Annie, my airbnb host in Mount Maunganui, picked me up at the bus station. Wasn't that kind, and certainly appreciated. That was just the first of many kindnesses. She and her husband Tony are such a nice couple. Their home is just 2 blocks from the beach and perfectly set up for being airbnb hosts. They have two small houses on their property, one they live in themselves, and a little one that they rent. It's wee but it has everything: a bed, a kitchenette, a dining table or desk, a little living area, a bathroom and even a patio. And I'll be here a whole week. That feels so good. Actually worth unpacking.
My little home
This is what a beachfront
property here looks like!
I took a long walk on the beach the night I arrived, and what a beach it is. It must be at least 20 km. long and the sand is perfect. Quite hard packed near the water line so great for walking or jogging. And of course the water is that exquisite turquoise colour.
My first view of the beach
The next day I walked on the beach again, to the downtown area That took about 40 minutes. It's very much a beach town, with lots of cafes, restaurants and stores that sell beach items. Not to mention a slew of ice cream places. I think this might be heaven.
Downtown Mt Maunganui
(and a Norfolk pine)
Day two (January 29) Annie drove me in to Tauranga, where she works. It's just a bridge away and with a population of about 120,000, one of the bigger centres in New Zealand! There I visited the Art Gallery and did the town's historic walk. Tauranga, like so many places in NZ, has a very nice waterfront area. Probably the highlight of the walk for me was the garden at the Elms Mission House, which was completed in 1847. So many old and wonderful examples in the garden of native NZ trees.
When back "home" in Mount Maunganui I went to visit a friend of a friend in Wolfville who winters in NZ and incredibly enough, is living just blocks from me. That just blows me away!
Today (January 30) I walked the beach into town again and discovered a treasure trove of welks, my favourite shell. And picked up far too many. I'll have to liberate them before I leave. Ladden with welks, I climbed Mauao (pronounced mow-aw), the mount that gave the town its name. Just a nice climb (about 40 minutes) and of course wonderful 360 degree views from the summit, where you get a better idea of just how long the beach is. You literally can't see the end of it. Back down in town I reckoned I was due for lunch, a coffee (I mean cappuccino) and an ice cream.
Welks galore!!
Mauao (the mount)
View of Mt. Maunganui from the mount
In the evening, my hosts took me along with them to the Friday evening food market, in a park downtown. So very nice of them. Music, food from all over the world, just delightful.
Still three more days here. That's a lifetime on this trip!
