Australia or New Zealand?

[libby]

Hey guys

I am a second year ecology student at the uni of East Anglia and im a jammy mofo cos i get to spend my third year at uni in australia (murdoch in perth) or new zealand (auckland). Obviously wanna surf alot out there so was wonderin if anyone had any advice as to which one to choose.
At the mo im leaning towards Auckland because that uni has more whale and dolphin research goin on which is what im into. Ne kind of advice would be appreciated.

so excited

cheers me dears

[Brent]

If you want to Surf then Auckland Uni is not the choice. Unless you're happy to be a weekend surfer/commuter.
The nearest break to Auckland City is "piha", its a drama-drive, the traffic congestion in the general area is nuts. Basically you'll be driving an hour westward from the city before you see Surf. It's the city's closest real surf break, with a city of about 1.5 million people....on any given Saturday/Sunday it's nuts over there. Locals (well, pretend locals anyway) will do their best to put you off. It is also what I'd call a dangerous break. Unless you're a confident surfer it's dodgy. i.e if you're an infrequent/unfit paddler...you'll meet some nice rips. It is becomng a very popular weekday commuter area also, so the roads are busy there 7 days a week.

Nice thing however is one of the worlds best left-point breaks (Raglan) is two hours south. Likewise it's nuts during a weekend. The waves crank like they're made by a machine most of the time...and as a result it's crowded with many excellent surfers from all over the world, especially in the weekends...unless you're confident in that sort of line-up, you'll not get a wave. Good manners don't work there...asserting yourself wins the day I'm afraid.

Actually, the best Uni in New Zealand for surfing would be Otago (in Dunedin). As long as you own a car there are about 15-20 nice beach breaks within 40 mins drive of the Uni to choose from, from north east facing around to south, picks up lots of different swell, uncrowded clean surf, but the water temp is on-par with central-northern Cal. In winter there you'll want a 4/3mm wettie, booties, gloves & hood. Summer I get away with a 3/2mm. Basically you'll be in rubber all year round there. But the waves are worth it.

Don't know anything about Perth...
Just my two cents worth

[libby]

hey, thanx for the info Brent, wont be surfing every day cos unfortunatley have 2 do uni work over there. Have been lookin on the internet and would probably do a few surfaris, quite a few of them start off in Auckland and go all round nrth island. Also i will be there in the summer hols so i can move to where the best breaks are.

What are your opinions of Auckland generally, would it be a cool place to be based for a year? I say based cos i will obviously travel round new zealand alot while im over there. Auckland is my only choice of unis in New Zealand so its either that or nothin.

Thanx again mate

[Brent]

Nice city, warm if moist weather, you'll love it!
I live 2 hours south east of Auckland. Go there alot for work.

Cheers, B

[VanIsleSurfer]

man u are so lucky... i used to live in Auckland, moved to Canada though. I would definetly say choose Auckland

[libby]

I know i am really lucky, what can i say other than UEA rocks!
have put auckland as my first choice, will be goin in under a year, gnna be so good. Surely British Columbia isnt so bad?!

[libby]

I know i am really lucky, what can i say other than UEA rocks!
have put auckland as my first choice, will be goin in under a year, gnna be so good. Surely British Columbia isnt so bad?!

[VanIsleSurfer]

no man BC's pretty cool but nowhere near as good as bein in NZ

[Longy+Grom=Sweeto surfer]

Come to oz, plus you can take a drive + a boat and surf the relaxing reeling waves of cyclops.

[libby]

ha ha ha yeh right in my dreams. Or nightmares. The lip on that thing.......scary.

Think im goin for New Zealand but gotta make sure i get good grades this year so fingers crossed....

I dont like heights so im going rock climbing now.

Help me

[Longy+Grom=Sweeto surfer]

Your choice but you would love oz as well!!!!

[d3ad1y]

perth anyday!
so cool =)

Rockclimbing eh? Thats another fun xtreme sport!!

[libby]

Ok just got told officially by my uni, im goin to Auckland!!!!

Finally time to go travelling again!
Well next July anyway.

Yeh rock climbings fun but my arms and legs arre very very sore at the mo combined with blistered hands and chalk ingrained in finger nails. Plus am only 5'3" (5'4" on a good day) and all the other peeps i climb with are blokes and are all like 6 foot plus and lanky.

Never mind, keeps boredom at bay.

Anyone got any must do's in New Zealand, already planned surfing, learning to snow board, tandem paraglide, tandem sky dive and maaaaaybe a bungee jump. And lots of walking, climbing and drinking. Anything else i should be saving up for?

Lemme know

cheers

A Very Happy Libby

[Brent]

Anyther deffo is to get your pale northern hemisphere butt & funny accent down here to sunny Mount Maunganui/Tauranga for some balmy winter waves at my local, nasty evil local largers, and deep intellegent discussions about LOTR. If you're a good girl we may even take you to Raglan..my previously mentioned fiberglass children always like to play with visiting house guests. (I am joking about the LOTR stuff)

Keep me posted re details as & when you're sorted next year ok.

[libby]

Definatley sounds like a plan to me.

Your not an axe murderer are you? I might bring my pepper spray just in case. After all you live in New Zealand and havent read LOTR theres obviously somthing wrong with you

He he you will have many laughs at the crapness of my surfing but still will be amusing for you.

Wooohooo i have a 'contact' in New Zealand. See you in a few months!

[Brent]

You are welcome to bring Pepper Spray - I've often wondered what it tastes like...and I don't even own an Axe. I may buy one soon however if my local shaper keeps popping out mini-mals & fun-boards at the rate he's doing just now in preperation for the pending influx of holiday makers for christmas/summer hols over the next couple of weeks.
I could go NATO in his blank storage room & destroy the big easy-to-paddle beasts before he does his witchcraft & creates any more Frankensteins. What a good idea.

Pepper Spray...now, there's a good idea...perhaps I should take Pepper Spray out surfing with me this summer as well. Nail the fat pasty b-stards with that stuff and they'll think twice about dropping in on me "oh sorry, I just didn't see you you-know"....well you won't now chunky...psssssst! Excellent.

catch Ya..

[Phil]

Pepper Spray...now, there's a good idea...perhaps I should take Pepper Spray out surfing with me this summer as well. Nail the fat pasty b-stards with that stuff and they'll think twice about dropping in on me "oh sorry, I just didn't see you you-know"....well you won't now chunky...psssssst! Excellent.

LOL thanks agian brent i needed a good laugh

[libby]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh

foooooooooooooooooooooook

hey Brent just wrote you a beast of an email but then somehow managed to delete it before it sent

it hasnt saved anywhere on my computer

right stuff it im going to the pub

will try and remember what the hell it said and re-write it tomorrow, unless im too hungover.

Lib

[Brent]

Ahahah. poor lass, I'll have a gin now then too.
Cheers..

[dokes81]

I would recommend perth every day of the week. Especially in summertime man, there's no way i'd want to spend a summer in NZ when perth has the best beaches and the best summer in the world.
paul
from adelaide