Public holidays are scarce in New Zealand and this year we are losing out on two. Thus, we knew in advance that we had to make the most of the Auckland Anniversary weekend, which was last week. With this is mind; we decided to make a short trip to Mt. Maunganui.

The Mount

Mt. Maunganui, is a town in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, located on a peninsula to the north of the neighbouring city Tauranga. It boasts of an extinct volcanic cone that rises above the town (nothing new as far as New Zealand is concerned). Wikipedia says that, according to Maori legend, this hill was a pononga [slave] to a mountain called Otanewainuku. It is colloquially known in New Zealand simply as The Mount. The town also a vibrant surfing beach and is a popular destination for surfers and swimmers alike. In all, there was much to feel excited about.

It took us two and half hours to reach the Mount and though we started off under a very sunny and hot afternoon, by the time we reached a cyclone had hit the North Island (the ever treacherous New Zealand weather). So, it was raining and we knew the ‘sun bathing’ part of our trip is gone. However, we were not very eager to waste our trip. So, as soon as we checked in to our apartment, we headed to buy an umbrella and yes, we were ready to take on the town.

Ocean

This is the first time; I have been to such a rough beach. I was amazed how surfers were taking on the rough waves to enjoy the sport. I enquired and found out that a major part of the sea here is notoriously dangerous. It seemed so too. For us though, there was ample opportunity to enjoy the sea and the mount. Sadly, because of the continuous rains we could not climb the mountain but one thing about New Zealand is, even if you cannot do one thing, you have at least something else to enjoy. So, we watched the skilled surfers on the beach for hours.

Interestingly, the Mount had some brilliant eateries. I have enjoyed the food to the extreme. In fact, for the first time in New Zealand, we had ‘goat meat roganjosh’ (known as mutton roganjosh in India). In fact, Bombay Brasserie in the Mount served such delicious food, that we over ate quite a bit.

Surfers

Yes, it was not the ideal trip thanks to the weather that was beyond our control, but we saw a brilliant ocean at its best, we climbed some smaller hills on the beach, we got drenched like children enjoying the first rains, we ate quite good food, we stayed in a very good apartment near the town centre and we relaxed. What more could we have asked for?

The short trip would surely take us to Mount once more and that too soon. It is one of the best white sand beaches one would visit.

For the time being here are some pictures from the trip.

Ocean is addictive

Another view - I can go on like this

The umbrella had a day's life - thanks to the wind

It is such a coincidence that I was remembering my Tongariro trip in my last post. An integral part of the trip was our train journey back to Auckland. I wrote about the splendid train journey here.

We were very impressed with the train ride and I wrote a small note to the company that manages the railway with a few pictures of ours. Today after nearly a year we got a gift pack containing a copy of the company’s travel magazine that has our small note and a picture of my wife. We also got a gift voucher to ride one of the three trains and some promotional materials.

The gift pack made us happy. Not only because they published my small note but for the first time I got a monetary reward (of $50) for a 200 word writing. Further, this was the first time I was published outside India.

Here are two pictures from our Tongariro trip last year.

Crater Lake

Mount Doom (LOTR) and the fractured volcanic cone in front is Red Crater. Mt. Tongariro is to the right

Indeed it was special.

Last summer around this time we did the spectacular Tongariro tramping. This time too we intend to make short trips nearby but we would not be repeating Tongariro. Tongariro still remains my most memorable travel experience. Today I was again revisiting the photographs from that trip. I was spellbound.

When I was in Delhi, I hated summer. However, in New Zealand that is the time I love. I doubt whether summer is anywhere so special as it is here. The days are bright, there are happy people all around, loads of lovely food and there is a sense of enthusiasm among people. It is neither too hot nor too cold. As long the sun screen lotion is there, life can only be brighter. I really feel sad for those friends of mine who are suffering in intense cold this time.

Cucumber Apple

Previously too, I had talked about food in New Zealand. In New Zealand, people love to eat out especially in summer to enjoy the warmth of sun. In summer, supermarket visits are much more worthwhile too. One gets a wide variety of fruit and vegetables to choose from. Not just the supermarkets but visiting the street markets is an enjoyable experience. Fruitlovers (I am not one!) get to buy a variety of fruits. In New Zealand we have found and tasted quite a few new fruits such as kiwifruit, green apples, avocado, feijoa, white peaches, apricots, plum, cherries, raspberries. Even the bananas, oranges, apples, watermelons and red grapes that are found here quite huge. Some of these fruits if at all found in India will surely be expensive. Though I don’t love fruits I do enjoy discovering new ones and buying them.

The other day, we bought another new fruit known as Cucumber Apple from the supermarket. This one looked like a “light green apple-cum-lemon”. We were not sure though whether we should have it as an apple or a cucumber. Not surprisingly, it turned out to be more like a cucumber.

As the summer progresses, we would find some more new fruits for sure.