Video

Welcome to the Mount! I'm a local here, living over in Tauranga. You should go visit Mt Zion Coffee Co. My friend Matt is the barista there, best coffee in town I reckon! How good is Rice Rice Baby ... that's our go to for date night haha.

should be sweet azz

Fergburger is so overrated, just tastes mid

I just retired and exploring the forests across the states. My options were towing, pickup camper, van, RV, or carry a tent with an all wheel drive. I choose the last option, and after a year on the road, I still believe it was the best option. My car gets nearly 30mpg, has all-wheel drive, and the ground clearance of a stock jeep. People in off road vehicles will ask me how I got up certain roads on my car. They will look shocked. It's just physics. I have all four wheels working, and have the ground clearance. If I need to, I have room to sleep in the back of my car (height 5'11" or less). The downside is that I currently only have the stock equipment, and I had one incident where a rock destroyed a tire (sidewall). I need to add more protection, such as an engine guard, more aggressive off road tires, and a two inch lift. But so far, things have worked out except for that one tire incident. A tire salesman told me that rocks take down the best off-road tires as well. I'm going to wait another year before getting the extras. I carry a 10ft by 15ft tent. It has 8 large windows, and a 7ft ceiling. I use a large air mattress, and a folding chair and table. It only takes 20 minutes to put up the tent. I stay dry. I will admit, I had three tents destroyed by strong winds until I learned how to secure a tent properly. I haven't lost a tent since I learned my lesson. But if the worse happens, a tent cost less than $150 to replace. Except for a cabin on a pickup, my second option, I can go to more places than all the other options. This is a big deal because all my camping is free. Without the ability to travel these rough roads, I would have had to go to paid camp grounds quite a bit. In 3-4 months, I'm getting solar and a frig because buying ice is a little pricey, and when my auto warranty is closer to expiring, I'm getting the off road extras. I haven't needed heat or air because at nearly 30mpg, I can affordably travel to beat the weather. Around 95% of the days I have experienced outdoors this past year have been perfect weather (temp wise). So to sum it up: 1. Can travel the 4-wheel roads for the best free camping. 2. Do not have to spend money or time to maintain a RV or build. 3. I can go three times as far on a tank of gas, and I only have to buy insurance for my car. 4. I can keep stuff cold, and I cook food on my small stove, and have room inside the car for all my clothes, blankets, food, water, etc. 5. I have lots of room in the tent with a full size or queen bed, table and chair, and plenty of windows to admire the view. 6. Often, I can put my tent up where vehicles can't park, like on the banks of a stream, river, and lake, or at the perfect point on a mountain to take in the view. 7. I have enough power for all my electronics for two weeks. I put the solar power station in my backpack, and walk into a fast food place and have lunch, then walk out with it fully charged. With that large backpack, people assume I'm homeless, and that I just walked off the street, but since I'm buying food, no one bothers me. I have no problems with bugs except when I take down the tent. Since I have a big heart, I have to get them off the outside of my tent, so that they aren't killed. That was mostly a headache in the Appalachians, with a specific harmless spider breed. Once it took thirty minutes to catch and release all of them. Since the tent is big with lots of windows, when not hiking, I can sit in the tent, and enjoy the views, and not be bitten by anything. Sometimes mice will cut into the tent, but except for a repair from time to time, It's no big deal. I only encounter them about 20% of the time. They are smart, and sometimes the minute I hit the bed, I can hear their voices. Apparently, they are letting the orhers know the coast is clear to search my tent for food. I've had to rescue a few of them because they get trapped in ridiculous places. They will play cute when I rescue them, especially the young ones. But RVs and Van's can get mice also. But in their case, they hitch a ride, and will sometimes destroy wires. I'm not protected from wildlife like bears and mountain lions like with the other options. But while I have encountered a couple of bears, they haven't bothered me so far, and I'm not worried about it. I keep a sharp knife nearby, so that if a bear acts like it wants to enter my tent, I can quickly cut myself out of the opposite side of the tent, so that I can run to my car, which is usually less than 20ft away. The other downside which is no big deal, is that everything that has value like the ice chest, electronics, power station, blankets, etc, I have to load into the car everytime I go hiking, or go for supplies so they aren't stolen. If they steal things like my $9 chair or $15 air mattress, I don't care. I don't believe anyone would steal my tent because of the risk spending the time it takes to take it down, and it's less than $150 to replace, so I leave it. So far, I've had no problem with theives, but better to be safe than sorry. My point is if you are planning to hit the road, keep an open mind to tent camping. It has worked for me.

Auckland is a dump if you spend enough time there. Outskirts are great though, people in the city/built up areas aren't as nice.

Welcome to the islands of the rich where the rest lives in poverty. Where homes are built like chicken sheds and still no one can afford them. Welcome to 'paradise'.

Yes they were fallen feijoas!!

Chur = awesome basicly anyway

Welcome to the bay im a local to tauranga and am giving ya a heads up Friday Saturday sunday can get a bit rowdy as town can be poppin but also main street through mount is a hot spot for the local car enthusiasts. I would know im one of them. Anyways hope ya enjoy it here. Check out Copenhagen cones for a mean ice cream.

yo it is nothing like an apple lmao

Holy cow... This tart doesn't get out much. And it's New Zealand... drop the hori Arteroa

Thanks guys, I hope you enjoy the Mount - it looks a mighty good town

go to palmerston north if you want the best food (:

Van life is challenging but also rewarding😊

I live in lake country right now and am trying to make a decision between moving to Kelowna or Chilliwack. Can you please please let me know which one you like better? Looks like you are the perfect people to ask. I need a comparison between the two from someone who's been there and done it. Please please I really need a word 😊 it'll be a huge step for me so I need all the advice I can get. Have a boy 11y/o.

Chur is like saying thanks

Nice video guys! Keep doing with this job🙏

Make sure you guys have a look at the beaches up Coromandel…. Hot water beach, Hahei, etc…….dont skip it.

Great. ❤

Should’ve went with Toyota. Tacoma or 4Runner

and then there is me, just wanting to leave new zealand as fast as possible sadly it is soo difficult to sell a car to normal prices right now

Chur is kinda like saying thanks

Auckland is fun if you dont live there. The downside to Auckland is the Aucklanders.

Kia Kaha

Had some friends from Winnipeg staying in NZ for about 6 months, back in the 80's. Taught them to surf while they were here. They took their boards home with them and drove around Winnipeg for the next year with them mounted to their roof rack.

Good way to reset

The feijoas on the ground are ripe :)

Day trip suggestion.....Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel,you wont be dissappointed.

The Mount/ Tauranga have a fight each year to see who has the most sunshine hours per day, with Nelson/Golden Bay. Either one is a good fit..

What do these nomads do for work?

Just remember Wellington is the home of Peter Jackson & Richard Taylor, Sir's to the rabble, & Weta workshop. Home of the Rings trilogy. Wellington where you get 4 seasons in one day occasionally.

Churr bro - thanks bye anything

Go to rice rice baby!

you only have to worry about pension as youre not paying in to social security

WOF = Warrant of Fitness

Op shop short for Opportunity Shop

I've spent a few years in both the Mount and Tauranga. The Bay of Plenty is not the worst place to winter. The Fresh Fish Market on Tauranga Wharf has the best fish and chips in NZ. One can see them filleting fish off the boat in a little room to the side, from where it is brought out to be cooked. The fish of the day is always excellent and it's never hoki...awesome piccies of fishing boats crossing harbour bars on the walls, too.

As an Aucklander which is quite expensive I'd be surprised if their first reaction to the mount is not fuck i need a job.

Why did you leave qtown at the beginning of winter??

Have you tried the skatepark yet? Looks cool

Hiya and kia ora guys welcome to the mighty north, met some canadians for the first time who all got offended when i thort they were americans....hehewe all were working togeather at a kiwifruit orchard picking fruit in te puke just up the rd from ya, they were earning a quick buck while camper vaning around aotearoa it was cool talking to them awesum bunch and they respected my culture ( maori ) seasons over tho so i hope they are doing well, enjoy the north guys...kia kaha👍

Alcohol is pissed out, so alcohol is just piss and we get on the piss when drinking. It works🤷‍♀️

This is the main beach, and looks around... Only three people were seen earlier and they were out on the water. How peaceful and tranquil is that? Who needs their own private beach?

Welcome! I live in the south island now but grew up my whole childhood in Tauranga! Gotta love the Mount! The views, the summer beach trips, and Copenhagen Cones sorbet ice cream in a waffle cone! This video is so nostalgic and makes me miss home so much! Haha. Enjoy living there! ❤

If anyone knows about us, we take extra care to make sure we leave a good mark ☺️

If you’ve been to Christchurch if you going again go to Lyttelton amazing place

Make sure your doors are locked in the north island

Where are my other kiwis at 👇

When I retired, I asked myself ‘where in N Z would I live if I could pick anywhere at all’? I chose the Mount, and haven’t regretted it one bit.

Challah.....angry-annoyed-upset, pissed-off