how to hike Mount Maunganui in New Zealand
I’m currently mapping out a road trip around New Zealand for a future trip with Luke {one of my favourite things to do is show people around places that I love}, and it’s made me realize how much of this stunning country I have seen…and how much I will be marking off my bucket list on the next trip!
Mount Maunganui is a hike I’ve heard people talk about for ages. While I was living in Auckland particularly, people would always recommend I make the trip to Tauranga to do the walk and peep the view from the top. I simply never made the trip or had the time. It wasn’t that far up my priority list. Luckily for me, a day of good weather and no work brought together a few of my favourite humans for a trip to the Mount to mark it off all our lists!
WHERE TO GO + WHEN TO VISIT
“The Mount”, as it’s referred to by locals, is located in the Mount Maunganui suburb of Tauranga, which is located on a peninsula to the north of Tauranga's city center. If you are visiting via car, you can park for free for up to 2 hours near the beach. You’ll need to have a knack for parallel parking! Apparently, the most ideal time to visit Mount Maunganui is between October and May for the best weather. We hiked at around 12:30 PM, and the trail wasn’t terribly packed with people. I imagine hiking at that same time during December or January {peak tourist months} would be a different story.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Signs say the hike takes 1 hour, but we managed to do it {stopping for copious photo opportunities} in 38 minutes almost exactly. It’s a pretty straightforward hike. There are wooden stairs as the trek gets steeper towards the top, but, even with the increased incline, the hike is good for beginning trekkers. Cafes, surf-y clothing shops, and the beach all sit at the base of the Mount, so you’ll have plenty of options for things to do after you reach the summit and make your way back down.
INSDIER TIP: We went for nibbles at The Bach cafe. It wasn’t out-of-this-world, but it did the trick and their chai latte was worth the money!
TASH AND I CONSPIRING AND MAKING PLANS FOR WORLD DOMINATION; photo courtesy of @KIWIKEEGS
WHAT TO wear + pack
athletic shoes
water
sunglasses
a sunhat
camera/phone optional
PHOTO COURTESY OF KIWIKEEGS PHOTOGRAPHY: I re-edited the photo to match my style, but you can catch the original edit by Keegs on his photography Facebook page
