Mt Maunganui, or lovingly referred to as the Mount is a pretty neat town indeed. I haven’t been there for years, we are talking nearly a decade  – and when I finally made it back this year I could not been any more pleasantly surprised. It felt like a posh resort somewhere far, far away!

The vibe? Oh the surfy – beachy – resort like for sure. Neat houses (beary expensive though), funky shops and cafes.

Real estate is pricey, thanks to the ageing population.

Best view is from the top of Mt Mangaunui. As the name suggests, it is a focal point of the beach and the whole town. It takes around 40 mins to climb all the way to the top.

The best sushi is served at Mount Sushi. Mouth-watering.

Main beach welcomes you with white sand, waves and clean changing rooms.

Good coffee, great food and stylish bars are EVERYWHERE.

Must do-s are the hot pools and ice cream parlor opposite it. Hot pools are well priced but maybe a tad small compared to what you’ll find in Coromandel.

Notable places on the way to the Mount (driving from Auckland):

Katikati (aka the murals town)

And Waihi aka the mining town

Is it worth a 3 hour drive from Auckland? It is indeed! Long weekend here I come!