Typical Winter's Day on the Sunshine Coast

[cork sniffer]

Remember going to Pebbly Beach early in October 35 or more years ago and the water was that cold it would not have surprised any of us to see a penguin or maybe even an iceberg. It is a bit north of Batemans Bay and wonder how close that might be to where you live?

I'm a little north of "The Bay".
Between Sydney and Bega the conditions are very similar, possibly seasons lag a week or two further south.
Back in 1972 when national service finished I hit the road on my trusty CB750 and spent a winter in FNQ, loved it!
Wife and I have been to Tas twice and were planning on moving full time until the grand-kids started arriving.
Bottom line ... you acclimatize as long as you have a positive attitude, and I'm positive FNQ is too hot in summer and Tas is too cold in winter :-)

[Zandit75]

Is there any truth in the rumor that Tasmanians don't know how to swim because the water is always too cold?

Look out, we have a comedian here!!!

I can swim, but don't expect a quick rescue if you are drowning, as I might end up joining you on the bottom!!

[wazkelly]

Look out, we have a comedian here!!!

I can swim, but don't expect a quick rescue if you are drowning, as I might end up joining you on the bottom!!

From hypothermia no doubt as in those chilly waters I seem to remember you have no more than 3 minutes survival time before blacking out.

[Andy40]

From hypothermia no doubt as in those chilly waters I seem to remember you have no more than 3 minutes survival time before blacking out.

I haven't surfed Tasssie waters but I spent a year surfing around the south Island of New Zealand when I lived in Christchurch. I had a 3/2 wetsuit (should have had a 5/4), hooded rashie, gloves and booties! only my face was exposed and it was like getting punched in the face everytime I duck dived a wave!!



Don't I look like sharkbait!!!

[Dedman]

The Southport Broadwater this morning on my morning ride

[Zandit75]

Summer is fine, you definitely don't go swimming during Winter, that's just idiotic!

[wazkelly]

I haven't surfed Tasssie waters but I spent a year surfing around the south Island of New Zealand when I lived in Christchurch. I had a 3/2 wetsuit (should have had a 5/4), hooded rashie, gloves and booties! only my face was exposed and it was like getting punched in the face everytime I duck dived a wave!!



Don't I look like sharkbait!!!

Reminds me of when we took our kids over there sept/oct 2002 on a ski trip and toured around the South Island too. The missus had booked a few things online and one was a swim with the seals experience at Kaikoura, a bit north of Christchurch. As we were driving up there was snow almost down to the ocean waterline in many places so it looked cold. The Kiwi boat operator assured us sharks weren't a problem as proceeded we suited up in the thickest rubber they had and looked just like you in that photo. Water temp was supposed to be 12 degrees C and we only lasted 20 minutes before hopping out. Definitely the coldest I have ever been anywhere. A few months after coming back the youngest fella had to do a marine science assignment and part of his research discovered that just off Kaikoura has some of the largest populations of man eating sharks in the southern hemisphere. So much the for the load of BS the Kiwi tour operator fed us and to make things worse the visibility was barely 2 meters, almost ideal conditions to be eaten. At least around Margaret River the water is very clear so you should at least see them coming before the impact.

[wazkelly]

The Southport Broadwater this morning on my morning ride

Nice Dedman. Lived at Southport for part of 1986 and those photos seem to look more like the northern Labrador end? Don't go down there much these days so not too sure where the shots were taken?

[Dedman]

right at the end of Nerang st Southport Waz. It's changed a lot since the 80's the whole "broadwater parklands" weren't there, it was a bitumen car park, for once council got it right (except you now have to park in the shopping centre and pay)

[Andy40]

Love Kaikoura Waz. Probably one of the better surf spots....yeah I was worried about the sharks.