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Comedian Josh Thomson

Comedian Josh Thomson shares his New Zealand top spot. Photo by Tony Nyberg.

Top Spot: comedian Josh Thomson

Josh Thomson has fond memories of a rugged beach south of Timaru.  

There’s a place near my mum and dad’s farm called Lighthouse Reef, just down from Jack’s Point Lighthouse. The beautiful thing about the area is that on a good day you can see the lighthouse, mountains and sea all at the same time. The coastline is eroding and usually has a golden hue to it that’s very Otago, and a deep, azure-blue sea. 

I saw it as a metaphor. Although I could see it then, I knew it wouldn’t last. Eventually, it would all be gone. I was a pretty deep child.

Comedian Josh Thomson.
Comedian Josh Thomson. Photo by Tony Nyberg.

We spent a lot of time there when I was little. It’s a stony beach and tests your balance. If you time it right, the reef reveals itself and you can walk quite a long way out on the rocks to collect mussels. Sometimes my brother would go diving for pāua. I’d never do that because it was terrifying.

It’s quite turbulent water; it’s not a swimming beach. It’s not necessarily a pleasant beach. It’s very harsh, rugged and raw. But on a sunny day, we’d play in the little rock pools, get a load of mussels and light a fire with some driftwood on the beach to cook them. It was a really special time.

If we had relatives visit from Auckland or Tonga, we’d always take them out to collect mussels. They’d be so impressed with the quality and size.

Josh Thomson in Auckland.
Josh Thomson in Auckland. Photo by Tony Nyberg.

I live in Auckland now and it’s been far too long since I was last there; probably about ten years. The next time we go to the South Island, we want to stay at the farm with our two children. Mum and Dad aren’t with us anymore, but it will be part of our adventure, remembering my history there. 

Josh is performing at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival in May.

See comedyfestival.co.nz for more.

Story by Monica Tischler for the Autumn 2025 issue of AA Directions Magazine. Monica Tischler is the Deputy Editor of AA Directions Magazine.