New Brighton Good Life Guide: Hamish Evans from Switch

I’m up at 6 am to start the day with an hour of Mixed Martial Arts training down at the waterfront. I’ve been doing this three times a week for over seven years now, and the ironic thing is I’ve never been in a fight in my life. I just love the exercise, comradeship and the art of fighting.

Once a week, the kids get to go on a surfing mission with the school at North Beach, with Duke’s class. And I go too as a parent helper and sneak a surf in myself. I'm not a very good surfer, but I just love being in the water with crazy kids, rain or shine.

The Rawhiti teachers always grab me a long black from Anna at The Coffee Shed as a post-surf warm-up, which is so nice. The Coffee Shed is a little gem tucked into the sand dunes with heaps of places to park up, catch up with friends and enjoy amazing coffee at the beach. 

Head to Switch New Brighton for a bit of a walk down memory lane and a ‘Hamish Salad’. Switch New Brighton is where Switch Espresso Coffee Company all started over 18 years ago. Donna now owns the cafe and runs it better than I ever did! Donna is amazing and gives great hugs.

You might not know it, but this little treasure is the oldest mall in the South Island and has some great little shops, including New Brighton Wholefoods, Second-hand clothing shop and a very handy bike shop. Also, the BEST Indian restaurant, ‘Chanakya’ in the east.

When the kids have finished school, it's the ideal time to take them for a skate at Thompson Park, play on the mini ramp and drop the bowl. This is where we’ve held most of the birthday parties for our sprogs. New toilets and parking have been a sweet upgrade, but hopefully the skate facilities will get some attention next. Hint, hint council. 

Time for a quick pint and a yarn with Sam and Caroline at The Burger Joint. It's always fun popping in because the food is amazing and ‘SouthPaw Beer’ is on tap. Best combination around.

One of my favourite spots to play a few holes with friends, especially in the late afternoon and early evening. It's the perfect opportunity to stretch your legs and check in with your mates. It's been a crazy few years, and the Rawhiti Golf Course is a great place to talk.

One thing I love to do is bike down the waterfront through all the fun tracks, to Common Ground in South Brighton. My daughter works Friday nights in the Burger Joint Caravan, so it's the perfect opportunity to hoon down there, grab some epic food and catch up with the South Brighton Crew. And wouldn’t you know it …… my friend Cam, the brewer/owner of SouthPaw , has a beer stand down at Common Ground too.   It would be rude not to have a cold pint of delicious ‘Shake Down Pale Ale’ while I wait for Poppy to finish her shift.