Eleven cars met at the Bethlehem car park on a bright sunny morning.  On the road at 9.50am after Nev's MGF needed a gentle push due to battery problems. We turned off at Wairoa Bridge to travel back roads passing the Minden lookout, the view was like a postcard from here clear and unobstructed from Tauranga through to Katikati.  This lead us to the Puketoki Reserve for morning tea and "boat" races down the rapids with foil Christmas mince tart containers.

Then off to Katikati for a regroup. From here we travelled to Waihi via the Athenree Gorge and the Old Tauranga Road with the next instruction to follow Main Road towards Whangamata and turn off at Whiritoa to have a picnic lunch under the trees.

What a pleasant spot to be with all our fellow MGers. We all received Christmas crackers and a gift from Santa’s sack. Some enjoyed a walk along the beach; most content to sit and enjoy the view.

After a relaxing couple of hours it was off on a follow the leader tour of the streets of Whiritoa then onto Waihi Beach where some stopped of at Hot Pipi for a coffee then it was back to Tauranga to finish a great day out. Thank you to Bev and Nev for organising a very pleasant outing.

Pic 1: Puketoki Reserve morning tea stop
Pic 2: Whiritoa Beach

Denise & Mark

Those who participated:
Bev & Nev Morgan  MGTF
Mark & Denise Vercoe  BGT
Roger & Mary Pick  MGF
Jill & David Philps  MGBT
Shirley & Graham Inglis  MGB
Eileen & Graham Tillson  MGF
Graham & Thelma Jack  MGB
Phil & Glen Hayward  MGB
Marie & Stewart Gradon  MGB
Delwyn & Neville Lucas  MGBGT
Mike Creswell  MGB
Carol & Cliff Glidden  MGF
Keith & Margaret Baker  MGF