Mount Maunganui: Beach Day with the Mount Monster!

16 December 2023

Our alarm was set for 4:45am. The sky was already turning pink as we set off on our assent of Mount Mauganui, also known as Mauao. Mike had discovered a professional photographer who recommended several of the places we will be visiting during this trip. She said that the sunrise at Mount Mauganui is one of the easiest hikes to one of the most spectacular views in all of New Zealand. We have to agree.

The hike wasn’t what I would call easy. By nature, getting to the summit of an extinct volcano could not be. But we made it in time to experience one of the most beautiful sunrises we have ever seen. See Mike’s photo below.

Going up was quite a cardio workout. Getting down was hard on the knees. And yet lots of people were doing the whole round trip as their morning workout. One of them in bare feet! Impressive.

As were the feats of endurance and strength we witnessed at The Mount Monster Surf Lifesaving Endurance Race. This unique annual event was held on the beach right in front of our camp. Individuals and relay teams of people ages 15 and up competed in a series of events including 12K ocean kayak, 5K beach run, a 6 meter jump off a cliff into the sea, a 1.5 K swim and lastly another 6 K paddle. The elite athletes completed the course in under 3 hours. It took us that long to understand it all.

But it was great to walk along the beach ourselves, wading in the cold Pacific seawater, talking to spectators about what each event entailed.

Have I mentioned the sand?! It sparkles! The white sands are radiant with countless tiny little mirrors. It looks like a beach of diamonds. Turns out it is a beach of obsidian. Which would explain why at the end of the day I found my toes covered in blisters and tiny cuts. Now I as a Jersey Shore native I am most comfortable when barefoot and have pretty tough feet. I regularly walk along a 2 1/2 mile stretch of beach from The Manasquan Inlet to Bay Head in bare feet and emerge with feet so smooth I consider it a pedicure. So I was not prepared for a beach of glass. It sure was pretty though.

In the afternoon we walked into town in search of shopping, some ice cream and fish and chips. We were not disappointed.

And now the sun is down. My toes are bandaged. Our laundry is done and our cozy bed is made. We can hear the surf. And it is lulling us to sleep.