Surf’s up in New Zealand, dude!

Saturday, Feb. 23, 17:17 (our itinerary)

Mt. Maunganui is hugely popular with Kiwis, but doesn’t show up very often on the itineraries of international travellers. When we arrived, we didn’t have high hopes, but we’re having a great time here. A strong tropical depression has given us screaming winds and now rain, but I climbed “the Mount” this morning (only 232 meters, but on a very impressive track), then Cathy and I watched a big surfing competition for a while before walking the beautiful and varied 45-minute trail around the base of the Mount.

Mt. Maunganui, New Zealand
Surfing competition at Mt. Maunganui, New Zealand
Surfing competition at Mt. Maunganui, New Zealand

With the rain coming down sideways now, we’ve got a load of laundry on the go, and after dinner we’ll be going to the geothermal saltwater pools next door. All in all it’s a great destination for folks like us who want to experience New Zealand rather than merely see it.