Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights & Activities
The Mount lays claim to being NZ's premier
surfing
city (they teach surfing at high
school!). You can carve up the waves at
Mount Beach
, which has lovely beach breaks
and a 100m artificial surf reef not far offshore. Learn-to-surf operators include
Hibiscus
www.mountsurfshop.co.nz
; 96 Maunganui Rd; rental per hr wetsuit/bodyboard/surfboard/paddle-
board from $5/5/10/20, 2hr lesson $80;
9am-5pm Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm Sun)
.
Mauao
MOUNTAIN, LOOKOUT
Explore Mauao (Mt Maunganui) itself on the walking trails winding around it and lead-
ing up to the summit. The steep
summit walk
takes about an hour return (with a rest at
the top). You can also clamber around the rocks on
Moturiki Island
, which adjoins the
peninsula. The island and the base of Mauao comprise the
Mauao Base Track
(3½km,
45 minutes), wandering through magical groves of pohutukawa trees that bloom between
November and January. Pick up the
Mauao
map from the info desk at Beachside Holiday
Park.
Mount Hot Pools
SWIMMING
(
www.tcal.co.nz
;
9 Adams Ave; adult/child/family $11/8/31; 6am-10pm Mon-Sat, 8am-10pm
Sun)
If you've worked up a sweat walking up and down Mauao, take a long relaxing soak
at these hotwater pools at the foot of the hill.
Canoe & Kayak
KAYAKING
( 07-574 7415;
www.canoeandkayak.co.nz
;
3/5 MacDonald St; tours per person from $99)
Canoe
& Kayak runs 2½-hour kayaking trips around Mauao checking out seals and rock forma-
tions and hearing local legends, plus three-hour nocturnal glowworm paddles in nearby
McLarens Falls Park.
Rock House
ROCK CLIMBING
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
