After the Boxing Day extravaganza, we went camping for a week at Papamoa, near Mount Manganui. On the way we stopped off at Katikati (the mural town) and Paeroa (the L&P town) - see previous blogs on these two places! The antique shops were all open and we had a browze; the festive decorations were skeletons on Pennyfarthings - slightly bizarre, but that's New Zealand.
Paeroa festive decorations!
On the way, after our picnic, we spied this waterfall through the bush, no signpost, so, of course, off we went through the undergrowth to explore!
Waterfall in the distance
Made it to the waterfall!
It was quite beautiful and peaceful when we got there, we have decided it would make the perfect swimming place next time and we shall have our swimsuits handy - swimming under a waterfall is appealing. It was hidden away and no-one else was there, we had the place all to ourselves.
Papamoa Campsite!
We arrived at the campsite and it was full! Good job we had booked months ago.. it seems everyone comes here or Mount Manganui in the Christmas holidays. The place was bursting at the seams, and we had peeks into everyone's tents and campers.
Just setting up camp
Ours doesn't have a tv or double beds, like some of them, but we do have a trailer now and a fridge, so we're building up to 'glamping' at some point.
Everyone sits out in the evening, around lanterns and play games and drink beer - it's sort of a communal gathering at which everyone is welcome.
Our first day, we were up with the tuis and off to walk around the base of Mount Manganui, which is an extinct volcano.
The base walk view - our local beach seen through the trees
About half-way round the base there is a popular fishing spot with a statue in the channel. we saw swimmers and kayaks, some cruise ships and some huge cargo ships, loaded up with trees and containers.
Statue in the channel
Statue at the base of the Mount
All along the beach at the base of Mount Manganui is a boardalk and throughout the Christmas holidays they have free ice-cream and drinks, and other goodies that girls in very small shorts hand out.
We were invited to the free barbeque, with burgers, sausages, fruit and free suncream too. Yet, with all these 'freebies' no-one was greedy or pushy, it was all just lovely. The girls were particularly impressed with the free ice-creams!!
Kayak launching point, the other side of the volcano
On another day Greg and Jess kayaked around the mountain and launched from the other side. Sophia and I had some serious birthday shopping to do, so we picked them up from the other side later!
Mount Manganui from the Boardwalk
Santa at the shops
Our third day there it was time to climb to the summit - and believe me it's steep, the sheep look like they're going to fall off. Takes about an hour to do the ascent!
View half-way up the volcano
Girls at the top of Manganui!
Every night we would cook dinner and then head to the beach (a one minute stroll) and play ball games, or go shelling. We found that it wasn't the best beach for swimming - lots of jellyfish at this time of year - but the girls could body board at other beaches. Some spectacular sunsets too! Pink cotton candy effect.
View of Mount Manganui from the beach
Exploring beyond Manganui we discovered McClaren Falls. These are huge and you can't hear yourself speak when you go down. We'd had lots of rain the week before, so they were quite full!
McClaren Falls
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