North Island Bay of Plenty Region Mount Maunganui to Ohope 2022

 Mount Maunganui to Ohope
Bay of Plenty Region 
North Island New Zealand
2022


Mount Maunganui
We have visited the Tauranga district but never had a good look around that's the beauty of living on the road, now we can stop and take our time thanks to the NZMCA for the new camp. 
We had our motorhome booked in with Wrap-it this week to get a photo taken by Shellie Evans Photography installed on the back.
Very happy with the result

The weather is perfect for walking up Mt Maunganui to admire the stunning views, we did that first and then finished off by walking around the base. From where we managed to park all up it was an 8km-2&1/2hr walk.
Views from Marine Parade



Views from the base walk
Views from the Summit walk



Summit




View from the base walk

8km-2hrs 27mins
Tauranga
A day out in Tauranga and not far from the NZMCA Camp is the Kaiate Falls plenty of steps but so worth it.
Then across town to the Te Puna Quarry Park with plenty to see here, we made the mistake of doing the bush loop walk first which is a climb straight up and down very steep terrain not leaving a lot of energy for the best part of the gardens. It would have been great to have a cafe on-site for a top-up in the middle.







































Maketu
Leaving Mt Maunganui we headed south along the coast. First, we stopped at Maketu to look at the free parking by the surf club, it didn't take our fancy way too crowded with only one space free in between two motorhomes.




Matata
We have decided to stay at Matata Doc Camp Free for us on the Doc Pass for 7 days, no dogs allowed, wifi is good, and just over the dunes is the beach. Although the weather has been great it doesn't look safe for swimming, but good for walking and fishing, and the Pub Lamb Shanks is 10/10.
On the first day, we walked south along with the bird sanctuary to the river 5.48km - 1hr 27mins return via the beach and had dinner midday at the pub walking .85km from camp.
Today we walked north along with the bird sanctuary,  then through the 2005 flood-hit subdivision, only one house was still being demolished after the Council decided the land was unsuitable for human habitation and forced the residents to move in 2021. We got onto the beach and walked as far as Murphy's Camp Ground 8km - 2hr return.


















Matata Ridge Hike
We found a walk that has been closed since 2013 because it crossed railway lines. Doc had just finished making a new entrance to the walk when we stumbled across them and they congratulated us on being the first to walk the new track. The track is up a narrow ridge then down the next narrow ridge to the north, with great views from the top and on the way down. 6.21km - 2hrs 30 mins return from the Doc Camp, but most people could knock at least 30 minutes off that because I was in crawl mode on the way up being so steep.






Matata
We went exploring and found Braemar Springs, beautiful clear cold water. Didn't expect to find a lamp post in the bush but found two.
Next, we had a look at Lake Rotomā then turned back going through Edgecumbe and stopping at Thornton Beach for a short walk to the river mouth.
Back home to Matata to find about 150 Motor Bikes at the Tavern they were doing the Poker Charity Run. Sadly one of the riders had an accident on the way home and died in hospital that night.









Whakatane
We Stayed one night at Coastal Motorhomes in Whakatane NZMCA POP. Nice and convenient for shopping, but not great for peace. We went along the waterfront and up the lookout for a drive.










Port Ohope
North Island Weka
This little guy is very friendly, we are Free Camping at Port Ohope Boat Ramp, it says no dogs on Wiki Camps but not on the signs here and people are here with dogs I guess be responsible and keep them on a lead for the Weka. Wifi is good and it is heavenly and peaceful, they have fenced off a place just for SC vehicles for 2 nights maximum.



Ohope
We walked from the freedom camp at the Port Ohope boat ramp to the Port Wharf, then returned via the beach lovely walk even though most of the way it was trying to rain making us damp and not that great for photos.













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