Entertaining the Christmas crowds in Tauranga

Anmea Hoskin photographs Kowhai Wihapi, 8, and Kiana Wihapi, 10, on Christmas Eve at the summer beach base near Mount Drury. Photo/Andrew Warner

It was all pre-Christmas cheer and festivities at the Tauranga Beach Base on Christmas Eve.

The city council's My Summer Beach Base at the foot of Mt Drury was abuzz with families playing games, eating sausages, taking photo booth photos and decorating paper Christmas decorations.

"There's been way more families through this year," said Michaela Blackman, council event delivery manger.

The beach base set up on Tuesday with a team of six summer ambassadors out spreading the good word about activities and summer events in the city.

Ms Blackman said she thought more families were coming through because school finished a week earlier than last year and the surf was up at the beach; bringing more people to the area.

Christmas Eve was not the only day of activities at the base with a range of events happening every day until January 8.

Highlights included the Barnyard by the Beach from 10am to 2pm with a petting zoo, pony rides and live music.

On January 4 there would be an interactive circus where people could learn to juggle, unicycle, walk a tightrope, hang from a trapeze and watch aerial circus shows.

Nani Wickstead, from Auckland, was at the beach base with her children.

They were down for Christmas and had been wandering around town on Christmas Eve when a summer ambassador told them to check out the beach base.

"It's awesome. The kids are loving it," she said as her two daughters wore crazy Christmas hats and posed for the photo booth.