🇳🇳 Tauranga Day Trip 💨 Outdoor Trash Hiking Diary

Woke up naturally in the morning and set off from the 'Tron (Hamilton). After a 1.5-hour drive, arrived in Tauranga. Passed multiple car crashes along the way—even SH29 was jammed. 🚗💥 Locals love tailgating for no reason—either overtake properly or just take off and fly, honestly. 🅿️ Parking If hiking Mount Maunganui first, park at Pilot Bay Beach—plenty of spots. If full, try the other side. ⛰️ Mount Maunganui Hike Two coastal trails with clear signs (distance, difficulty, slope, etc.). Halfway up the western route, there’s a shortcut (300-400m from the summit)—gentler slope, shorter distance (saves ~100m). Easy to miss! Summit time: ~40 mins (with breaks). Descent: Faster but slippery—legs might shake if you’re not active. 😅 Pro tip: Bring a light jacket—hot while climbing, windy at the top. 🍝 Food Review: Saltwater (Seafood Spot) Verdict: Mediocre, even on an empty stomach. Steamed Mussels: Basic Thai curry sauce (tastes like supermarket paste). Served with over-smoked bread. 🍞🔥 Prawn Linguine: Bland, sauce MIA, noodles undercooked. Grilled Octopus: Mushy texture, barely seasoned. Not worth $37. 🐙❌ 🏝️ Other Sights Left too late—missed the hot springs, waterfalls, parks, and galleries. Next time! PS: Tauranga’s fridge magnets are ugly. Walked half the CBD shops—settled for a hideous one (too ashamed to share). 🧲😑 #NewZealandTravel #NZRoadTrip #MountMaunganuiHike #TaurangaEats #WeekendGetaway #Kiwilife