Magnificent Mt Maunganui

Rotorua was a one night stay for sure. Nice accomodation, and nice town, with lots of free heating, but the smell wasn't for me. Glad to move further north to a paradise area in the Tauranga area known as Mt Maunganui. Postcard perfect town with one or two streets of activity. We arrived late in the day there, but with enough time to form a group of three and venture 1 or 2 kilometers into the town.

Jane was looking to do some night kayaking, but the weather wasn't in favour, and Miriam was looking to find the naturally heated spring pool at the base of Mt Maunganui to relax. Once we checked out both, and getting the advice from the pool attendant, we all climbed the mount just as the rain was clearing. The Mount is a spectacular climb busy with the locals using it as the fitness run for the day.



After that little work out and now dark, we walked the local strip and picked out "The Taste of Thai". We sat outside in the perfect weather conditions and sampled some great meals and a great bottle of Pinot Gris from the Marlborough area(after doing some wine tasting from their selection) along with some spectacular service from the family run business.



The girls were heading out of the country so they took the express route to Auckland, while I stayed another day here as I"ll be taking the long route around to the Mercury bay area.