Our First “weekend in the Wairarapa”.
Filed under: Beaches in New Zealand, Cost of living, Life in New Zealand
Well, this is it – we are now officially City Dwellers, having taken our first Saturday morning (well, afternoon actually) jaunt out of town for the weekend. So this is how it went.
Friday Night:
We decide at 8.40 pm to go to the 9pm showing of Eclipse at the Reading cinema, and are sat in there by 8.55 with coffee and Diet Cokes. No “ah yes but it’ll take us 90 minutes to drive, 10 minutes to park, then we have to come back home”.
Saturday Morning.
Wake up at 9.30.
Realise we don’t have any eggs for breakfast, so rather than nip across the road to Moore Wilsons, decide that we will use our “eat out” budget to spring for bacon and eggs at Mr Bun’s. (Cheap and cheerful). Throw a few things in a suitcase, and pop off for breakfast.
Finish breakfast at 10.30, head back to the flat and work out how to fit a suitcase, two laptop bags and a handbag in a tiny car. Thankfully, because I couldn’t be bothered to get eggs from MW, I also didn’t pick up a 5.5kg frozen turkey that I was planning on buying to stick in the big chest freezer ready for Christmas.
Leave at about 11.30, feeling that possibly we haven’t really got this who “weekend” concept quite right. We are heading for something more like “Afternooners” or “4pm-ers” at this rate.
We finally made it back home by 1.30pm, and only that by not stopping in Greytown with the other hoards from the city for lunch. Passed a few other convertibles there I can tell you!
So here we are – in the peace and quiet. Not having to listen to the bars and clubs over the weekend. Getting our fix of open countryside and greenery.
Possibly off to the beach tomorrow!
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Nice Beach: what’s with all the people???
Filed under: Beaches in New Zealand, Cost of living, General Budgeting, Life in New Zealand
Surfers Paradise. White sand beaches, sun, surf, lifeguards. Crowds.
AKA: You know you have lived in New Zealand about the right amount of time when you feel the beach shouldn’t have anyone else on it. Talk about being spoiled!
VS
We just had a paddle today – honestly I was too exhausted to swim safely – it’s been a tough few weeks and we had hardly any sleep last night. That and the sea do not make a safe combination. So we walked the <2mins from our hotel room to the beach, took off our sandals and waded in. It was bliss. Not too cold, clear blue skies and turquoise sea.
Only downsides are the fact that there’s a load of building work along the front as the council smartens up the waterfront entrances to the beach and if you turn round your view is of skyscraper apartment blocks and more of them being built.
It’s stunning without a doubt, and lets face it – you can’t really swim at the beaches in New Zealand at this time of year – it’s getting a bit “peaky”. So I intend to make the most of it while we are here.
As for the rest of the time: Hubby it turns out is only at the conference for 3 and a bit days out of the ten, so we have plenty of time to spend exploring. I will spend the time while he’s working his socks off planning his time off. There’s some theme parks which I feel should be worth a look – while NZ has one – its not really gonna match my personal requirements for White Knuckle rides – it has a single rollercoaster. Here we have Dreamworld, WB Movie world and a few water parks. Plus of course all the beaches, and Brisbane only and hour or so away if I really find I want to shop more than is available here. I might try it for a day. Just to see what its like.
For eating out we have bought an Entertainment Guide. This is something we buy in Wellington every year. It costs about $60, but that gives you money off vouchers for all sorts of restaurants, cafes and fast food joints. Sometimes its 25% off the bill, sometimes it’s a Buy one get one free which is REALLY useful when there’s just two of you. It’s a must for anyone eating out at all, as the savings can be immense. It’s also a really handy way to find new restaurants to try. Once you buy a local guide (Wellington, Auckland or Christchurch – which you buy from friends, work or companies as a fundraiser) you can then buy guides direct for other cities, including Australian cities. We saved $19 AUD tonight with a 25% off deal, so you can imagine the savings over 10 days, especially if we go for places where its buy one get one free.
Quite helpful when you are on a budget, and while Hubby is now working – there is a delay in getting paid as a contactor – so on a budget we are.
Next job is to find a place that does decent bacon and eggs for breakfast. There’s not much point in hoping for decent coffee – Wellington has the world beat in that area hands down!
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Riversdale is finally going to get is Sewerage system :)
Popped to the beach today for a bit of relaxation, and noticed a whole load of workmen on the village. Actually I suppose I should call it a Settlement. Village seems too English. Anyway – turns out that Masterton Council have finally decided to build the sewerage system that they have been promising for well over 1o years. Of course its about a gazillion times more expensive that it should have been cos they dicked around so long getting reports and consultations done. And then more reports on the consultations and consultations of the new reports.
Oddly enough the other weekend we went to an open home at the campsite. It had a toilet. It just wasn’t hooked up to anything, You had to use the Camp Toilet. They wanted $230k for a 2 bed Bach (admittedly brand new) without a flushing toilet.
Hmmm. We passed on that. I am NOT getting up in the middle of the night in Jim Jams to waltz across a flipping campsite to have a pee.
I love the place – but not that much!
It’s really gonna cost the residents to connect to the new scheme, something that is causing a great deal of angst amongst the permanent population. Many of them are pensioners, so don’t have the kind of money to stump up the cost up front. And although the council is allowing a payment plan in the Rates – there is interest on that (assumed rate of 7.5% so not even competence). Gits.
Should all be completed by this time next year. 
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Beach Time
Filed under: Beaches in New Zealand, Hubby's Views, Life in New Zealand
I’ve learnt to relax about time since we came to NZ.
In the UK I’d always be wearing a watch and needing to keep an eye on the time. Time to be somewhere, do something, time to get somewhere else – especially during the working week. Much like Alice in Wonderlands mad march hare – mustn’t be late!
Holiday’s always used to be down time, where I didn’t wear a watch ‘cos I’m on holiday and the time generally didn’t matter.
So having moved to NZ and got used to people being more relaxed here, I stopped wearing my watch. While of course mobile phones are everywhere, and I’m hardly without mine these days, there is still some symbolism for me in not wearing a watch.
So today in talking with Avalon about some other people saying they haven’t got time to do stuff, I was pondering beach time as we drove back from Riversdale.
Beach Time, it’s a bit like Island Time for anyone who has been to the smaller south Pacific islands.
It goes something like this;
- What time is it? – time to head to the beach
- What time is it? – time to head into the surf
- What time is it? – time to dry off and read a book
- What time is it? – time to apply more sunblock
- What time is it? – time to turn over and continue reading my book
- What time is it? – time to have a snooze
- What time is it? – time to head back into the water
- What time is it? – time to get some ice cream
- What time is it? – time to go back and get some coffee
- What time is it? – time to catch some more waves
What time is it? – who cares, we’re at the beach!
5 years – who would have thought?
Filed under: Beaches in New Zealand, Life in New Zealand, NZIS & Immigration issues, The Family Sponsorship Saga
Yep – it’s been 5 years now that we have lived here in New Zealand. According to many – I am not supposed to be a successful immigrant. I whinge too much: about sausages and bacon, about the houses, about the banks, about the politics, about the 100% pure marketing crap. I get homesick. I’m proud to be English and miss the UK, and at heart, even though I have citizenship in New Zealand, I am still English – probably will never think of myself as a Kiwi.
And yet – I’m still here, and happy to be here.
Yes – there are things that make my blood boil, things that enrage me, things about living here that frustrate me to the point of tears. But isn’t that the case anywhere? Much as I love the UK and have a huge sense of national pride (and no amount of being labelled a nasty white coloniser will change that) – there were things about living there I also didn’t like.
You simply do not have to like every single thing about the place you choose to live in order to be allowed to live there. If that were the case – we would have a world population of about 1000 people.
One day I will work on a list of my likes and dislikes – just to see which list has more items on it. What I do know is that despite the things I do not like about living in New Zealand, I love living here, and it terrifies me that Immigration New Zealand may yet be able to screw this up for me and make me go back to the UK because they are determined to keep families apart. What I have seen of New Zealand in the past year is the very worst it has to offer it’s immigrants, and if my family are not all welcome here, then in the end, I too will not stay.
Because at the end of the day, no matter how nice New Zealand’s beaches are, no matter how comparatively cheap the houses are, and that we have a pool and a big house – home for me is where the family is.
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The unseen Wairarapa Coast
I spend a lot of time at the beach, considering that we actually live about 90 minutes drive away. This is I’m sure not a shock to most people. We have just got back from 4 days away, staying at The Dunes in Riversdale – where we always go. (I an a true believer of the premise: If it ain’t broke – don’t fix it).
However, as the weather was not the greatest (this does not generally bother me – the beach in bad weather is still soothing to the soul), we decided to actually get up off our backsides and go exploring.
So we took a trip further north up the coast to take a look at Matakoina. A local friend of ours has a caravan up there, and had told us it was worth a look. The only reason its taken so long is that – well – we like Riversdale – which defianltely ain’t broke.
So anyway – here’s what we found – the photos don’t really do it justice – but that’s because I’m not a photographer.
That hill is a sand dune believe it or not.
A spectacular rocky beach with waves crashing over the rocks in the distance.
Wish we had room to stick this pet rock in the car 
Rock Pools
Crashing Waves
The Pefect Starter Bach
Really Strange Rock Formations
Looking back (South) towards Castlepoint.
Castlepoint
Castlepoint Lighthouse
And finally – the sun setting at Riversdale.
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Clean, Green, 100% Pure – Sewage :(
North and South has an interesting editorial this month, about the fact that even though there really hardly anyone living in New Zealand – we have an appalling problem with sewage pollution.
It may look sparkling clean over here in the photos, but its not. Not by a long shot. Our beaches – lovely though are – are apparently full of crap. Masterton council wants to discharge effluent into the local Ruamahunga river. Children swim in it in the summer. Riversdale beach – by favourite spot – has such a problem with antiquated sewage systems that every house will have to convert their system to the new reed bed sewage system. As soon as the council makes up its mind to build it (10years an counting) – until then – the beach stays polluted.
The article concentrates on the sheer unadulterated stupidity of Horowhenua District Council, who spent a whopping $10,000,000 on sparkling new “environmentally friendly” council offices. And have just pleaded guilty to dumping 8.5 million litres of sewage into the local river.
Classy!
This is the tip of the iceberg, and sooner or later people do actually twig that the “100% pure” slogan is just that – a Marketing Slogan. Why New Zealand gets to practice misleading advertising practices and gets away with it is beyond me – but I guess countries are not subject to fair trade laws.
So just be clear when moving here – we have awful sewage problems, and our beaches rivers and lakes are actually quite polluted. One thing they are not is Clean, green or 100% pure. Sometimes it feels like the only thing that stops the country being 100% Sludge is the fact that theres so few people living here.
You can get copies of North&South at Kiwifruits in London. We actully used to get it frequently before we moved out here, and it was really helpful in seeing some of the real life that goes on over here. Its not all fluff!
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Views of Riversdale (for Sarah)
Looking North up the beach towards Castlepoint.
The sun rising over the sea.
The beach at dusk
The Crowds at the Beach on Boxing Day – one of the busiest days of the year.
Clouds Over Riversdale
When we stay overnight – we stay at The Dunes, owned by a very friendly lady called Caroline. It sits literally just behind the Dunes – one minute and you are on the beach. Theres no cooker, but there is a Microwave and small barbie. It a lovely little place, and really relaxing.
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Why I love Riversdale Beach.
I decided to pop over to Riversdale Beach on Friday – as a way of dealing with extreme Immigration Stress. There really is nothing better for me than staring at the sea with a take away coffee. It also helped that it was a stunning day, and the sea was a beautiful turquoise colour.
Well, we went back today, because hubby really also needed a day out, and if we stayed at home we would find things “to do”. So off we toddled.
As usual, we got the beach, and the very first thing we did was head to the shop for the much needed coffee.
Where they still had my EftPOS card from Friday – sat there waiting. Apparently they had assumed I was coming back for a second coffee on Friday. Which I guess at the very least suggest I’m a “regular” now if they remember that I usually do get another one for the drive home.
It’s a good job I didn’t need the card this weekend.
So thanks to Brownie at the Riversdale store, for not laughing at me too hard, and keeping my card safe.
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Beach report – Riversdale 26th July
Since one of our favoured past times since we got to NZ is bumming around on the beach, I figured it was time to start an ongoing series of beach reports.
So today, having spent weeks working our butts off with a variety of issues, I decided it was time to take a day out and head to Riversdale.
So, I can report today that;
1. The beach was busy – there was at least 20 people I saw on the beach while we were there
2. It was bloody cold! Fortunately the wind wasn’t strong enough to whip up sand into the face, it was still darn cold requiring a blanket to sit on the beach despite the glorious sunshine.
3. The waves were pretty shallow, and not that huge or choppy. And there was no one in the water, not even the singular hardy surfer.
4. It looks like there has been some storm erosion of the dunes, which means that instead of the nice slopes going down to the beach proper. The dunes are like they have had a slice taken off, just like the slips on the side of hills pouring mud down onto roads, rail tracks etc.
Still, it was gloriously sunny and the air was fresh, so we felt quite relaxed while we were there.
Being able to head to the beach is one of those things which helped Avalon with the home sickness. While I was never much of a beach person in the UK – lack of swimming ability being one area of caution – I’ve grown to really enjoy being at the beach. On honeymoon we started touring round some of the beaches, and I rather enjoy being in the choppy waves at Riversdale now.
Another water baby converted by NZ’s beaches.
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