Yards/Marina Recommendattions in New Zealand

[BigART]

Hi Folks

We are currently in French Polynesia heading for NZ for the cyclone season. We plan to do some (=lots of) work on the boat down there. Whangerei has been recommended as a good place. Has anyone any recommendations for yards/marinas for a haulout? The big bucks items are engine and stainless steel work. I understand that there are pile moorings available for longer term parking as we travel inland.

I should say that we have an aversion to paying extreme marina prices but maybe they are more reasonable down there....

Angus
www.DoItCruise.info

 

[iona]

Opua in the Bay of Islands would be a good bet. Their are moorings and a marina, plus chandleries etc. Also a great cruising ground. We were sailing there in Jan/Feb, went into one marina at Tutakaka and they didin't charge at all for an afternoon stay (what a great attitude), and Pine Harbour in Auckland was 30NZ$ for a night, (about 10 pounds for a 40' boat). There are plenty of other places around Auckland and the Gulf, marinas and moorings eg Gulf Harbour Marina, and Westhaven Marina by the harbour bridge (also has pile moorings and loads of marine related business close by). Obviously things could be getting busy again in Auckland depending on whar happens in Valencia in the next few days!

 

[BigART]

Many thanks for your response, another possible change of plan...

Having been a bit out of touch recently, er, I am probably going to sound a bit stupid, but.....what is 'Valencia' all about?

 

[iona]

That will be the Americas Cup, NZ v the Swiss, 2-2 is the score. Must be great being in Polynesia in splendid and no doubt beautiful isolation, hoping to head that way ourselves sometime.

 

[GMac]

You have a couple of choices of location. Each has haul-out and longer term parking. Just talking Auckland North.

Bay of Islands - prettyest place. 3.5 hours drive from Auckland.
Whangarei - Good alsorts there. 1.5 hrs drive from Auckland
Auckland - everything but a s**ty city like most, anyone spot anyone who desn't like cities /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Unless you really want to be in a city pick Whangarei I'd think. It thinks it's a city but it's more a bloody big town. Lots of good factilities, suppliers and trades. Close to Akl if you want to pop down or whatever you want is not available in Whangarei. The 'piles' are approx 1ft from downtown Whangarei. Good haul out yards as well. Proving quite popular with the cruisers due to location and better yard/ pile pricing than Auckland.

If you realy want to be closer to Auckland the best bets are probably Westpark Marina or Gulf Harbour Marina. Both have good yards and close to everything at better than dead smack in the middle of Akl prices. Westpark to Auckland central about 20mins drive not in rush hour. Gulf harbour about 40 mins not in rush 30mins /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

heres one spot about Whangarei, there are more probably.
http://www.whangareimarine.co.nz/index.html

 

[BigART]

Wonderful, thanks for the info, gives us some solid to go on.

Angus
www.DoItCruise.info

 

[GMac]

No worries mate. (a phrase to get used too /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

Ask away if you have any more.
Sail safe.