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Mount Maunganui
Hotels in Mount Maunganui
Hotels
in Tauranga
 By
Richard Moore
The
Mount, as Mt Maunganui is known to Kiwis, is a small town that has
the feel of a village situated between a calm harbour and stunning
surf beaches.
Located
in the western Bay of Plenty Mount Maunganui sits across the harbour
from Tauranga and its major port.
Dominating
the town is Mauao, a giant lump of rock that stands 232 metres high.
 There
are two ways to get to the top - the easy, slower way and the more
difficult track. If you are fit then the quicker way is fine, although
for older folk, kids and the out-of-condition the pathway is the
way to go.
Whichever
way you choose to go take regular breaks - not for the gathering
of breath, but just for the magnificent landscapes and vistas unfolding
around you.
It
will take about an hour to climb to the top and the views from the
summit of Mauao are amazing.
 It
is worth taking time at the top to just sit down and relax - looking
either out to sea, or east down the coast towards Papamoa,
Maketu and Whakatane.
To
the north west is Matakana Island a forest-covered island that has
more than 20 kilometres of surf crashing upon white-sand beach.
To
the west is the port and city of Tauranga, a small city that boasts
some pretty fine restaurants and eateries.
If
the exertions of climbing the Mount has taken it out of you then
take an hour or so to go and soak in the nearby salt hot-water pools.
The pools are open everyday on weekdays and Saturdays from 6am to
10pm and on Sundays from 8am to 10pm.
 You
must try out the hot-water jet massagers - they are wonderful!
The
hot-water pools are $5 for adults and $3 for kids. The pools have
to be one of the best value places to visit in New Zealand.
You
can also hire private spa pools and sunbeds.
Elsewhere
in Mount Maunganui there are plenty of shops and a host of cafes.
And
at the base of Mauao is a camping ground that has to be in one of
the world's best locations!
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