This is my backyard, my paradise, and mine all mine.

I am sure everyone in Mount Maunganui feels the same but is OK sharing it with a few tourists for a short time.

The town is set in between the Tauranga Harbour and the Pacific Ocean, with Mauao (The Mount) looking over us.  Mount Maunganui used to be a sleepy town in winter but now is a busy place all year round, with swarms of people coming in for the summer holidays.

There is no shortage of sand to put your towel down on, Pilot Bay is about one kilometer long and the Mount Main Beach and the beach beyond goes for another 18 kilometers. So if you don’t like people too close to your beach towel, move another few kilometers along.

The sand along the ocean-side of Mount Maunganui feels like silk, I love scuffing my feet along in the sand as it makes a fantastic squeaking sound and is so soft on my feet. That makes me so happy that this is my home.

There are great spots for surfing and body boarding depending on the weather and swell, but it is a fantastic place for getting out and enjoying the water. It is not always warm, so I would suggest a rash shirt if it isn’t summer and a wetsuit if you are heading in over winter.

What Mount Maunganui excels in, is how many cafes and restaurants there are to dine at. On the weekends during the daytime they are filled with people in their “active-wear” after climbing or walking around Mauao.

The view from the top of Mauao is stunning, many people (not me) climb to the top for a stunning view for sunrise looking out as the sun rises over the sea.

The most relaxing thing, is strolling around the base track of Mauao or along the beach. When the tide is out there is so much room and so few people. It is beautiful. Breathing in the sea air and hearing the waves crashing rejuvenates me,

The view from Moturiki Island, also called Leisure Island as there used to be a waterslide park years ago.