Day 94 - Thu 21 Jun - Mount Maunganui to Tauranga

What a long drive this morning - 8km! We found no room at Sulphur Point so parked at Marine Park which is quite close to the port. This was a handy spot to drive over to Fraser Cove for lunch at other friends' newly renovated home. What a great spot they have there with a view over towards the causeway to Welcome Bay. They have done a fantastic renovation but I don't envy them the disruption while it was going on! They also have a caravan which they lived in while the work was being carried out. They're keen to get away and do a bit of exploring now the hard work is done.

The longest night - it certainly was that! It was a bit noisy with the trains that cross the bridge nearby. However at 11.30pm a 'slammer' van came and parked between us and the motorhome parked beside us. They were so close our step got pushed under the caravan. I got fed up with the door slamming and the loud voices I had to have words and point out they were so close we couldn't get our caravan door open to get out! "Oh sorry" was the reply - but they stayed put….. It didn't make for a good night's sleep!

Day 95 - Fri 22 Jun - Tauranga

We had a quiet morning and then took the caravan up to Pyes Pa where friends are in a villa at Althorp Retirement Village. They had arranged for us to park our caravan with the other residents RVs so we could stay the night with them. The complex was like a resort and we made use of the heated pool and spa before joining other residents for Happy Hour. It was lovely to be able to stay and spend time with Colleen and Tim in their new home. They seem to have settled in well.