Mount Maunganui in Tauranga

We stopped over in Tuaranga for the day to climb Mount Maunganui (try saying that five times fast).  Tauranga is a nice little town on the water.  I had been there about 5 years ago with my backpacking travel companion, Stephanie Pollok, and it was quite rainy and cool as we were there in the winter.  So being there in the summer is a much different experience!

Hiking the track around Mount Maunganui

Views along the track

There were lots of boats out in the bay, and we did a track around the entire mountain, which was along the water the entire way, before we climbed to the summit. Even the short hikes in New Zealand can be tough as they are steep. (And they love to give you lots and lots of stairs to climb.)

Stairs to the summit

Seth hiking to the summit

Once we got to the top, we had 360 degree views, which were pretty spectacular.  You could see the city in the distance, as well as several nearby islands.  We even got to see this guy:

Just hanging out

One of the islands

Mount Maunganui

Afterward, we headed to a holiday camp at Papamoa Beach, and we just loved it there.  We walked along the beach at sunset and collected shells.  There were so many!  We may have enjoyed a bottle or two of wine, and we chatted up our very friendly British neighbors.

Papamoa Beach

Lots of seashells

Selfie at the beach