So we did a thing. We bought a caravan. Yip with a 3 month old and and almost 3 year old, we thought this may be the best way to travel for a little while. She’s a vintage Sunbird and we are in love.
We decided our maiden voyage would be on the coast wherever the weather and surf looked good. So leading up to the long weekend we kept our eye on the weather and surf reports with huge anticipation. Sadly, nowhere had swell so we settled for the good weather of Mount Manganui, Tauranga.
On the day of departure we had everything we needed, jumped in the car and started the drive down the coast. With two littlies we knew we had to stop along the way so we had decided to make a stop in Hamilton Gardens to stretch the legs and learn a bit while we were there. What an absolute treat it was. We didn’t know what to expect but it definitely blew any expectation out of the water. It’s free to get in (bonus – although this may be changing soon) and there are so many different little gardens to explore; Kitchen garden, Renaissance garden, Medieval garden to name a few. But our absolute favourite was by far the Egyptian garden. The hieroglyphics that decorate the archways and tell a story at every corner really transports you into the world of the Egyptians. And the stories told are easily interpreted by all ages. The shade of the pergolas and the steps overlooking the fish pond, make for a beautiful place to stop, reflect and eat. 2 hours later and we were on our way again.
The campsite, Mount Manganui Beachside Holiday Park, is breathtaking and if you’re lucky, you could be camping at the boardwalk of the beach. No matter where your site is, you are still at the base of the iconic volcanic mountain, Mauao, of Tauranga. The amenities are top class and you can walk to all the restaurants, shops and activities. After unpacking, we decided to grab some snacks and beverages and head to the beach for sundowners. The golden sand, calm waters (usually great surf) and picturesque heart like coastline is the perfect spot to unwind from the day of travel and to let the toddler get rid of any energy.
The following day was a day of adventure with the kiddos so Rotorua, which is just an hour drive, was on the cards. For a full recount check out our Day in Rotorua with the Kids, but there is an endless list of activities both cultural and entertaining to explore. We decided on The Buried Village, The Redwoods, and Luging. BookMe is a prized resource of incredible options and discounts to guide your day. We will be back for the rest! When we arrived back from our day trip, we had to head down the promenade, which runs about 3km’s parallel to the beach, for an evening stroll and ice cream. There are many options of places to go and such an incredible evening buzz along the beachfront. Copenhagen Cones looked AMAZING. We were just a bit late but a definite must try when in the area.
Our last day at The Mount and we needed to pack in one or two activities before the departure. We had to climb the giant outside our window and we needed to visit the hot pools. With kids waking up early, yes the 5am club is a great one, we got ready and headed up Mnt Mauao, to catch the sunrise. It is always worth the early rise and chaos of getting ready. The colours across the sky calm it all down. It is a decent walk with many stays (576 to be exact) and steep elevation, but it’s only about 1.2km on the shorter route up so I would say push through if you are able to. At the summit you will find a spectacular pounamu (green stone) at the centre of a star compass. This replaced the trig beacon originally placed on the maunga (mountain) to restore ownership to the Māori people and to symbolise the Māori new year, Matariki.
We used the Mount Manganui Hot Pools to have one final moment of relaxation before the end of holiday blues kicked in. We would highly recommend the pools for the whole family. There’s a toddlers pool which is only 0.5m deep with a little slide, 2 big pools and two spa-like pools. And if you’re staying at the Beachside Holiday Park, you get a discount on entry. It cost $15 for 1 adult and child under 3 with the discount. There are also great deals on BookMe for the pools.
All in all this is a 5 star location for any family no matter the ages. Whether you are going to rent a house or campervan in style. There’s a little something for everyone.