This morning we walked all around Mount Maunganui, it dominates Tauranga and sticks right out into the harbour. There are various walks to take. Up to the top, a 3 hour return and very steep walk with 360* views or a longer walk all around the base of this volcano. Needless to say we walked around the base!

The sea was blue and so was the sky with fluffy clouds 27c today. The rocks all around are interesting shapes and forms. All solidified larva. Along the edge of the path which weaves up and down, old trees cling to the rocks and their huge roots are exposed.

There were broken shells everywhere on the paths and grassy hillsides and when we looked further they were all from a strata in the rock. They must have been under the sea at one time and the sea bed has been forced up.

This afternoon we travelled north to Waihi Beach. This area is full of fruit trees. Advocadoes, kiwi fruit,fig,oranges and lemons. This is the first area in the world where kiwi fruit was grown commercially.

Waihi Beach had golden sparkling sands and was full of shells of many types. There were only 5 of us on the huge beach, we walked along and I paddled in the South Pacific Ocean..lovely.