits you.
• Wearing the wrong shoes. Heeled or ridged soles can damage a green and will be turned away; flat, smooth soles are required everywhere.
• Confusing the codes. Searches for “bowling” often mix lawn bowls with indoor ten-pin; make sure the club you contact plays the outdoor green game if that is what you want.

Which club suits which bowler?

Choose by location first, then by facilities. Tauranga city dwellers are well served by the central Tauranga and Tauranga South clubs, the latter now weatherproof under its covered green. Mount Maunganui and the eastern suburbs suit the large, social Bowls Mount Maunganui, while beach-side beginners near Papamoa get year-round play and cheap first-year membership. Northern Bay residents have Katikati, and the eastern Bay is covered by Whakatāne, Ōhope and Ōpōtiki. Rotorua locals and visitors have Arawa. Larger clubs offer more competition and facilities; smaller clubs offer a quicker, friendlier welcome — both are good ways in.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many lawn bowls clubs are in the Bay of Plenty?

The region has well over a dozen affiliated clubs under Bowls Bay of Plenty, spread from Katikati and Tauranga in the west to Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki in the east, plus Arawa in Rotorua. Club numbers change as small clubs merge or close, so the Bowls Bay of Plenty centre or Bowls New Zealand’s club directory holds the current, complete list.

Do I need my own bowls to join a club?

No. Bay of Plenty clubs lend bowls to beginners and to visitors trying the game, and many offer free coaching. You only need to buy your own set once you are playing regularly and know which size and bias suit your hand and your usual green.

Which Bay of Plenty clubs can play in wet weather?

Clubs with artificial or covered greens play in almost any weather. Papamoa, Whakatāne and Ōhope have artificial greens, and Tauranga South now has a roofed, covered green. Grass-green clubs such as Tauranga and Arawa are more weather-dependent.

Is lawn bowls the same as ten-pin bowling?

No. Lawn bowls is played outdoors on a flat grass or artificial green with weighted bowls that curve toward a small target ball called the jack. Ten-pin bowling is played indoors, rolling a ball down a wooden or synthetic lane at ten pins. This guide covers lawn bowls clubs only.

How much does it cost to join a Bay of Plenty bowls club?

Full-playing annual membership at New Zealand clubs generally sits somewhere around NZ$100 to $250, with social memberships costing less and discounts often available for first-year bowlers. Fees vary by club and change year to year, so confirm the current subscription with the club directly.