Life at No.22, New Zealand, Walks

A Walk around Mt Maunganui [Mauao]

Suzanne

The day started with grand ambitions to scale a Mountain, she’s a reasonable size towering an impressive 231 metres skywards.

These were changed when darkening skies were forming right behind us as we headed towards the start of our walk. Thoughts of a less wet ending to this story might occur if I went around the base of the Mount with the Squire instead of stepping upwards.

There is always another opportunity to do a Mountain climb.

Around the corner we go

Walking around Mauao is one of New Zealand’s most iconic walks. A walk that can be completed by most people as it is an easy 3.4kms walk which should take no longer than 40 minutes, now incorporating more steps than we remember. Taking us around a full circle that includes an extinct volcano and can be walked in either direction. From the white sand beach beside the ocean right around to the sheltered waters of Pilot Bay and vice versa.

As with the Papamoa Hills, Mauao was also once a Maori pa site, and evidence of trenches and ancient shell middens can be seen as we walked around. It was now time to quicken our step as the clouds were becoming more menacing.

Not wanting to be drenched we headed in the direction of a few cafes as they were closer than the bus stop.

This was when this walk became a cafe walk and not the whole emphasis on walking. We were going to include a caffeine reward. Walking away from Mauao and heading towards the waterfront. Shock-Horror. Our favourite cafe was not there, The Slowfish had gone. With that discovery, we decided to go in search of another favourite that we have frequented on a regular basis when previously living in Papamoa.

This particular cafe goes by the name of “Eighty Eight Cafe”.

Usually, when we return to New Zealand, we don’t have the luxury of time to indulge in too many cafe stops or the budget to do so.

Back to the moment, it was time to satisfy our curiosity and see if it still held that same magic.

It did!

Flat White

Still popular as ever, still serving great coffee and still serving an extensive array of eats not forgetting to mention the satisfying piping hot coffee. Do it the kiwi way and ask for a flat white, though we have been more used to drinking long blacks than flat whites.

There is a perfect range to eat, off the menu or countertop. To name just a few, such as a deliciously gooey caramel and oaty coffee slice, a savoury muffin packed with goodness, for added taste and interest it had a half a rasher of bacon around it, to a light fruit muffin with lots of raspberries.

Very divine.

Sorry, no food porn of ours. I had forgotten to take a photograph. Too hungry, too busy eating and chatting!

I wonder how many of your walks, turn into “Cafe Walks”?.

a walk around mount maunganui [mauao}

Linked to Jo’s Monday Walks

Published by Suzanne

Travel and Life Musings from New Zealand and Beyond. . . . . . .

56 thoughts on “A Walk around Mt Maunganui [Mauao]”

    1. Yes most do, though not usually with fresh milk. Black coffee is much preferable especially when accompanied by something sweet 😊

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    1. Hopefully your ankle heals sooner than later, Su. Been a while since I did a pub circuit on a bike. Not sure I would make it to the 2nd pub. One sniff is about my limit lately 😊

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            1. I worked in pubs during the 1980’s in London. The pubs we went to [near housesits] were small local ones in the country, no Kiwis there, mainly staffed by the people who owned them.

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  5. The last official figures available for the 2017/18 season indicate 92% of all walks have a cafe component with 71% of those involving food, 21% savoury, 49% sweet and the rest other though it’s not clear what other might be save for the occasion I mistakenly ate Dog’s treat in the belief it was a novelty flapjack. Looks utterly splendid rain or no rain…

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    1. Geoff, thanks for statistics. They sound feasible if our walks are anything to go by. Talking of walks I had better get going before it gets too hot!! By the way how could you eat dog’s treat. Poor wee fella must’ve been devastated watching you😉

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  7. That opening shot is so enticing, Suzanne! I’d love to be there 🙂 🙂 Is the cost of living high in New Zealand? I have no point of reference and it is obviously low here in Portugal. I find that both on the blog and in real life many people want a relaxed kind of walk, and mine aren’t often for serious hikers. I do hill walks with quite a fast paced group and photography is not so easy on those. 🙂 Many thanks for sharing your coffee, and a very enjoyable 2019 to you!

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    1. Jo, the cost of living is much higher in New Zealand. The food especially and much of the fresh food from a Farmers Market is even more expensive, especially with a “organic” label attached to it. Our supermarkets are controlled by two companies, need I say anymore!! Our wages are low compared to the cost of housing which is at a high cost. Unless you want to go to less desirable areas. Need to do more research on that topic 🙂
      My walks with the Squire are for leisure unlike my usual 10km walk this morning around the harbour 🙂

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    1. Anabel, I love these slower more relaxed walks. Walking just for the pleasure of enjoying company and the view. Not forgetting the treats at the end!

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    1. You have a cafe at home 🙂 Just enjoying my coffee and breaky after my morning walk. Seems 6am is still not earlier enough to beat that hot sun!! Yes, I stop and start quite a bit, hence many photos of Les’s back 🙂

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    1. Thanks Sue. It’s also enjoyable people watching as well as enjoying a good quality coffee with great company.

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  17. It looks like a lovely spot – and I’m a big fan of flat whites (hot and not too strong is my preference). Add in a walk and it sounds just about perfect.
    Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂

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  18. Wow, your photographs are so enticing! I want to go there Now! I’m trying to convince my other half to include NZ next time we get down to Oz. These photos might help swing it.
    By the way, I thought the point of a walk was the lure of caffeine at the end of it lol

    Fil
    Fil’s Place

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    1. Thanks very much and I hope you manage too convince him😊 Haha I think you could be right regarding the caffeine especially an early morning walk 😊

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  19. Did it actually rain or did the allure of coffee and cake outweigh the the sweat and effort needed to make it to the summit? 🙂 I must admit, they both sound fab.

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    1. Haha of course it was the allure of coffee and cake. Plus the Squire wasn’t up to waiting for me. I have ventured up the mountain a few times. Watch this space 😀

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    1. You will have to come and visit us Sam. World class ski fields too 😊 More than likely you will find a cafe or restaurant than a pub 😎

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    1. Sorry, Deb for the late reply, damned spam folder!! It is a lovely walk, especially when its not peak season 🙂

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