Mauao: View from the top packs wow

Mount Maunganui has been staring me down ever since I arrived in Tauranga.  I had continuously heard what a great walk it is to the top, but I just figured it was like any other hike I’d been on.  With the arrival of some sunny weather, I decided to go ahead and scale the Mount. 

My assumption of Mauao being just another hike was immediately proven wrong as I noticed the quality of the paths, which were very well-maintained.  I was also quite surprised at the amount of people I saw.  From families to teenagers, everyone was using the Mount as their own source of exercise in different ways. 
I also learned that going up wasn’t my only option, but that there is a path that goes around the bottom of the Mount as well.  I decided to head to the top anyway since it was such a beautiful afternoon, and it would provide a visitor like me an amazing view of the area.

The walk up provided me with breathtaking views of the town and ocean.  I sent pictures from the walk to my friends and family back home.  Almost all responses included the words “stunning” or "amazing”, and I received many “I’m jealous” comments.  The views were absolutely amazing and I was able to see every side of the Mount, which was great to orientate myself with where my house was in regards to the rest of the area.

I think one of the reasons why Mauao appeals to so many different people is because you can pick which paths to take.  For example, there are paths that are steeper than others or some that have more stairs than others and so on.  Even though the hike becomes quite steep more towards the top, I soon realized it was all well worth it. 

Additional Information
Base Track
Approx 45 min walk 
Distance: 2936m

4WD track (to the summit)
approx 1 hour walk
Distance:  1897m

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