The Camping Ground, Mount Maunganui

Mount Maunganui Camping Ground, c. 1960s
Published by Logancard, Image courtesy of Justine Neal

A holiday camp was located on Mauao in the early part of last century.  Waikorire is the original Maori name for the area which extends along the beach front of Pilot Bay and the base of Mauao, where the present camping ground and hot pools are situated.

Mount Maunganui Camping Ground, c. 1960s
Published by Logancard, Image courtesy of Justine Neal

An excerpt from the Western Bay of Plenty Year Book 1950 reads:

"On the Mount and about its approaches lie spacious camping grounds for the tenters and those who bring their own caravanserais. Here hot water may be obtained, together with washing and cooking facilities in communal fashion."

In 2005 30 beachfront sites were lost to the boardwalk and in 2007 a protest meeting was held at the loss of a further 40 sites to the Hot Pool redevelopment.