Mt Manganui

On Tuesday, Bryan, John, Lee and I headed off to Mt. Maunganui and Waihi Beach for the week. Bryan was on holiday from his job (he resigned! ) and wanted a trip to the Mount to relax and decompress!  We were more than happy to join him!

We arrived at the Mount midday, and checked into our motel, which was on Pilot Bay, where all of the cruise ships dock.  We were excited to see TWO cruise ships in!  Holland America's Amsterdam and Rotterdam were docked there, on their 2011 Around the World Cruise!!  How cool is that?

We walked down and found that they were set to sail at 7:00 pm, and planned our day to be there to see them sail.

One of our favorite things about the Mount is to walk around Mt. Maunganui - there is a walking track all around the base of the mountain, as well as tracks to the top.  However, due to the extremely heavy rains, there had been quite a few slips on the mountain, and the walk was closed.  As a result, we weren't able to see the ships go out through the channel to the sea, but just out of the harbor.

We had a great time there - took lots of walks, spent time at the beach, had relaxing afternoons with books and papers, had picnic lunches on Pilot Bay and had dinner both nights at wonderful outdoor restaurants.

Thursday morning it was time to leave, and head for Waihi Beach, where we had a motel booked.  We stopped in Tauranga on our way, and had a lovely wander before we got on the road.

What an amazing time at Mt. Maunganui!!  That's ALWAYS on the "next time" list for me!!
Thanks, Bryan!!

The first ship, backing out of the slip, and getting ready to sail - heading for Napier!

At the beach!  It was a beautiful, sunny day, with a great ocean breeze

Watching the ships sail

On the dock

Off to Napier!!  Lucky people, on an around the world cruise!!

Bryan, relaxing with a book!

Bryan, John and Lee on the ocean side of the Mount

Mt. Maunganui, with heavy cloud behind

At one of the colorful roundabouts in Mt. Maunganui

Bryan and John at dinner

Spectacular sunset on Wednesday evening!  We met a woman on the beach who graciously offered to take a picture of all four of us!  Looks like paradise, doesn't it?

Another wonderful shot!

We couldn't resist a picture in these red "high heels"outside a shoe shop in Tauranga

And now, we're off to Waihi Beach!!