New Zealand or Australia For Pacific Bound Sailors

[Coops]

The Coastal Passage is best described as a rag. One man's agenda and battle against the customs would be a good description of this "publication". Best to ignore it as a source of reliable information seems to be the majority opinion of the boating world over here.

Coops.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Coops

The Coastal Passage is best described as a rag. One man's agenda and battle against the customs would be a good description of this "publication". Best to ignore it as a source of reliable information seems to be the majority opinion of the boating world over here.

Coops.

Agree completely, Coops. The chap seems to have some attitude issues... and it's too bad, because in other hands (or with other agendas) it could be a useful medium. As is, wouldn't trust anything (editorial) published. Some of the contributed pieces are OK, and Alan Lucas's monthly jibes are often a hoot.

Cheers,

Jim

[NoTies]

Don't completely ignore Fiji. Whilst still officially a developing nation (I hate the term "third world) it offers first world maintenance and refit services at cheaper prices than NZ, marina berthage at Vuda is cheaper than NZ and airfares to NZ are probably cheaper than sailing the boat there. If looking at schooling or work your options will be a lot fewer but with cheaper living costs you may be able to do some extra cruising. Vuda has proven itself several times now as a good cyclone marina.

[Steve Pope]

I would say NZ the first trip, Yes it can blow a bit going too and from but normally nothing serious that a capable cruiser couldn't handle. Most folk love the Bay of Islands and Whangarei as having everything you might need as a yachty and for the family.
NZ's east coast of the North Island down to Tauranga, is a great sailing area.
South Island: Marlborough Sounds / Nelson different but good cruising, If you are more adventurous there is Fiordland towards the bottom of the South Island Etc, Etc. and the Chathams if you are really adventurous!
then next year sail to New Cal / Vanuatu or vice versa then across to Ausie for the next cyclone season, you have a greater chance of cyclone conditions around northern Queensland than in NZ.
There must be a preponderance of Aussie's answering at the moment, or a dearth of Kiwi's. Remember there are more beautiful anchorages and bays and Islands between North cape and Tauranga than there are between Brisbane and Gladstone, and no coaling ports, exclusion zones etc.

[DumnMad]

Nelson is a good spot for a young family. Often have families in the Marina. Walking distance to city centre, supermarkets etc. Weather is very good and cooler temperatures often said to be a relief from an extended time in the tropics. Good nearby anchorages or moorings if you don't want to pay the NZ$30 / day visitor fee.

[44'cruisingcat]

There are exclusion zones between Brisbane and Gladstone??????

[Steve Pope]

military, at certain times apparently.

[boatman61]

Will second the Bay of Islands.. have some friends expanding a B/yard down there... and they've kids as well..

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by ozskipper

Yeh the Kiwis have that one up on us. Even if they do eat kittens.

You guys all sound like NZ beat your favorite team in a footie match

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

You guys all sound like NZ beat your favorite team in a footie match

Well... the All Blacks have played OZ 149 times, drawn 6, lost 41 and beaten OZ 102 times... so yup.. there's a tad of bitterness there..

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Steve Pope

military, at certain times apparently.

Nope. Incorrect. The Shoalwater Bay military training area is a fair way North of Gladstone.
In terms of good anchorages between Brisbane and Gladstone, there are countless.

The entire West coast of World heritage listed Fraser island is an anchorage. The Great Barrier reef starts a day's sail north.

It's possible of course, to cherry pick certain parts of the NSW/Qld coast that do not have a high concentration of good anchorages, but there are other parts where there are hundreds of incredible anchorages within short distances.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Well... the All Blacks have played OZ 149 times, drawn 6, lost 41 and beaten OZ 102 times... so yup.. there's a tad of bitterness there..

Bitterness? Not really. Rugby union is a pretty minor sport in Aus. Rugby League is far more popular. Australia rarely loses a rugby league match to anyone. Stats are something like 92-29 in Australia's favour.

Cricket is also far more popular here than union. NZ doesn't beat us at that very often either. They haven't won a series since 1989. And they've only won 3 series since 1945.

In terms of popularity, I think even soccer may be overtaking union...

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Bitterness? Not really. Rugby union is a pretty minor sport in Aus. Rugby League is far more popular. Australia rarely loses a rugby league match to anyone.

Cricket is also far more popular here than union. NZ doesn't beat us at that very often either.

In terms of popularity, I think even soccer may be overtaking union...

I thought OZ's favourite sport was that crazy footie you play where its a mix...
Congrats on the 'Ashes' by the way..

[44'cruisingcat]

Thanks. I'm actually a little disappointed in the Ashes. Thought it would be a close, hard fought series. We're absolutely slaughtering them. Way it's going, it'll be a real shock if we don't win 5-0.

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Coops

The Coastal Passage is best described as a rag. One man's agenda and battle against the customs would be a good description of this "publication". Best to ignore it as a source of reliable information seems to be the majority opinion of the boating world over here. Coops.

Bob (he is an american guy by the way) is inclined to hyperbole and is somewhat eccentric but his underlying motivation is good, he really is trying to keep the cruising life less affected by regulation, and for that I applaud him. And at the end of the day some of the issues raised needed raising, the Australian Customs Service seems to have a view that it can make up its own rules rather than following legislation, on many many issues. Which is not to say that ACS personnel have been anything but professional in my dealings with them, but things like making up rules that don't exist in legislation do annoy him as much as me.

Originally Posted by Steve Pope

I would say NZ the first trip, Yes it can blow a bit going too and from but normally nothing serious that a capable cruiser couldn't handle. Most folk love the Bay of Islands and Whangarei as having everything you might need as a yachty and for the family.
NZ's east coast of the North Island down to Tauranga, is a great sailing area.
South Island: Marlborough Sounds / Nelson different but good cruising, If you are more adventurous there is Fiordland towards the bottom of the South Island Etc, Etc. and the Chathams if you are really adventurous!
then next year sail to New Cal / Vanuatu or vice versa then across to Ausie for the next cyclone season, you have a greater chance of cyclone conditions around northern Queensland than in NZ.
There must be a preponderance of Aussie's answering at the moment, or a dearth of Kiwi's. Remember there are more beautiful anchorages and bays and Islands between North cape and Tauranga than there are between Brisbane and Gladstone, and no coaling ports, exclusion zones etc.

Everything that Steve says about NZ is true, in my limited experience, its a truly great country. But there are NO exclusion zones between Brisbane and Gladstone and no coaling ports until you get to Gladstone. As 44C said Shoalwater Bay can from time to time have some but thats not an area that really is all that attractive anyway, much better off staying out on the reef islands.

Originally Posted by Steve Pope

military, at certain times apparently.

Nope - see above.

See if you can get hold of Alan Lucas "Cruising the Coral Coast" (thats all of the Queensland Coast, and "Cruising the NSW Coast". A read of those should tell you whether or not it is for you.

I refer to my earlier comment, "do both".

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Thanks. I'm actually a little disappointed in the Ashes. Thought it would be a close, hard fought series. We're absolutely slaughtering them. Way it's going, it'll be a real shock if we don't win 5-0.

Of course 44c is anti pom (England) on two fronts - he is Australian and Scottish.