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

[patches]

In other news, I move house this week.

Christchurch housing is so reasonable.

The new place is 4 Bedroom, 3 bathroom, double garage semi-detached townhouse on a country club estate. Fully furnished (brand new), on the country club (rent includes full access)  - $640/wk

On the other hand I share part of an apartment in Auckland (due to frequent travel back and forth for work).

Sure it's a really nice 3 bedroom 2 bathroom place, right near the viaduct (so I can walk to work and don't need a car)... but the total rental for that place is about $1000/wk.

But yeah... I didn't realize how much junk I accumulated in the last year, hahaha! Damn those Briscoes sales!

 

Edited April 10, 2017 by patches

[intern]

Which model did you buy? I also need to get one, for cutting firewood and the occasional tree

 

 

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I got me this bad boy https://www.stihlshop.co.nz/stihl-ms-231-c-be

Spent yesterday with a kiwifruit farmer mate of mine downing a grove of big radiata pines for firewood this winter. That wee stihl is well up to the task.

[intern]

Day 2 of the mini-adventure

 

IMG-20170409-WA0007.jpg

 

Lake Coleridge. Insanely clear water. No rivers flowing in. The lake is formed by snow melting on the alps. No river flowing out, but it does have an outlet for a hydroelectric power plant.

 

IMG-20170409-WA0008.jpg

 

More Lake Coleridge. those pebbly shores are tricky to get going on.

 

 

 

and finally...

 

IMG-20170409-WA0009.jpg

 

A giant doughnut in Springfield, Canterbury. For those who don't know, there is a "Big Things NZ Roadtrip Checklist"

 

https://www.acerentalcars.co.nz/info/new-zealand-travel/new-zealands-big-things-road-trip-checklist/

 

 

Looks awesome. I've seen the giant gumboot in Taihape, the giant carrot in Ohakune and of course, the giant bicycle in Taupo. I've also seen a giant douche in Auckland and spotted him again in Tauranga, that would be Len Brown, fornicating former mayor of Auckland...

[Rocket-Boy]

I got me this bad boy https://www.stihlshop.co.nz/stihl-ms-231-c-be

Spent yesterday with a kiwifruit farmer mate of mine downing a grove of big radiata pines for firewood this winter. That wee stihl is well up to the task.

So your mate the Kiwi farms Kiwis?

[intern]

So your mate the Kiwi farms Kiwis?

That's about as Kiwi as you can get! Big kiwifruit producing region here where I live. The gross return on a hectare is, get this, around $120 000 for green at a production cost of around $30 000. It's big business; for gold, the numbers are much bigger (but I can't remember what they were).

[patches]

Who angered the weather gods in immigrant city?
 

[Wayne Potgieter]

Who angered the weather gods in immigrant city?

 

its gone crazy up here man. I actually had to use my umbrella.

[patches]

its gone crazy up here man. I actually had to use my umbrella.

 

The British guy I work with says that 2 things a man should never do are:

 

1. Hold a pint glass with 2 hands
2. Use an umbrella.

But I don't blame you. I'm going to need an umbrella come time to walk home, if one of those torrential downpours happens again. Fortunately it looks like more of  drizzle at the moment.

[patches]

Went down to Taranaki this weekend. I'm glad we left Auckland on Thursday after work during the 'cyclone'. I heard the Friday morning traffic was insane.

The weather wasn't the best, but was still a good trip.

 

Stayed on a farm about 10km out of New Plymouth.



The art gallery in New Plymouth. pretty awesome architecture.



Dawson Falls

 

Cape Egmont Light House.

[Wayne Potgieter]

Prepare to be photobombed. I am spending a few days in Queenstown and Milford this coming weekend.

 

First time on the South Island. Super excited.

[RossW]

Prepare to be photobombed.

I'll welcome any and all photos from that part of the world.

 

I had a great little outing on Saturday to North Stradbroke Island. Weather wasn't amazing in the morning but it cleared shortly before lunch. Ferry trip across was easy and a lovely day out.

 

Not many photos to share from my side.

[patches]

Prepare to be photobombed. I am spending a few days in Queenstown and Milford this coming weekend.

 

First time on the South Island. Super excited.

You're going to love it! So different to the north.

 

They don't call those mountains the Remarkables for nothing!

[patches]

I'll be in Sydney for Anzac weekend. Nothing specific planned, apart from 1 (or more) Ikea trips!

Briscoes is alright. Farmers and Smith City pricing is in line with SA Government Tender markups. But Ikea... better quality for less! I wish NZ would get one!

Gonna test out the 30kg luggage and $700 import allowances   

 

[Pappa Bear]

Welcome to my part of the world :-)

 

 

Went down to Taranaki this weekend. I'm glad we left Auckland on Thursday after work during the 'cyclone'. I heard the Friday morning traffic was insane.

The weather wasn't the best, but was still a good trip.

 

Stayed on a farm about 10km out of New Plymouth.



The art gallery in New Plymouth. pretty awesome architecture.



Dawson Falls

 

Cape Egmont Light House.

[Saag]

This weekend is my last on South African soil. Flying out on 27 th and landing the Saturday...work starts the Monday already. Looking forward to meeting you guys!

 

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[patches]

Welcome to my part of the world :-)

 

Very nice part of the world it is...

 

if only we could see that damn mountain, hahahaha!

 

there was a permanent cloud around the peak of Mt Taranaki,

 

But I guess on the South Island we have the same thing with Mt Cook. A colleague of mine did 5 trips from Christchurch to various sides of Mt Cook, before he actually got to see the peak.

 

So are you based in New Plymouth?