Police said they had received information from members of the public which led to places of interest.
They were hoping the body would be removed from bush along SH38 this evening.
A 44-year old woman appeared in Rotorua District Court charged with assaulting Ms Hoffman-Tamm, who went missing 16 days ago.
The Rotorua woman, who was granted interim name suppression, did not enter a plea when she appeared before a community magistrate and was remanded in custody to reappear in court on December 3.
Police have said further charges were likely.
Ms Hoffman-Tamm, 51, disappeared after leaving her home on her red mountainbike to visit a friend on November 7.
Police said last night they were examining a rural spot close to State Highway 38 between Rotorua and Murupara and a house in Rotorua.
Ms Hoffman-Tamm's bike was found yesterday at a different location in a Rotorua suburb.
On Wednesday her sister Jan Donlan made an emotional plea for her "generous'' and "good-hearted'' sister to come home.
She said the disappearance was completely out of character.
Ms Donlan said the family, including her sister's two adult children and three grandchildren, were extremely worried.
