Four decades of camping at Cosy Corner

GENERATIONS: Paul Turner, Wolfie Turner, Marie Turner, Graeme Turner, Jaime Craven, and Logan Turner at their home away from home. Photo / Andrew Warner

It was 1972 - a summer of sun, sand and ferries between Tauranga and the Mount - when a couple of tweens first locked eyes on each other at a park near their campground.

Four decades later, Graeme and Marie Turner are a married couple, and they have continued a tradition of staying at that same campground every summer.

They're not alone.

The Whatawhata lifestyle farmers are among five generations of family who have been visiting Mount Maunganui's Cosy Corner Holiday Park since 1970 or earlier.

They even have their own permanent caravan there, with a wooden add-on that makes it more like a bach.

Mrs Turner, 55, remembers the day she met her future husband.

"I was 11 and he was 13," she said.

"We were over the road at Moa Park. We just started talking and that's how it started."

Four summers later, they became an item at the very same campground.

Mrs Turner remembers Cosy Corner from a time before cellphones were invented and the Harbour Bridge built. She would catch a ferry to Tauranga with about 25 of her cousins, each armed with a whistle.

"If anyone got lost, they'd just blow it."

She also remembers her grandparents staying at Cosy Corner, which means her grandchildren are the fifth generation to visit.

Not much has changed, really.

"The facilities have improved but the people stay much the same and the culture stays the same," she said.

"People here know each others' kids and they look out for each other."

Joining the Turners at the caravan this summer are their son Paul, 31, his fiancee Jaime Craven, 35, and their sons Wolfie, 3, and Logan, nearly 2.

"I've been coming since the first year I was born," said Paul Turner.

"And I started coming nine years ago," Ms Craven said.

"It's just a little community here."

The elder Mr Turner started visiting as an 8-year-old with his parents, Les and Mavis.

He remembered "just the beach and the other kids, and I'm about the same age as Greg so I remember him too".

He was referring to Cosy Corner manager Greg Davidson, whose family has run the campground for decades.

Mr Davidson said 70 per cent of the people staying at the campground this summer were returning after previous visits.

Many families returned year after year, and some had become friends.