Barry and I had previously been in this city on another cruise and had been to see the boiling mud in Rotorura. The four of us chose to do the hop on hop off bus to get acquainted with the city first - a 60 minute loop for $25.
The town of Maunganui where we were docked has a population of 40,000, and Tauranga, the city 10 km has about 140,000. There were 6 stops on this bus tour, and we all thought we would do the whole loop first - that is until Barry spotted the Aeronautical Museum He was off in a flash by himself - calling out to me that he would see me later! As the bus waved him off I realized he had all the money and no bus ticket. Everyone on the bus laughed, and Michele, the guide/bus driver/bus company owner - just laughed and said don't worry I will remember him.
We passed the natural hot salt spring pools, a gorgeous beach with surfing lessons, and multi-million dollar condo's across the street, and then it was on to Tauranga. The industrial part of the city is all concentrated in one area, and doesn't make a very appealing tour. We heard about Bobbie's Fish Market - which has the best fish and chips in the world, and looped around the shopping area, and the rose gardens and then redid the original loop. Jonathan wisely opted to hop OFF the bus, as there was not a lot to do, and he and Barry are booked for another aeronautical museum in Picton.
Karen and I got off and walked through a Craft Barn, and then decided to sample that fish and chips. Oh my word - you can no believe how delicious that was. Snapper caught that morning, and made in the most crispy batter you can imagine.. sitting under an umbrella on the water. The line up for this fish market was long as the locals come here to get all their fresh fish.. Quite the operation. - all the staff wearing rubber boots and rubber aprons. The funniest thing happened as we walked to the fish place, a bus drove by - and there was Barry - the only passenger, and Michele driving him. I laughed like crazy - where could you be in a city of 140,000, and see your husband drive by on a bus, AND know the name of the bus driver, and we'd only been in town for 3 hours.
Then we strolled around the small town, which is very similar in architecture to English Bay, Vancouver, B.C. We met up with Leslie and grabbed the last hop on hop off pick up and Michele told us her story and drove the 3 of us back.
We love the Kiwis - so friendly, so open, and so happy. We also love this country. -- On to Napier for a private tour I have arranged with "Ferg"!
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