Alice McFall spent her childhood holidays enjoying the kids' area at Mount Drury – now she's paying it forward by becoming a summer ambassador at her favourite seaside spot.
The 21-year-old was brought up in the Bay – living here since 2004 – and her family has been coming to the Mount to spend holidays for about 45 years.
'I've actually been coming along to the kids' zone since I was born. My grandparents – I think they met here actually.”
Studying marketing and management in a commerce degree at the University of Otago, Alice is back home for the holidays – and is one of a team of Tauranga City Council Summer Ambassadors who will be out and about providing information on summer events, activities, safety messages, alcohol-free zones recycling initiatives, competitions and giveaways.
TCC event delivery manager Michaela Blackman says the summer ambassadors will be at the beaches, on the streets and at the local shopping areas.
'They'll be equipped with the popular summer passports with all the information you need to stay safe in the summer season and to make this summer, your summer.
'They have their home at the My Summer Beach Base – open 10am-4pm daily until to January 8 – at the beach side of Mount Drury. So drop into the Beach Base; find some shade, free drinking water and sunscreen. And take the chance to get your summer photo taken.”
Alice loves the Mount – and says it's a great place to be at this time of year.
'We used to come down here as kids and try to get as much free stuff as we could and play the games on offer.
'So I think I need to pay it forward – and look after everybody else now.”
Alice says her main duties will be getting the word out about what's going on, particularly at New Year's Eve, and keeping the locals and community safe.
'As well as having great time with everyone that's here and making sure it's [the Mount] enjoyable for everyone involved.”
And she expects to point out the Bay's most iconic spots as well as best-kept secrets to holidaymakers and tourists alike.
'A lot of people don't realise there's lot of cool stuff that isn't expensive – there's not just the Mount.
'For example, I definitely think a lot of people don't get out to McLaren Falls. And there's lot of markets to go to – and the Hairy Maclary sculptures on The Strand are cool too.”
The ambassadors' Beach Base has a pop-up DJ booth with guest performers and tickets to this summer's hottest gigs including Frequency NYE featuring electronic duo Peking Duk.
And an entertainment programme runs for about three weeks and caters for locals, residents and holidaymakers to enjoy the summer with friends and families in Tauranga.
From family-friendly entertainment with circus performers, live music, pony rides, daily barbecues, and outdoor games, there will be plenty going on at the Beach Base.
'It's already pumping down there – and it's only going to get busier,” says Alice.