Hot Salty Soaking

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

We've walked past it dozens of times, but today was the first time we went to the Mount Maunganui Hot Salt Water Pools, one of the most popular spots in town. There was a slight chill in the air today, so the warm water felt just perfect. Sherry's friend Karla and her kids Mark ("MJ") and Tori joined us. Sherry and Karla didn't swim, so they sat around drinking coffee and trying to keep warm; Sherry had her shawl and Karla a big puffy ski jacket. Meanwhile, Mark went swimming with the kids and tried to teach Ro to swim. Since the salt water made floating easy, and Ro could just touch the bottom of the 1m deep Passive Pool on tip-toe, he finally let Mark pull him around the pool while he kicked. Not exactly swimming, but it's definite progress.

Ro overlooking the Hot Pools from the base of Mount Maunganui last month

Ro & friend Mark clambering around the tiered kiddie pool

Sherry & Karla before they bundled up

Mark & Ro playing in the Passive Pool

Mark & Ro on the slide

Splashdown!

There's an Active Pool (the coolest, temperature-wise) with lane markings, a Passive Pool with four firehose-size jet sprays that are always in high demand for people looking to ease their aching backs, two large spa pools (i.e. jacuzzis), and a kiddie pool with a built-in waterslide. Of course, what makes these pools different from all the other hot pools around here (including the jacuzzis at our apartment), is the expansive view of Mount Maunganui towering over them. Since school is out, it was pretty crowded with locals, whereas in season it's mostly tourists. We spent a couple of enjoyable hours there, but once the sun went behind Mount Maunganui and the pools were in shadow, it just got too cold for Sherry and Karla to tolerate so we had to go. Not that it was actually cold, mind you...Mark walked home in wet trunks, t-shirt, and sandals. He has yet to yield to autumn, and rationalizes that as long as he's still wearing shorts, it's still summer.

See link: http://hotpools.leisurecentre.co.nz/index.htm