Mount Maunganui Favorites

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Favorite thing: This community has been a favourite holiday spot for varying New Zealanders, for years. Many families owned holiday cottages here in prime spots. This is one of the last examples of these, set right at the base of the Mount between the harbour and the ocean. Slowly the family ownership has moved to commercial as the big money has been offered.
Right next to this cottage, known as a Bach in NZ, is the stretch of modern apartments shown in the second photo. Of course the apartments make this spot available to more people, but once gone, the family baches will be merely a memory.
Naturally this is a common situation around the world at popular beachside towns. One restriction here is being an isthmus means that room is limited. It also means though, that during busy festive periods it is very congested and now has strict alcohol restriction.

Fondest memory: I remember visiting this town and camping as a child on friends front lawns. Those places are now where the modern apartments are built so modern generations will never have this experience.

Favorite thing: Mount Maunganui has a multi purpose port, catering for cruise ships, and cargo ships as well as a very nice marina for sailboats and launches. Nice restaurants at the marina as well, with interesting people rambling around.
The Marina is not really walking distance from the central part of town, although it is closer to a mall, "Bayfair", than the Port is.

Fondest memory: I particularly love the ocean feel of Mount Maunganui, and the smell of the sea, and the exuberance of most of the inhabitants.