Pāpāmoa's sporting heart
Gordon Spratt Reserve - Parton Road
Nearly every club listed on this page calls Gordon Spratt Reserve home. Football pitches, cricket oval, tennis courts, bowls greens, athletics track, skate park and the Pāpāmoa Sports & Recreation Centre are all on this one reserve - five minutes from the beach.
10+
Clubs on one reserve
On and in the ocean
Water sports
One of the most decorated surf lifesaving clubs in the Bay of Plenty region. Pāpāmoa SLSC provides volunteer beach patrols every weekend and public holiday through summer, and competes strongly at regional and national level in surf sports including board riding, swimming, IRB racing and beach events. The Nippers programme for children aged 5–13 is one of the most popular junior activities in the suburb - summer registrations are in high demand. Members have represented New Zealand internationally, including at the Lifesaving World Championships.
LocationPāpāmoa Beach - club rooms at the domain end of the beach
SeasonBeach patrols run October through April. Pool Rescue and training year-round.
NippersAges 5–13. Registrations open in August/September each year.
VolunteersPatrol members always welcome - no prior experience required. Training provided.
Volunteer-run swimming club based at the Pāpāmoa School pool, offering coached sessions from beginner learn-to-swim through to competitive squad training. A community-focused club for swimmers of all ages and ability levels.
LocationPāpāmoa School pool
Pāpāmoa's resident surf school, run by local instructor Tom Botting out of the Pāpāmoa Beach domain. Lessons cover surfing technique plus ocean safety, rips and currents - practical knowledge for anyone spending time at the beach. Board hire available for those who want a paddle without a lesson. Summer holiday programmes for kids. Private and group lessons available for all ages.
LocationPāpāmoa Beach domain - at the beach end
LessonsGroup and private. 2-hour sessions. All ages and ability levels welcome.
NoteAlso has a Gold listing in the Papamoa.info directory
Gordon Spratt Reserve
Field sports
By far the largest single club at Gordon Spratt Reserve - Pāpāmoa FC is one of the Bay's largest football clubs, with 850+ registered members as of 2024, and co-created FC Tauranga Moana with a further 200 members. The club has grown alongside Pāpāmoa itself since forming in 1995 and is now one of the fastest-growing football clubs in New Zealand. Junior grades cover all age groups from small-sided games upward. Senior teams compete in the Northern Regional Football League Southern Conference.
LocationGordon Spratt Reserve, Parton Road
SeasonWinter football season (April–September). Registration in late February/March.
TournamentsAnnual King's Birthday and Matariki tournaments at Gordon Spratt Reserve
A family-focused rugby league club with roots deep in the Pāpāmoa community. The Bulldogs field teams from Under 6s through to Premier men's and women's - over 100 junior players and 100+ senior and netball players in recent seasons. Run entirely by volunteers and supported by loyal sponsors. Gordon Spratt Reserve is home base every weekend.
LocationGordon Spratt Reserve, Parton Road
SeasonWinter rugby league season. Contact club for registration dates.
Community cricket club offering junior through senior teams at Alice Johnson Oval - the home ground of Pāpāmoa cricket within the Gordon Spratt Reserve complex. The club welcomes players of all ages and abilities as well as coaches, volunteers and supporters.
LocationAlice Johnson Oval, Gordon Spratt Reserve
SeasonSummer cricket season (October–March)
Touch football competition running at Gordon Spratt Reserve from October through March. Adult and masters competitions on Thursday evenings, with a high school competition in Term 1. The annual Carnival of Touch marks finals day. A fun, social option for teams of mixed ages and abilities - no experience required to enter a team.
LocationGordon Spratt Reserve, Parton Road
SeasonAdult season starts October. Team registrations open August.
Team fees$780 per team per season (2024/25)
Gordon Spratt Reserve
Court & lawn sports
One of the best-equipped tennis clubs in the Bay of Plenty. Sixteen courts in total - 12 plexipave and 4 tiger turf astrograss, all resurfaced within recent years. Social play, competitive leagues, coaching for all levels and a genuine club community. Casual and guest bookings can be made online without membership. An excellent option for visitors to Pāpāmoa looking for a hit.
LocationGordon Spratt Reserve, Parton Road, Pāpāmoa Beach
Courts16 total - 12 plexipave + 4 astrograss. All recently resurfaced.
Casual playBook and pay online at clubspark.kiwi - members, guests and casual players welcome
A friendly and inclusive bowling club open daily at Gordon Spratt Reserve. The all-weather synthetic green means year-round play regardless of conditions. Free coaching available for new players - no experience or equipment needed to come and try. Popular with a wide age range and a welcoming social culture.
LocationGordon Spratt Reserve, Parton Road
HoursOpen daily. Free coaching for new players.
Tracks, trails & roads
Running & trails
Pāpāmoa's free weekly 5km timed run at Gordon Spratt Reserve, every Saturday at 8:00am. Part of the global parkrun network - entirely organised by local volunteers. You only need to register once at parkrun.co.nz to participate at any parkrun worldwide. Bring a scannable barcode for your time to be recorded. Walkers, joggers and runners of all speeds welcome. Post-run coffee meetup at Mocha n More on Toorea Street most weeks.
LocationGordon Spratt Reserve, Parton Road, Pāpāmoa
WhenEvery Saturday at 8:00am, year-round
CostFree. Register once at parkrun.co.nz - bring your barcode each week.
Community running group open to anyone who enjoys running in Pāpāmoa. The suburb offers excellent variety - flat beach and road running, and the challenging trails of Pāpāmoa Hills and Summerhill for those wanting elevation. A friendly, non-competitive group welcoming all paces.
Privately owned but open to the public, Summerhill Recreational Farm is a working sheep, cattle and forestry property 10 minutes from central Pāpāmoa in the Pāpāmoa Hills. Trails cover native forest, rolling farmland, swooping singletrack and a purpose-built skills area with a junior XC race loop, dirt jumps and structures. Suitable for first-time mountain bikers through to experienced riders. Trails are shared-use with walkers - follow direction markers and close all gates. Built and maintained by local mountain bikers and volunteers.
LocationPāpāmoa Hills - approx 10 minutes from central Pāpāmoa
AccessFree. Respect the farm - close gates, follow trail directions.
Junior athletics club based at the athletics field on the corner of Alice Lane and Parton Road within Gordon Spratt Reserve. Covering children aged 3–14 across all track and field disciplines - sprints, distance, throws and jumps. Club nights during the summer season (October through March). Entirely volunteer-run with parent participation expected and welcomed.
LocationCorner of Alice Lane and Parton Road, Gordon Spratt Reserve
Ages3–14 years. Age groupings based on age at 31 December each year.
SeasonOctober–March. Weekly club nights during season.
Community facility
Recreation hub
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Pāpāmoa Beach Sports Club (sporty.co.nz/papamoabeachsc) is a community-focused multi-sport club aiming to create connection through sport, art and cultural activities. Worth checking if you're looking for something that doesn't fit neatly into a single code.
The indoor hub at the heart of Gordon Spratt Reserve. Seven room options including two large interconnectable spaces, a commercial kitchen and a licensed bar. Regular activities include indoor bowls, martial arts, Pilates, yoga, spin classes, a runner's club, after-school care and Probus groups. The on-site fitness centre caters to a limited local membership base. Also one of Pāpāmoa's most popular affordable wedding and function venues.
Address80 Alice Lane (off Parton Road), Gordon Spratt Reserve, Pāpāmoa 3118
Phone07 577 8556
StaffedMonday–Friday 9:00am–3:00pm. Available for hire 7 days.
Operated byBay Venues - Tauranga City Council community facility
Frequently asked
Questions about sport in Pāpāmoa
Which sports clubs are at Gordon Spratt Reserve? ⌄
Gordon Spratt Reserve hosts: Pāpāmoa Football Club, Pāpāmoa Bulldogs Rugby League, Pāpāmoa Tennis Club (16 courts), Pāpāmoa Bowls Club, Pāpāmoa Cricket Club (Alice Johnson Oval), Touch Pāpāmoa, Pāpāmoa Athletic Club, Gordon Spratt Reserve Parkrun and the Pāpāmoa Sports & Recreation Centre. It is the main sporting hub for the suburb, located on Parton Road, Pāpāmoa Beach.
When do sports club registrations open in Pāpāmoa? ⌄
Timing varies by club and season. Generally: winter sports (football, rugby league, touch) open registrations in February/March for an April start. Summer sports (cricket, athletics, swimming) open around August/September for an October start. The Surf Life Saving Club opens Nippers registrations in August/September for the summer patrol season. Always check each club's website or Facebook page for exact dates as they can vary year to year.
Is there a parkrun in Pāpāmoa? ⌄
Yes. Gordon Spratt Reserve Parkrun runs every Saturday at 8:00am. It's a free 5km timed run - register once at parkrun.co.nz and bring your barcode. The event is entirely volunteer-run. Walkers are welcome. The post-run group often heads to Mocha n More on Toorea Street for coffee afterwards.
Are there mountain biking trails near Pāpāmoa? ⌄
Yes. Summerhill Recreational Trails in the Pāpāmoa Hills are about 10 minutes from central Pāpāmoa. The trails cover native bush, farmland and purpose-built MTB features including a junior XC loop, dirt jumps and structures. Access is free. Trails are shared with walkers - follow the direction markers. For trail maps and conditions, check Trailforks. There are also flat cycling and walking paths through the Pāpāmoa suburb itself, good for families and recreational riders.
Club not listed? This page focuses on clubs with a direct Pāpāmoa base or venue. If your club operates in Pāpāmoa and isn't shown here, let us know and we'll add it. Last reviewed: July 2026.