Sailing in New Zealand

[atelford]

I am looking to move to NZ for a couple of months sometime next year. I have never been and know nothing about the place. I intended to adventure round the place but want to remain in one area for around a month or so. Does anyone know of a sailing "HOTSPOT" as such where I can spend my days sailing in the likes of a dinghy? Open to all suggestions. preferably somewhere with alot of surrounding stuff to keep the gf happy and somewhere with lots to do and see.

 

[jfm]

I've spent loads of time there, though others on the forum live there or know it better.

Almost everywhere is sailing oriented. Seems like everyone in the country loves boats or has a boat. Lots of small aluminium outboard boats (called "tinnies")

Wherever you pick, you can't go far wrong. Auckland is sailing hotspot, and there are lots of sailing clubs and stuff. Many much bigger boats too. There's the Viaduct, the main marina in town, but also places arund the outskirts like gorgeous Takapuna (which Pamela Anderson fell in love with, she named her Valdetarro 34m Takapuna, though it's just been sold and renamed), Mission Bay, etc.

If you want to get out of the city I'd drive north to Whangarei (pronounced Fong - array) and that vicinity. There are saling facilities right there, and if you trudge a bit further north you get to the Bay of Islands where you'll get hot sun in summer, water easily warm enough to swim in, and you can sail to and spend all day on the quieter islands where you will have a private beach all to yourself literally all day. The gf will not need to bring much wardrobe

But there are zillions of ther great locations too. Nelson if you prefer South Island, etc etc.

Obviously the best time to go if you like sun is Dec-March

Good luck

 

[oldsaltoz]

Another vote for The Bay of Islands.


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