It's been a Christmas tradition but this year was the first time the Millers have played beach cricket at Mount Maunganui.
The family of four recently moved to the Bay from Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula.
Yesterday mum Tracy, dad Stu and their children Vicki, 22 and Sam 16, took turns in
trying to hit the ball for six at Shark Alley.
After a knockabout in the sun it was time to head home for Champagne and strawberries and a barbecue.
"It's awesome here," mum Tracy, 44, said. There's a lot more to do here. Whitianga is a beautiful place but opportunity wise for Sam there's a lot more for him. The people have been really friendly, which has surprised us being a big town.
"It's a tradition for us to play beach cricket on Christmas Day."
Meanwhile, the beach was as safe as houses for the hundreds who headed to the surf yesterday.
Surf lifesavers at Mount Maunganui, Omanu and Papamoa said everyone at the beach was staying away from trouble. Patrol captain at Mount Maunganui Main Beach, Mike Copping said there had not even been jellyfish stings at the main beach.
"The beach was busy with about 600 all the way down to Tay St and about 100 people in the water but they stayed out of trouble."
There was one jellyfish sting reported at Papamoa Beach which was treated by lifeguards.
The only thing that caused a problem was people using inflatables with an offshore wind.
"Inflatables are like sails and it's quite hard to paddle them back against the wind," Mr Copping said.
