New Zealand - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

[hayleyearth]

We are driving back from Taupo, rode part of the "Great lake trail"... Wow!!

We will go back to do all parts in the near future.

We went unsupported (so no car or boat shuttles) and rode with Layla either on the

front of the MTB or at the back of the gravel bike (during nap time).

 

It was really nice trails!

[arabsandals]

Do it.  You'll learn on the way. 

 

Building boats is one of the best things you can do.  I may be biased of course.

 

 

Edit:

My only observation is where are you going to sail - it doesn't have high sides and the plan says 'SUITABLE FOR — Somewhat protected waters'.  Sydney harbour?  Probably perfect.

 

But this is akin to saying 'don't marry that one, marry this one' so treat comment appropriately.

 

It does move nicely... and balanced lug rigs are where it's at.

Most likely Hawkesbury River, although the harbour would be nice. 

[davetapson]

Most likely Hawkesbury River, although the harbour would be nice. 

Seem to remember my brother rigged up a solar powered skiff to cruise around there.

[patches]

Whew! Just got back from 12 days of camper-vanning around the South Island.

Can HIGHLY recommend!

 

Here's the rough route we took. 

 

(a few detours and repeats and day trips not shown, but we totalled about 2350km)

 

Pics from trip to follow. Still trying to wake up after getting home around 11pm last night.

[patches]

Here are some pics from the recent adventures...

 

"home" for the next few days.

 

Last bit of the Paparoa Great Walk. It ends across the road from the campsite. Paparoa is the latest addition to the great walks, and as a bonus, this one can be mountain biked. 3 days to walk. 2 days to ride. The campsite had numerous muddy trial bikes, belonging to riders who had just completed the journey. And based on their feedback, it was well worth it. I've already added MTB Paparoa to my bucket list.

 

Hokitika Gorge. I've done this short walk a number of times before, but the water colour gets me each time.

 

Blue Pools, Mt Aspiring National Park.

 

Obligatory pic of that Wanaka tree (even though I have a dozen previous ones)

 

A waterfall from a walk. just next to the road on the way to Milford Sound.

 

Le Milford Sound (not the best weather, but could be worse).

 

Part of the Kepler Track (another one of the Great Walks) just outside Te Anau

 

Luging in Queenstown

 

All in all, it was a whirlwind of a trip with too many scenic vistas, clear streams, green forests or majestic mountains to mention. Despite being in a campervan we made sure to get out and enjoy nature (averaging over 18,000 steps a day).

 

If anyone ever sees a sweet deal on camper rental (I think we got ours for $75/day excl RUC and insurace)... DO IT!

 

It's an awesome and convenient way to see large portions of this beautiful country (despite my love for tented camping, I think the van has ruined me )

Edited October 28, 2020 by patches

[Wayne Potgieter]

Thoughts on buying houses in Orewa/Red Beach/Millwater/Milldale?

 

I work from home.

[davetapson]

Can't go wrong.  Prices in the bays are pushing demand for those properties up.

Those areas are commuter belt for city so will always have demand.

Orewa beach good in that a. it's nice, b. it gets waves because Rangitoto etc aren't in the way.
 

Worked with a guy who went to Orewa College - said it was a great school and he was an engineer, so couldn't be all bad.

We've considered it, but with my predilection for building boats new builds are a problem in terms of boat building space / boat storage space.  Maybe I'm the problem. 
 

[Saag]

Definitely a nice place to live. We have been living in Army Bay for 3.5 years now. Moving into our new build in 20 days in Red Beach (where the old golf course was).

 

Awesome location (Red Beach, Silvrerdale, Milldale and Millwater).

[intern]

We were in Red Beach/Silverdale for a couple years. Very good road biking out that way, you are utterly spoiled for choice. Also, great neighbourhoods, everything you need is close by (countdown, pak n save, etc).

[patches]

Thoughts on buying houses in Orewa/Red Beach/Millwater/Milldale?

 

I work from home.

 

Also don't think you can go wrong. Some very nice new suburbs around Millwater. 

[Wayne Potgieter]

After a weekend of property hunting in the Silverdale/Red Beach/Millwater/Milldale area these are my observations.

 

1. Estate agents here suck. Worse than used car salesman that put banana skins in gearboxes. Totally one sided and blatantly obnoxious about putting their own needs in front of both the buyer and sellers. Apologies if anyone is related to an estate agent on this thread.

2. I looked in these areas 6 months ago and the average price has increased by about 20% and climbing. 

3. I really like the style of clean and modern houses and think I could quite comfortably live there.

4. Its far from Auckland, but not as far as Wanaka.

5. Land and build is the best option for us. Freedom to design what we like, no estate agents (see point 1) and the prices are still somewhat reasonable (as much as AKL houses can be)

6. Estate agents suck.

[intern]

After a weekend of property hunting in the Silverdale/Red Beach/Millwater/Milldale area these are my observations.

 

1. Estate agents here suck. Worse than used car salesman that put banana skins in gearboxes. Totally one sided and blatantly obnoxious about putting their own needs in front of both the buyer and sellers. Apologies if anyone is related to an estate agent on this thread.

2. I looked in these areas 6 months ago and the average price has increased by about 20% and climbing. 

3. I really like the style of clean and modern houses and think I could quite comfortably live there.

4. Its far from Auckland, but not as far as Wanaka.

5. Land and build is the best option for us. Freedom to design what we like, no estate agents (see point 1) and the prices are still somewhat reasonable (as much as AKL houses can be)

6. Estate agents suck.

7. Estate agents suck.

[davetapson]

After a weekend of property hunting in the Silverdale/Red Beach/Millwater/Milldale area these are my observations.

 

1. Estate agents here suck. Worse than used car salesman that put banana skins in gearboxes. Totally one sided and blatantly obnoxious about putting their own needs in front of both the buyer and sellers. Apologies if anyone is related to an estate agent on this thread.

2. I looked in these areas 6 months ago and the average price has increased by about 20% and climbing. 

3. I really like the style of clean and modern houses and think I could quite comfortably live there.

4. Its far from Auckland, but not as far as Wanaka.

5. Land and build is the best option for us. Freedom to design what we like, no estate agents (see point 1) and the prices are still somewhat reasonable (as much as AKL houses can be)

6. Estate agents suck.

Yeah, there are some dumb prices being paid at the moment.

 

Unfortunately they may become the baseline prices from now on (I was going to say 'going forward' but I hate it when people say that...)

 

We've decided our best option is buy land with some livable structure and live in that while building new house, or to watch auctions and then make cheeky offers on houses that get passed in.

 

There is a piece of ground in Dairy Flat we are looking at, has a clunky two bed house existing.  If we get it, we will live in that, build something nice on it, then rent existing house out to help pay for the entirety.  Currently rented at $450 which is a fair old chunk.

 

If you don't mink paying two rent/mortgage payments, or don't mind living in a caravan while building, there is an utterly stunning piece of land going in Dairy Flat - we nearly bit, but the magnitude is just beyond our energy at the moment. 

 

[DawieO]

Yeah, there are some dumb prices being paid at the moment.

Unfortunately they may become the baseline prices from now on (I was going to say 'going forward' but I hate it when people say that...)

We've decided our best option is buy land with some livable structure and live in that while building new house, or to watch auctions and then make cheeky offers on houses that get passed in.

There is a piece of ground in Dairy Flat we are looking at, has a clunky two bed house existing. If we get it, we will live in that, build something nice on it, then rent existing house out to help pay for the entirety. Currently rented at $450 which is a fair old chunk.

If you don't mink paying two rent/mortgage payments, or don't mind living in a caravan while building, there is an utterly stunning piece of land going in Dairy Flat - we nearly bit, but the magnitude is just beyond our energy at the moment.

 

That’s a nice spot. What is the indicative price? Edited November 1, 2020 by DawieO

[davetapson]

That’s a nice spot. What is the indicative price?

Agent reckons 900's, but it's so nice I think it will be 1M+

 

Depends on the day. 

 

Took my missus and fussy 21yo to show them and they just fell in love.  When I was there, the agent's comment was 'dont' come and see it if you don't have the cash, you'll just break your heart.'  Which is not far off.

 

The land is empty, you can just go look if you want.  I had a look at the title, looks like it is owned by an SA family - Visser.  Allegedly they were going to build a retirement home there, but that plan has fallen through.

 

Edit:

The aspect is generally south facing, but you can park your house on the highest point (basically on top of the olive trees  ) and design it to catch the heat from the north.  The property doesn't feel cold or damp.

 

Edit edit: those plots are planned for main dwelling, and secondary dwelling (i.e. granny flat.)  One option would be to go into partnership with a like minded individual and build the granny flat on top of a triple garage, which might just change shape once the CCC is issued, allowing two reasonable houses on one piece of land zoned for a major and minor dwelling.

Edited November 1, 2020 by davetapson

[hayleyearth]

Yip, house prices are going crazy at this moment. I think our will increase too after NZ opens up more to let immigrants in again...I think many people will want to move here now, even more than ever.

 

Everything we looked at at the start of the year is at least $200k up now.

 

We need/want to stay cycling distance from our work and schools, so we don't have many options to choose from.