Hi Slackie,
actually i found that the easiest way to transit short hops such as your itinerary Slackie, is to rent cars from Avis or Budget, one way. Try to pre-book as one ways are a little hard to get. They might also require a fee, additional to the charge, but you will be in TG in 3 or so hours. ( drive directions easy = take Puhini drive to the 20, go south on 20 until big round about, turn left, go up far drive until the T-junction, turn right, follow Great South Rd to you hit the motorway, go under the motorway and then up onto it south bound. Follow for 20-30KM until you hit the State highway 2, turn left onto the 2, and just stay on that until it gets to Tauranga
The only other option is the shuttle buses, they run back and forth from all about the small towns to the international airport. My friend drives one. She stated that she couldn’t keep up with demand. Demand of all the people ( youngish ) going to the airport, to fly to Aussie, from all around bound north and south of Auckland in the smallish towns. And, that is not a joke either.
Other way is to go to Ardmore hang around. There is a small chance, on a bluish day you might be able to get a ride with a small trainie
Good Luck
FS1200
