"We used to come for three weeks and we never left the camp once," she said.
As the children grew they enjoyed the local night life, restaurants and concerts - something the Lennons would like to see more of in Tauranga.
"Lots more open-air concerts at Mills Reef would be amazing. Big-name people would be awesome, Tauranga could be the new Mission," Mrs Lennon told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend.
The family has also got involved in the half ironman.
"It gives you the best holiday and you can do your sports as well," Mrs Lennon said.
When it rained they always found there was plenty to do within walking distance of the camp or during a day trip to Rotorua.
"That's the attraction of coming here. Because you have attractions. When you have children you can't stay in a tent when it rains," Mrs Lennon said.
"Everything's so central and handy so that was the main attraction over other campsites," Mr Lennon said.
The couple were concerned the Bay's roading system may not keep up with the influx of Aucklanders re-locating or holidaying in the Bay.
"I think they're going to be too busy because it's a small town and all those people from Auckland are turning up," Mr Lennon said. "We're pretty impressed with the roading but definitely they've got a lot more work to do."
Mrs Lennon said the family planned to return to Papamoa for many years to come.
"My daughter-in-law said to me some of the happiest times in her life have been here."
In recent years they have also started visiting Mount Maunganui to stay in an apartment.
"People don't realise that winter in the Bay of Plenty is sensational. We come down during the year as well," she said.
Meanwhile, Danielle LeGallais and her family holiday at Cutterscove Resort Apartments in Mount Maunganui five to 10 times a year - an experience she describes as "almost perfect".
Ms LeGallais, who works in advertising, relishes the chance to escape to "the best beaches in the country", soak up the atmosphere, attend some concerts and take part in multi-sport events.
Growing up in Hamilton, her family were among many who travelled over the hill to the beach each summer.
"I guess that started my love affair with the Mount," she said. "I've been coming to the Mount since I was a child and I love that it's away from Auckland. I just don't really like Auckland that much."
She and her two sons, Matthew, 8, and James, 5, are renting a two-bedroom apartment for three weeks over the holidays and love spending time both within and outside the resort.
"We like the facilities. We don't want to stay in a camping ground. Having a family, I like the security aspect of it being enclosed," she said. "It's a lagoon-type atmosphere and it almost feels like you're in Fiji."
With pools, tennis courts, a gym and mini-golf onsite, some days they have no need to leave the resort, she said: "They [the children] absolutely love it. They've known it their whole life."
This year Ms LeGallais will compete in the half ironman, the weekly ocean swims and Matthew will take part in the Weet-bix Kids' TRYathlon.
"There's a lot of music events over here at Brewers Bar that we like to get involved in as well. We love Kiwi music," Ms LeGallais said.
Movie theatres and swimming pools meant there was also plenty to do if the weather turned bad, she said.
"I think the events and the extra things to do are what keeps bringing us back."
Ms LeGallais' only complaint was the amount of broken glass being left on Mount streets.
While there was plenty going on in Papamoa, she recommended more well-advertised events for children in Mount Maunganui.
"A part of me thinks that it's almost perfect," she said.
Downtown Mount Maunganui English backpacker Kayla Smith has set up her own paddling pool oasis at Mount Backpackers. The 29-year-old from York arrived seven weeks ago and isn't planning to leave until the end of summer. When the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend spoke to her she described her mood as "awesome" and was grateful the Bay had been her first lengthy stop on a one-year working visa.
While her friends and family at home experienced snowfall, she celebrated Christmas Day on the Mount Beach with fellow travellers. She enjoys the sunshine during the day before heading to work at a local bar in the evenings. Having made some good friends she spends time walking up Mauao, going to the beach and enjoyed a trip to the Tauranga Races over the Christmas season.
Miss Smith said the only frustrations among the backpackers were the Mount pub scene's 1am closing time - which they would like to see extended - and the permanent liquor bans on the beaches.
"I love it, absolutely love it. I'm really, really glad this is the first place I came to and I've stayed for this amount of time."
