WOW - what a place - words can't describe the beauty of this port and town. Sophie and I got off this morning around 9am, ventured into the town and hired push bikes for the day. We cycled along the front of the beach from Mount Maunganui to Papamoa - a beautiful spot for (turns out) an amazing smoothie haha! Head to Sandbank Cafe - it serves out the side of an old school camper van at the front of the car park. Feeling refuelled we headed back and dropped back the bikes - I cannot recommend this enough, it was so lovely to be outside and seeing the scenery and rolling hills from the bikes. Wandering down the main strip of shops, we asked where is best for a lunch spot - a lady pointed us towards a burger bar - grungy place but INSANE burgers - it was opposite Burger King on banks avenue and had some small picnic benches outside - can't remember the name of it haha! After lunch we walked round the easy route of Mount Maunganui- this took around 45 mins, it was lovely and had such nice views. A couple of the others did the full hike - I didn't have that in me after a burger ahah!

Definitely one of my favourite ports this contract so far, and in terms of New Zealand, its sharing no.1 with Akaroa.