Best place in NZ for a biker to live?

**Mrs Busa Pete** · 13th February 2009, 13:38

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

New Plymouth.

Great education for the little people, Ngamotu beach is PERFECT for children swimming (between two breakwaters... it's a salt water pond). Mountain 20 mins down the road fro snow, beaches right there...

I'd recommend it, downside is it's a bit cold when you get a Southerly - wind straight off the mountain. But she's a nice friendly town. Go ahead enough too so there's work opportunities in engineering, energy IT and the likes.

NO my first husband and i lived there for 5 years and the only friends we made where other people that had moved into the area and mostly Aucklander's.

**jrandom** · 13th February 2009, 13:40

Originally Posted by DarkLord

What sort of work do you do, Jacks?

Yeah, that kinda seems like the central question that's being ignored here.

**ManDownUnder** · 13th February 2009, 13:40

Originally Posted by busa pete

NO my first husband and i lived there for 5 years and the only friends we made where other people that had moved into the area and mostly Aucklander's.

Gotta be something wrong somewhere (lets blame your first husband shall we?). I have a lot of experience of the place and it's great

**thehollowmen** · 13th February 2009, 14:04

I second this, in a whole year I've made one (1!) friend
Damn locals clam up here.

Originally Posted by busa pete

NO my first husband and i lived there for 5 years and the only friends we made where other people that had moved into the area and mostly Aucklander's.

**Grumpy** · 13th February 2009, 14:28

We moved here (Napier) 5 years ago and love it. Only thing that I have found the area to be lacking compared to Auckland is road bike friendly bike shops. If you ride dirt your sussed but some of the advice I have been given regarding road bikes has been decidedly dodgy. If we had a choice between Blenhiem or Napier It would have been hard to pick a favourite.

**slofox** · 13th February 2009, 14:46

Originally Posted by Quasievil

We dont have fog now.

and thats that

Quasi, you are either a lying bugger or you don't ride as early in the morning as I do....

....see some of my recent posts re summer fog........surely you must have heard me screaming curses at the sky gods from your place????

PS Did you sort out a cam for Paeroa?

**98tls** · 13th February 2009, 14:50

My pick would be West Coast of the South Isle work could be the big no no though,laid back,great roads,actually imho the best roads in NZ bar none,house prices are good,great people and a shortage of scumbuckets.All good.

People seem keen on Nelson,not me,summer time you might just as well live in Auckland.

**JacksColdSweat** · 13th February 2009, 16:01

Originally Posted by BMWST?

blenheim can be super hot in the summer and bloody cold in the mornings in winter.....have you thought of gisborne...

Sorry I had to step away to do some work...

To answer all the questions:

Gisborne: I have thought about it but for some reason I don't connect with the place - it just feels so far away - kind of the same problem Nelson has

New Plymouth: I saw it got labelled "best place to live in NZ" in a recent magazine... my only memory of it is 20 years old... one question: isn't the sea cold down there?

Wellington: Already lived there many moons ago - and I can't handle the cold wind days. Walking the streets and that southerly goes right thru no matter what you wear. I lived in Toronto in -10C but it was warmer than Wellington... but it's my favourite city to visit. Probably the best city in NZ IMHO

Akaroa: That would be my pick of outer CHCH but I suspect I'm dreaming...

Work: I currently produce Wedding (and other) Videos working from home although my background is in IT Management - Work doesn't worry me because I have turned my hands to lots of things over the years - I've had 3 or 4 careers already - I would opt for business ownership or self employment in any new town (tourism, backpackers, hospitality of some sort prolly) Wife's a teacher so that's about as portable as it gets...

Thanks all for the excellent suggestions!

**Big Dave** · 13th February 2009, 17:22

My choice would be a 350+sq mtr Penthouse on Lighter Quay.

**H00dz** · 13th February 2009, 17:26

kerikeri mate nothing else compares

**marty** · 13th February 2009, 17:53

Originally Posted by JacksColdSweat

Taupo has the same issue - it's 3 hours to the coast (or longer) that's way too long for a quick dip in the sea...

um, there's a lake there though .....

**slofox** · 13th February 2009, 17:55

Originally Posted by marty

um, there's a lake there though .....

...which is usually cold as buggery.....(well it was when I got in there....)

**slofox** · 13th February 2009, 17:57

Originally Posted by H00dz

kerikeri mate nothing else compares

yep - I'd go with that!

**JacksColdSweat** · 13th February 2009, 18:43

Originally Posted by marty

um, there's a lake there though .....

Sure is - but one of my 3 criteria was "swimming in the sea"

My wife grew up 17 hours drive from the nearest sea and 20 hours from the nearest swimmable sea... there's no way I can tear her away from it now

She's more of a Kiwi than I am in that respect