Luke Kirkness: Nothing seems to happen in Bethlehem but is that bad?

Bethlehem doesn't appear to make the headlines much. Photo / George Novak

OPINION

Bethlehem — the Tauranga suburb where nothing ever happens.

That's how a colleague described it before I left the office to pay a visit.

I haven't been in the Bay of Plenty for too long but I can't remember the last time Bethlehem was in the news.

Though, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Bethlehem seems to have a reputation among Tauranga locals as just one giant retirement village and from the outside looking in, it appears that way.

I've been there several times over the past few months and I still can't comprehend just how quiet it always is.

Sure, a racket is created from the hustle and bustle of State Highway 2 but the neighbourhood is far from what I'd call boisterous.

Bethlehem has become one of the latest Tauranga suburbs to join the $1 million club. Photo / Andrew Warner

The average age of its residents is a smidge over 50 years old, according to the 2018 census — 10 years older than the Tauranga city average.

While it might be perceived as God's waiting room, Bethlehem also seems to be a very family-friendly, safe and comfortable place to live.

That said, there are numerous schools and kindergartens so while there are certainly a few older types there, a few youngins are about.

Many homes there are a reasonable size and built on standalone sites.

Lawns are cut and edged to perfection, gardens pruned, walking frames line its footpaths and pharmacies appear to have gravitational pulls.

When I visited the Bethlehem Town Centre a couple of times last week its footpaths were busy and cafes often near capacity.

However, the aforementioned pharmacies were by far the biggest attraction it seemed but that's not just a Bethlehem thing I'm sure.

People are always out walking its streets or treks through reserves.

My first proper visit there was to attend the Bethlehem Primary School's annual cow pat gala, something which has run for the past 21 years.

The event is based around the bowel movements of a cow with $2000 up for grabs depending on where it goes to the toilet on the school's field.

A strange introduction to a community, that's for sure, but it appeared to pay homage to Bethlehem's roots.

Bethlehem Town Centre is popular among locals and visitors alike. Photo / George Novak

Many of the attendees told me of times when the suburb wasn't even a suburb but a small town with farmland surrounding it.

While that's not the case anymore, Bethlehem still kind of feels like a small town with some big-town aspects.

You can tell you're in a new suburb by the way the properties there look and how they differ from other areas surrounding them.

Walking still seems to be one of the main modes of transport, as well as cycling.

The state highway and the horrendous evening traffic out of the CBD certainly does its best to make Bethlehem as metropolitan as possible.

No doubt people who use the SH2 thoroughfare would be keen to see some changes and the Takitimu North Link sounds like a good idea.

Daisy, the cow was responsible for the cow dump in April. Photo / Luke Kirkness

Bethlehem's town centre appears to be its heartbeat, providing its visitors just about everything from food to fashion, medical supplies to entertainment.

It also gives the suburb a bit of a spruce up if you ask me, with retailers packed along the edges of the main drag.

There is a stark difference between the town centre here and the activity in Tauranga's CBD where many shops are vacant.

Apart from the traffic and the cowpat event, Bethlehem doesn't appear to make the headlines much, cruising along at its own peaceful pace.

It might seem to be the suburb where nothing much happens but driving through its quiet, leafy streets you soon realise that's not a bad thing - in fact, it's probably Bethlehem's best feature.