Non NZ cyclone season options

[fxykty]

Well, NZ as a cyclone season destination has a lot going for it, primarily because you’re arriving in early summer and can usually leave in early autumn before it gets too cold. After a season in the tropics, sure, 20 degree water and 25 degree air aren’t super warm, but they’re warm enough to keep layers off and to swim without a wetsuit.

Lots of coast line and varied cruising grounds to keep occupied for 3-4 months, plus of course the option to buy a car or van and road trip to all the Lord of the Rings sets (and have a beer in Hobbitton).

If you’re from Europe or North America the marine service prices are relatively inexpensive, as a visitor you don’t have to pay the GST for goods and services for the boat, and the quality of work is top notch. There’s a reason why many super yachts come here in their off season to have major refits done. For DIY the yards in Opua and Whangarei have excellent support and the full gamut of trades and suppliers close by.

Even in winter, it’s not that cold. This is me on my birthday in the Bay of Islands a few days ago. At 16 degrees the water is just tolerable for a leisurely float. Just - the boys buried themselves deep for a couple of hours because of that 10 minute swim. We’re heading over to Queensland in August for real winter warmth.


But if you don’t want to refit and want to stay tropical, the central Pacific has a lot going for it. Alternatively, Indonesia. This year, and likely next year too I expect the central Pacific to remain closed. Indonesia is probably going to be open and is a good choice if you’re vaccinated, but maybe too risky if not. We’re currently hanging out with a couple of boats that were able to get into NZ using the $50K refit exemption (as did the Wynn’s just recently), so the NZ border isn’t completely shut. Same for Australia’s border.

[Tetepare]

Whangarei in NZ is nice. But I could see how a tourist town could get old.

Majuro in Marshalls is low risk. As my local friends say “we don’t get cyclones, we make them!” As a somewhat industrial port, there’s lots of talent for refitting and repair. And the solitude of Arno atoll is a short sail.

Someone suggested Solomons. Not good. They do get cyclones, sometimes severe. Outside of cyclone season though is highly suggested.

[El Pinguino]

I'm not sure I would call Whangarei a 'tourist town'. Nice enough place to keep your boat but only a few notchs above Helensville and Dargaville in my view.

[fxykty]

Bay of Islands, Hauraki Gulf (including Great Barrier Island) and the Bay of Plenty from Mercury Islands to Alderman Islands, through to Mayor and White Islands, are superior to Whangarei for exploring and enjoying the land and seascapes. Though Whangarei does get the top spot for work yards and shore-side facilities for overseas cruisers. Plus the Poor Knights and the Hen and Chickens for nearby offshore islands.

And that’s just a small portion of the North Island. Add in the Marlborough Sounds, Fjordland, Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands, let alone Auckland and the other sub-Antarctic islands and you have cruising grounds rivalling Alaska and Chile for adventure and exposure.

Another near-unvisited place with some pretty tough rules is Raoul Island in the Kermadecs for some sub-tropical fauna that’s other worldly. Plus a challenging sail.

Lots to do in New Zealand on the water - a single cyclone season is not enough to really explore but good enough to get a taste. Plus of course all the land trip options as well.

[owly]

Originally Posted by fxykty

Bay of Islands, Hauraki Gulf (including Great Barrier Island) and the Bay of Plenty from Mercury Islands to Alderman Islands, through to Mayor and White Islands, are superior to Whangarei for exploring and enjoying the land and seascapes. Though Whangarei does get the top spot for work yards and shore-side facilities for overseas cruisers. Plus the Poor Knights and the Hen and Chickens for nearby offshore islands.

And that’s just a small portion of the North Island. Add in the Marlborough Sounds, Fjordland, Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands, let alone Auckland and the other sub-Antarctic islands and you have cruising grounds rivalling Alaska and Chile for adventure and exposure.

Another near-unvisited place with some pretty tough rules is Raoul Island in the Kermadecs for some sub-tropical fauna that’s other worldly. Plus a challenging sail.

Lots to do in New Zealand on the water - a single cyclone season is not enough to really explore but good enough to get a taste. Plus of course all the land trip options as well.

Like all extremely remote isolated places these days it seems.... the government has created a wildlife sanctuary, and pretty much cut off access except to the scientific community to the Kermadec islands..... it's pretty unlikely that an ordinary yachtie would be allowed to go anywhere near them.


Frustrating to people who love remote empty places.... like myself... but understandable considering the way humans trash everything we touch...... "love it to death". Imagine what the Galapagos would be if not for the strict control... as an example.


Hawaii is a classic example........ it's sickening to see what has been done and continues to be done to these once beautiful islands..... They've had to protect the remote islands the same way to prevent people from trashing them.

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by owly

Like all extremely remote isolated places these days it seems.... the government has created a wildlife sanctuary, and pretty much cut off access except to the scientific community to the Kermadec islands..... it's pretty unlikely that an ordinary yachtie would be allowed to go anywhere near them.

...

Not true, there is a clear process to apply and visit Raoul Island by private vessel. It costs some money, a whole bunch of forms and inspections, and you have to keep at least one person on the boat when anchored, but it’s certainly doable. https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...madec-islands/

We looked into it last Christmas and the fees worked out to just under NZD 1000. We couldn’t find anyone to come with us that we trusted our boat with, so we sailed to the Chatham Islands instead.

[Rayray_38]

Hey, don't knock our skin cancer it the best in the world !

[kiwi_colin]

Originally Posted by seandepagnier

basically if you can get near the equator you are more or less safe from typhoons, but maybe lightning will strike you down instead. papua new guinea, solomon islands, indonesia.

the real reason to avoid new zealand may be that you really get very little for your money there. For example, it is cheaper to buy new zealand food products in samoa and you can mail order a rivet tool from the usa and pay shipping to new zealand cheaper than buying it locally. Also a good destination to develop skin cancer, and deal with lots of rules and people that dont make any sense.

dont count on the philippines for avoiding cyclones... it is the epicenter of typhoons and they can strike any month of the year, however the southern parts are deemed safe most of the time. The parts that are completely safe from storms are dangerous from pirates.

Rubbish, you just know where to buy stuff. The reason to come to NZ is we don't usually get hit by cyclones and if we do there are plenty of places to go out of the way. In our summer the lower end of the south island, especially Fiordland and Stewart island are amazing.

[sailorxyz]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

Total deaths in Australia during 2021 from covid = 0, that's zero, nada, none, mate.

Total cases in Australia from the latest version is in the tens, that's 10s mate, not hundreds or thousands.

Australia's biggest problem at the moment is scare mongerers (mainly state based politicians and their professional health advisers and a predominately left wing media)

That just changed mate.....

[sailorxyz]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Au and NZ are victims of their own success and are now struggling with the transition from zero covid to living with covid.
Not helped by rubbish vaccine rollout... 7% fully vaccinated in Australia, not much better in NZ.

NZ is sticking with 'zero covid' for now so don't expect their borders to open anytime soon.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/pol...ive-with-covid

We like it that way.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by sailorxyz

We like it that way.

As NSW is currently demonstrating you can go from zero to hero totally rooted in the blink of an eye.

So don't get too comfortable.

[KJThomas]

Originally Posted by kryg

Before you call people morons who will not take the vaccine, you should first learn to source and read published scientific papers on the subject, before you make an urban myth general comment as you have. Otherwise, you come across foolishly.

If you actually read scientific papers, you would "take the vaccine”.

Anti-vaccers ARE,, "Morons"!

Endangering peoples lives all around the world.

Thankfully NZ has a sensible Government, that listens to the scientists, and has taken measures to keep covid out until enough people are vaccinated.

Unlike the absolutely dangerous fools that run some countries, who may yet cause more mutations that don't respond to vaccines. They should be jailed before they do more damage.

[sycheckmate]

The world weather is changing. Storms are more intense and you cannot guarantee safety everywhere. New Zealand is isolated but still subject to wild weather.
It is an interesting and generally safe place to visit. If your research provides valid reasons to visit - just do it. Both North a South Minerva Reefs are available from both Tonga and Fiji

[IslandHopper]

Thread drift....

Originally Posted by sailorxyz

That just changed mate.....

He was wrong anyhow, the latest brings to 2 the total deaths in Australia for 2021, an 80 year old male died in Qld on the 13th April.....

The difference between the two is the April one contracted overseas and the latest was locally contracted.....but, for the sake of statistics, all deaths from COVID-19 that occur in Australia (no matter where they contracted) are recorded as deaths in Australia.

Total deaths in Australia is now 911.

....back on topic.

[sailorxyz]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

As NSW is currently demonstrating you can go from zero to hero totally rooted in the blink of an eye.

So don't get too comfortable.

Wots your point? That we should be stupid like the UK etc...


I'm in New Zealand and our government has done a great job... we plan to keep doing what we have so far done very successfully.