The city of Tauranga is male, why? You just have to see the tail that comes out ... The truth is that the best thing about him / her is that tail, a land line with sea on both sides that ends on a hill of more than 200 meters: Mount Maunganui. The truth is that it was one of the places where we felt more comfortable and worthwhile.
But before arriving in Tauranga we did several nights at Waihi Beach. Another place where we have found great! In theory (poster included) you cannot spend the night if you do not drive a self-contained, that is, an adapted van with a wastewater tank. Ours as much has an ashtray, and although we are small, it is still insufficient. Anyway there is a bathroom open 24 hours, so we played it and there came no one to throw us!
We slept a few nights, both to go and to return and the place deserves it! Here we came after meeting an Australian who advised us to leave the place where we slept, in Karangahake, to come to this place, 4 degrees less cold than the town of Waihi. And we noticed it! Wow
After leaving our beloved Waihi and the animals of our first housesitting, we set out again to continue exploring New Zealand. We pass through Katikati, "the city of murals", with its innumerable paintings on the walls of the town, and we arrive at Mount Maunganui!
The truth is that the entrance is ugly noses! Tauranga is one of the fastest growing cities in New Zealand and the industry has invaded everything! To get to the mountain (the most tourist and coolest area) you have to go through several very ugly industrial estates. But the reward does not wait too long.
We arrive at Mount Maunganui on a Sunday market. No crowds or staff shouting the prices: “Mari Calmen! Blonde! Everything to an eeeeuro! They take it away from the maaaanos! ” Here are some stands of homemade food, organic products and things like that.
Until, suddenly, we see a group of people crowding over a character ... asking then they tell us that it is a New Zealand rock star ... we had time to take a picture before they took the security ...
We really liked this city, although at the time we went it was almost deserted. We assume that in summer it will be filled with rich houses that have their second homes here (and small shacks!). It gave us time to explore its fantastic beaches ... and take a walk in the mountains.
On the road again !! YEAH !!
USEFUL INFO
Where to park?
- Waihi Beach: parking is on Tuna Ave. It is 10 km from Waihi village. It is a quiet place, in one of the accesses to the beach. There are homes nearby, but it is not a busy place. There is also a convenient shop nearby, where to buy some beers;). There is a 24-hour bathroom with running water and a Telecom booth that gives internet signal.
- Mount Maunganui: we saw in the WikiCamps NZ application that night can be done behind the police building. They suggest going and asking, but fearing the refusal, we got there and they didn't tell us anything. It is actually behind the bathrooms (which are open 24 hours) and next to the police. There is also a Telecom Wi-Fi signal here.
Walk in the mountains
There are two roads, one that runs along the base of the mountain, very simple, which lasts about 45 minutes and another that ascends to the top of the mountain. In this case you can follow several paths. It is best to start on the part of the beach (from the right as you look at the mountain) and after a while you can choose the longest and easiest path or the shortest and most difficult one. It's really not difficult, just a little steeper. The views from above are fabulous!
Tauranga
The library is in the center of the city, where you cannot park for a long period of time. We did not know until then what the numbers on the parking signs meant ... until a good man came to explain it to us ... ah! He also gave us a piece of paper with a gift ... 30 dollars fine for exceeding the parking time. It turns out that the number (15, 30, 60, 90 or 180) is not the cars that fit in that parking lot (that stupid!) But the minutes you can park. The next time we made sure to find an area without limitations ... it is beyond the police, in Mission ST. In the library you have unlimited Wi-Fi and a place to sit, recharge your devices, etc.
