BEACH OF THE WEEK: Tay Street

As our search for the Bay's best beaches continues, Vicki Waterhouse stops off at Tay Street, Mount Maunganui.

Tay Street Beach: Not the most original name for a world class beach, but maybe "Surfer's Paradise" was already taken.
It is, however, a favourite haunt for surfers, and justifiably so.
As the home of the little artificial reef that couldn't, Tay Street Beach's popularity with surfers continues in spite of the relative flop of the reef.
The lack of people and young kids to bump into amongst the waves encourages surfers to move away from the main beach, and Tay Street is a nice alternative.
However, be aware that this beach is also known for its strong rips - what looks like calm water is a facade for a very strong undertow. This is great for taking surfers out to sea, but not so good for young children finding their feet in the water.
This beach is the closest you can get to Mount Maunganui's main beach without being on it, but figuratively it is a world away from the Bay's most populated beach.
The number of people that frequent Tay Street Beach is noteably less than its noisy neighbour, but with all the amenities you could want for a good day out in the sun.
It's still a very busy beach, particularly throughout summer time and over the New Year period, but it's easier to find a sizeable spot to plant yourself down here whilst still being watched over by vigilant lifeguards.
At Tay Street Beach you can walk your dog, sunbathe or go for an icecream at the cafe located just across the road. You get a view of Mauao which is a mere few kilometres away, but not the crowds that go with it.
Tay Street Beach is also the lucky owner of a relatively new boardwalk, which was finished two years ago this month. It also has a barbeque area, new public toilets and a nice patch of grass above it for lounging about on.
This has increased its pull as a tourist spot and also made things easier for locals who don't want to trek all the way up to the main Mount beach for an enjoyable swim.