Mount Maunganui

Yesterday I went to Mount Maunganui for a last minute day trip. It was a rainy Friday when we tentatively planned the trip, and so decided if it was rainy and cold again Saturday we wouldn't bother. Lo and behold, I woke up to sun, so we set off. The place is really nice. Awesome beaches, super mild climate. I noticed randomly it was really clean, and there are really nice apartments and hotels everywhere, like a real resort town. Apparently it isn't, but there is a lot of money in the area. The Mount itself is awesome. Walking trails criss cross its slopes, and they are well used by the locals. The only downside is no mountain biking is allowed, but that's a minor problem all things considered. The view from the top is pretty epic, all 360 degrees of it. I'd definitely recommend it as a destination, and it is only a short drive away so you can do it in a day if you have a time restraint.