Monday morning we drove across town and picked up our Road Runner Rental camper van. Nissan van with a raised roof, 2004 year. After orientation we headed back to Innes and Rita to return their car and have lunch. Then set off, heading south. We elected to miss all the North Island North of Auckland, Bay of Islands, Coromandel peninsular. In 4 weeks something has to go and we felt this would have been too much driving in the wrong direction. So first night in Tauranga. The campsite, under Mount Muangini (well, hill!) was nicely next to the beach…except that the path along the beach, between our campsite and the beach, was the main route for hikers and joggers making a trip up the mountain! And it seemed that everyone in town does the trip once a day! All ages, school groups, visitors, residents, young, old, they all seemed to head for the uphill exercise! And driving along the coast (the beach is hugely long) it is full of surfers, joggers, bikers and exercise nuts generally. It’s no surprise that New Zealand excels in sports, they seem to start with a higher level of fitness in the first place!
 At the bottom of Mt Maunganui at Tauranga. This picture belies the number of people who seem to make it their purpose in life to climb it every day! |  Looking down at the first part of the beach. It continues on for miles past the top of this picture. Golden sands and largely deserted! |
 Our home from home after we survive our first night camping. As you can see it comes nicely equipped with external drying racks! |  Looking down at the campsite. You can see that the delightful beach-side camping spot is also delightfully adjacent to the walking track up the mountain! |
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