[nickydwuk]

We are considering moving to South Canterbury area - in particular near Timaru. We don't want to live in the town if possible but a little bit outside. Have seen some nice places in Geraldine, Temuka & Waimate. How far are these places from Timaru? Anybody live inthis area and can give me some honest thoughts and opinions?

[Caniwi]

Hi Nickydwuk

Just saw your post. I'm currently living in Vancouver, Canada, but I am originally from Timaru. My Husband and I are planning on moving back there.

It's a very "low-key" kind of area, albeit very central. What kind of things are you hoping to find out about the area? And what brought it to mind for you?

Caniwi

[nickydwuk]

We are looking to live somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of a big town or city. We currently live in a large town - pop 180,000 - with everyone living very close together. We would like to be within walking distance of some great walks & countryside (for the dogs). I hope to get a job at Timaru hospital would like to live sonewhere within easy commute to Timaru but probably not actually in Timaru itself.

[Caniwi]

Well, really.......;) anything around Timaru is a quick commute:p . Temuka is only 10 mins out of town, Geraldine is about 20, and Waimate is about 30. I personally like Geraldine and it's a little closer to the hills. It's slightly off the beaten track, as opposed to Temuka, in which State highway One runs thru it. It is small, and obviously one can live off the "main drag" but it is a thorough-fare. Also very popular now are the "lifestyle" blocks, in which you can live just outside the city limits, on your own parcel of land. My parents have a lifestyle block, and to me that is perfection. They literally do not go into town on the weekend (albeit only 10 mins), because they enjoy being "away" from it all - seems so odd to me, now that I live in a city that takes over an hour to cross - on a good day! :uhoh .

[nickydwuk]

Excuse the ignorance - what is a 'lifestyle' block?

[Caniwi]

A lifestyle block is a parcel of land (with house of course) of anywhwere between 2 and 15 or so acres.......most seem to be around 5 (ish), and especially in Sth Canty, they cost around the same price as a house in large cities.....AKA Auckland

[Moorf]

We love Geraldine :nice1 can definitely second Caniwi there.

[nippa&pippa]

Sorry to hijack your thread, might help you too....
Caniwi, any suggestion on finding job in this areas down to Lake Wanaka? we have tried seek, search4job etc but seem to be lack in this areas..I wondering are they using their own job centre etc?
Also what do you think from Lake Wanaka to Geraldine areas to live?

[Caniwi]

Hey nippa&pippa - I hope I can be of some help.......

Well relatively speaking, between Geraldine and Wanaka, is quite a considerable distance. Having said that, I would think - and don't quote me (:p), a lot of the jobs thru that corridor would have a lot to do with tourism - Geraldine - Tekapo - Twizel - Omarama - Wanaka - much hospitality/resturant/ski-resort/tourism companies. They are all fairly small towns as well, so as far as employment options go, I couldn't really say, possibly a lot of "land" and "labour" orientated opportunities - farming, etc. I would think that many of the companies that employ in those inland regions, would have some kind of base in the likes of Dunedin, Timaru, even Christchurch. Have you tried "trade me"?

As I said before, I really like Geraldine, and I LOVE Wanaka. Although, that is becoming quite an expensive place to live. Another note, that many of those places inland of say Geraldine, Timaru, Oamaru, can be quite isolating in the winter - and from what I remember......bloody cold! (and I've been in Canada for 15 years! :p). However, that is all personal preference. One might like hanging out in a ski town (Wanaka, Tekapo, etc), or one might like quicker access to the larger towns, Christchurch, Dunedin. If you're looking in Wanaka area, Dunedin could be an option. Job opportunites, and relative easy access to Wanaka.....plus, a coastal location lends itself to being able to travel to other cities with a little more ease.

I don't know if this helps, or it it doesn't.......but I hpe you can take at least something from it.....

Caniwi

[Moorf]

Sophia, have you thought of buying a business instead of working? Some great small going-concerns are often up for sale in the Geraldine/Tekapo area.

I've watched the prices climb and climb over the last 3 yrs or so, I can't believe the cost of housing around Geraldine - and Tekapo too.

Jobs do come up every so often Sophia, you just need to keep your eyes peeled. As your OH is in classic car restoration, perhaps you could contact the tiny Vintage Car museum in Geraldine and just have a chat and see what comes out of it - they're bound to kinow people who can help locally :nice1

[debnjohn]

Sophia, have you thought of buying a business instead of working? Some great small going-concerns are often up for sale in the Geraldine/Tekapo area.
:nice1
Helen,
can you recommend any websites for checking out local businesses for sale?
Cheers.
John

[macs gold]

Looking for jobs in Wanaka, then this is probably the best search site:

http://jobs.odt.co.nz/

I agree that Geraldine is probably the nicest of the South Canterbury satellite towns. That said Timaru itself is not that big, so maybe it is worth a looksee as well.

[macs gold]

Helen,
can you recommend any websites for checking out local businesses for sale?
Cheers.
John


Possibly the
Timaru Courier (http://www.timarucourier.co.nz/Default/Skins/Timaru/Client.asp?Skin=Timaru&Daily=TIM&AppName=1&Enter=1) classifieds, and also the Press (not sure if they have classifieds on line) and ODT (http://www.odt.co.nz).
Saturday is the day most advertising is done.