Easter at Mt Maunganui

We took the scenic route from Rotorua, driving along a new to us road which took us through pine plantations and farming country.  Through Te Puke, the “Kiwifruit Capitol of the World”  where these luscious fruit are grown behind huge hedges (for protection from the wind, we expect) and we finally arrived at our destination.  After being warmly welcomed, we were given a goodie bag and showed where to park up.  About 50 caravans and campers arrived for the weekend rally.

Easter Rally at Mt Maunganui

We were gathered at Mt Maunganui College for the 25th CCNZ National Rally.  A double celebration as it turns out – with the National Rallies held every two years, we are also celebrating 50 years of the Association.

There was plenty of memorabilia laid out in the hall, including this selection of Out and About magazines.  Robin spent 10 years on the Executive committee and was President of CCNZ from 2000 to 2002.  He was also heavily involved in the production of the Out and About magazine for the life of the magazine.

Old Out and About magazines

There is always a banner parade at the beginning of the Opening Ceremony, and the banner holders are usually piped in by a local bag piper.  Sadly the bag piper did not turn up at the allocated time, for whatever reason, so we clapped the banner holders into the hall instead.  The Deputy Mayor of Tauranga did the honours of welcoming our group of happy campers into his fair city.

This lovely cake was then cut by the current President, Alan Dale, and a long standing member who has been camping well before CCNZ (formerly ACC) was started.

Rally Cake

Then it was time for the various clubs attending to get their photo shoot done.  After a bit of arranging, we were finally in place, resplendent in our club colour of orange hats and tops, and handed our cameras over to a helpful lady of photographer duties.

The Heretaunga Caravan Club attendees

Bill and Val invited us to join them for lunch at Bobby’s on Fisherman’s Wharf for fish and chips – highly recommended.  Our meals were delicious, and we devoured our fish, chips and mussel fritters s we sat in the sunshine on the wharf.  There was hardly a breath of wind and we looked out at the boats, occasional water skier and plenty of seagulls.

Fisherman’s Wharf

It seemed a good idea to take a gentle walk along the waterfront  after that delicious meal.  We came across a collection of sculptures showing Hairy Maclary and friends, characters from Lynley Dodd much loved children's books.  Lynley Dodds was a resident of Tauranga for many years, and the sculptures were created by Bridgette Weust.

Hairy Maclary and friend chasing Scarface Claws

The sculpture park was a hive of activity with children clambering all over the statues.  I’m sure that all the little ones knew the name of each and everyone of these animals.  Author Dame Lynley Dodd said she was humbled and overwhelmed when statues of her world famous story book characters were opened on Tauranga's downtown waterfront.

Tauranga Waterfront Sculpture Park

So far the weather has been marvelous here, so we are hoping that it remains so over Easter.  And could you tell the Easter Bunny we have gone camping so he will know where to find us?