Day 24: Tauranga

                Although we have had a few days not cycling, this morning felt different. Graham and Suzanne had set out a nice spread of toast and eggs with various jellies and jams and fresh fruit for breakfast and I had the chance to get to know them better due to my early slumber last night. In our small time in Rotorua we had got to talking to some people about Tauranga and the surrounding beaches. So talking to Graham and Suzanne this morning we mentioned that we were going to try and take advantage of the blue skies and warm weather and go explore some nearby beaches and the famed Mount Manganui. Fortunate for our legs and thanks to the generosity of Graham we would not have to hop on the bikes and would instead be travelling on one these fancy motorized vehicles that we had seen whizzing past us on our cycling. It felt really weird to travel in a small vehicle after going almost 1500kms on a peddle bike; the short 15kms we travelled by Grahams truck may have taken us a hour by bike. Being in the coastal town of Mount Manganui reminded of being back in Manly Beach in Sydney, my favorite place over there. There were lots of cool little shops and the beach was lined with huge palm trees, it’s the first time since I left Australia that I felt like I was in another tropical country. To paint a little picture, Tauranga lies in what is called the Bay of Plenty which is crescent in shape. Mount Manganui is a small mountain, Canadian hill, on a small point in this bay. As we walked up the mount, Graham told us about his and Suzannes travels and their life in Tauranga. This is one of the other things, besides the price tag, that Brian and I enjoyed about Warmshowers. Not only are we meeting real kiwis and other cycle tourists but we get experiences like this walk with Graham and getting to learn more about the local area. Reaching the top of the mount, New Zealand once again did not disappoint. Below us were tropical blue waters bordered starkly by white sand beaches. For you beach lovers this is paradise.

                When we got down to the beach we enjoyed a nice coffee on the grass and exchanged stories of our troubles getting prepared for cycle the cycle tour. Before heading back home, Graham took us through downtown Tauranga and it was like I was back in White Rock, BC; shops and restaurants ran along the beachside road looking out at the water. You could defiantly see the appeal in living here. Back at the house it was approaching dinner time and Graham and Suzanne have invited us in on their first BBQ of the season.

                What a place to finish our final cycle. Graham and Suzanne were the best of hosts, dinner was so delicious and Graham has even offered to drive us to our early morning bus tomorrow. So after an awesome new game of cards, taught to us by Graham and Suzanne, Brian and I are off to bed so we can be up nice and early for our bus tomorrow. Big city here we come.