Tauranga was a 'first' visit for both of us and with no plans beyond a long walk through town, fish and chips and a long walk back along the beach, we were looking forward to it. It was a blazing sunny day with a clear blue sky and we went up on deck to see us dock at the Port of Tauranga. Fun fact. Despite being called the Port of Tauranga, the town it is actually in is the beach side town of Mount Maunganui. We could have googled pictures of Mount Maunganui's mountain, but that would have ruined the surprise of the cute little conical hill it turned out to be. The hordes were released and immediately raced off on huge coaches to visit Rotorua and Hobbiton and assorted other spots far distant from the port. We started our stroll and went ballistic in the thrift stores along the length of the main street. We haven't had the chance to go bargain hunting recently and were happy to pick up some colourful shoes, a fine merino top which will be ideal on the ship and a spare sun umbrella. We hadn't had enough walking when we reached the end of the first bit, so kept going in order to reach the second half of Mt Maunganui. We eventually came across an Asian/Fish and Chip joint and got their bargain pack, NZ$17 odd for two fish, two sausages and chips. A bargain indeed and the staff at the final two thrift shops were envious as the freshly cooked scent wafted about. Final treasures? A couple of tops and a couple of grab bags of stamps on paper to add to my NZ collection, probably on a really rainy day when we are ensconced in our apartment in Sydney. With our shopping bag full we made it down to the beach, found a picnic table and settled in with our lunch. This was one of only three meals we've eaten off the ship (others being the beach burgers on Rarotonga and the island lunch extravaganza on Aitutaki). Luscious. It was a town of contrasts and the housing along the main drag was all fairly low to mid-range but the houses fronting the beach? Now you're talking. As is usually the way, the walk back seemed to take a lot longer than the walk there. We eventually cut back into town and did the final stretch of the main road in the opposite direction - to the foot of Mt Maunganui and then back along to the turn off for the ship. The souvenir shops were doing a roaring trade. We were back on the ship an hour or so in advance of its departure and had a snooze before dinner. Managed to rock my new shoes for the dinner outing, enjoyed a walk on deck now that the chances of being washed overboard were non-existent and returned to the cabin. We sorted out a day bag for the Hawkes Bay wine tour scheduled for tomorrow. Given the devastation wrought by Cyclone Gabrielle in this area we were just so incredibly grateful the tour was going ahead. Early to bed for sure.