intern

Buc is a really good boat and an excellent choice. Consider the 550 wide body, too, mate of mine has one of those and it is top notch.

ha ha in the fullness of time. Of course, I haven't even met you yet...and Wayne I've known for years although only met him at the end of last year I think. What you really want to do is buddy up to DawieO, he has a serious boat (Rayglass 2500), but bigger than mine and hard top. I'll leave that to you guys to sort out..

Buccaneer 635; made in Hamilton. If you want a cheap boat, get an American one, if you want a good boat, get a Kiwi one. I chose a fibreglass boat because while I enjoy fishing and diving (for which a tinny is generally better) a glass boat gives a far better ride, which the kids and Mrs prefer. Ours has a 'camper' setup which turns the whole boat into a tent on the water...will report back on how warm or not that is - the water's not that cold just yet and the low in BoI is around 7 or 8 degrees, so I reckon it will be OK..

Dunno the frequency, but The Coast is my favourite, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s good music. Anyways, that aside, I'm heading up to the Bay of Islands this long weekend for an overnighter on the boat with the fam. Might stay one or two nights depending on how much we feel the cold...have a good one everyone!

Jealous. I've wanted to go down that way for ages, closest I've got is Queenstown and now with our lighties being so small, travel isn't really worth it. One day, though, I shall tow our boat all the way down there and spend a few weeks exploring first the Marlborough sounds on the top end, then the Sounds at the bottom... Hope the weather's OK for you when you go - winter showing some of the 'ugly' now!

Julius Cobbett is most certainly not a cheat of any sort. The same cannot be said for the winner and if someone like that beat me, I would not be happy about it.

Fully. I ran a business in SA for 5 years, time zone was horrible. Also, when you want to Skype friends etc in SA, the time zones mean everyone's on a completely different wavelength. Lank kek.

Good old Jowetts, wore their jersey for a good few years, Wally and Ingrid big supporters of the KZN schoolboy scene back in the day.

Wait ten minutes and they will be on sale, don't worry.

SI way too cold, 'not habitable by civilized men'

Seriously, figure out how to use google maps, it's awesome. Make sure it is up to date, then you just whack in where you are going, then choose from the tabs at the top if you are walking, cycling, driving, or taking a bus. Does it all for ya. And having used AT app for a while before realising Google does it better, I have compared both. AT rarely has the buses on time or all the options available to you...

Ha ha ha you won't believe how many times I've ended up being on the wrong side of the road. For a recent trip to the airport, I watched the bus sail by and had to get an Uber in order to make it on time. Glad to hear I am not the only dumbass who does that!

Google Maps is way better than the AT app - more accurate, more versatile, easier to use...

Use your phone; google maps will tell you which bus to catch and from where. Ask other commuters for help if you need it, they will generally gladly assist. Google is better than Auckland Transport's app.

Matakana's also a bloody nightmare of traffic on a good weekend...

The wonderful Kiwi sense of humour, opening a water park as winter sets in...smh. Be keen to have a go on that come next summer though.

Coro is awesome. You need to get up to the Bay of Islands, too, that's one of my favourite spots, just stunning. Oh, and of course, get yourself a boat as it all looks even better from the water ;-)

Congrats! Getting the paperwork behind you is always a huge relief...

I went fishing after work last week Friday and got this sunset. Oh and a few snapper for supper, too

So, anyway: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/oceania/new-zealand/galleries/26-reasons-why-New-Zealand-is-the-worlds-best-country/

I had a Legacy Outback for a while, LL Bean one, with roof racks, pretty nice car. Flat 6 heaps of power...

You get used to it - the idea of not doing all your own stuff seems weird to me now!

I've not actually ridden down that side apart from an excellent MTB ride with niterider, but driving to meet him at Maraetai I was pretty much drooling at the oppos for road riding down that way. As he says, awesome loops out to Clevedon, through the Hunua ranges, down to Kawakawa Bay, etc. I'd live that side easily (we're on the very northern fringe of Auckland).

Doesn't look like the crappiest car I've ever seen.

Awesome thanks for that insight niterider - last time I did one was probably 10 years ago, remember it being a bit of a performance!