[chrisndenise]

Hello all,
I need some feed back please,
We like the mountain life and skiing but also like some heat in the summer, but not to bothered about the coast. Don't really want to live in the city but don't excactly want to live in isolation. We are probaly going to be somewhere near a town or city. I hopefuly will be working for Mitre 10 who have asked me to try and come up with 5 posible locations that we would like to relocate to.
There is only so much you can learn from tourist/lifestyle websites before you have to get a response from a human. We are really looking for honest open information on your experiences and views. If you have any questions for us please ask. If there are any websites that can give us a better idea of NZ life please point us in the right direction. Chrisndenise.

[katandbob]

http://www.mitre10.co.nz/store_locator/southern_south_island/index.cfm?op=list&type=0

http://www.mitre10.co.nz/store_locator/southern_south_island/index.cfm?op=list&type=3

click on parts of the map (all of the island - I chose my areas as an example) - and you can see the store locations - as you can see you have all of NZ to choose from

so if you can give a bit more of your preferences then it would be easier - and from my experiences - Mega 10 in Invercargill have good customer services - I cant complain so far, and its cool that they have trailers you can borrow to get your bulky stuff home - LOL!

Kat

[Lupin]

Heat and the mountains is slightly tricky but if your budget can allow I'd head for Bay of Plenty as you get the warmth and you're within reasonable distance of ski fields. If you're prepared to compromise a little on the heat then inland from Christchurch would surely be great.

Hawkes Bay is awesome and the weather unbelievable but if coast doesn't have a big draw then the proximity to ski fields (about 3 hours I think) might be offputting. Sounds like you've got many options, how wonderful for you :)

[aggelon]

Alexandra has Mitre10 1 hour from skifields 1hr 45min from Pacific Coast, 30+ degrees in the Summer.
Would be about right I think

[zardell]

Hi ChrisnDenise and first of all WELCOME to the forum.

It may help us to help you if we knew where you are posting from and what you are looking for in relationship to what you have now - for example, are you in the UK ??

I think I know what you are saying about not wanting to be isolated, but wanting to be on the edge of a town with access to the town centre.

Having said that, just remember that towns in NZ are villages in the UK, so don't necessarily let the NZ 'city' terminology put you off.

I thought that we were getting just what we wanted here in Whakatane, but I surprised myself when I realised that I missed the larger 'city' for shopping and facilities etc.

I know that we are only 45 mins to either Tauranga or Rotorua, but I would prefer to be 15 mins drive away !!

Julie

xx

[Klipa]

you might consider New Plymouth.

Skiing right at your doorstep and nice weather in summer....not overly hot but also not too cold in winter.

[chrisndenise]

Thanks for the responses all.
Yes we are in the UK, Alexandra looks good, New plymouth not bad, well every where looks great lol. I think the hard part will just choosing 5. whats Christchurch like? Everywhere looks like it just sprawls and then open space.
Where is the hottest part of nz and where is the wettest? Strange that after sitting in front of this screen for half an hour I can't think of anythink to ask.
CnD

[veronica]

wettest is the west coast, warmest (but humid and cloudy) and most equal temp year round Auckland up. (north island not called the land of the long white cloud for nothing) hottest in the summer nth and nth/east south island, driest east coast. coldest south south island, winter temps in the south island decidedly nippy, warmer and wetter in the north island. confused you enough.!!

[SarahEDH]

With Mitre10 in so many locations, would your employer consider letting you treat your first three months as a trial period in the first town, after which you could transfer to another location if you wanted? Just a thought, if they have some flexibility that way --

[chrisndenise]

Confused, me, no, no way, what?
Any one live in or near Nelson that looks reel nice, ski fields close by, summer sun, nice coast, any tales anyone. Alexandra also a runner, very nice area.
I don't know why but I'm drawn to the South Island, there really is no preferance, but for the requirement for snow, sunshine, a school for our 10 yr old, and a nice area to live. not much I know but we do like what we like.
My favourite place I have lived before was Cyprus, ski in the winter and sun in the summer fantastic! anyway enough dreaming for today, keep it coming.

[ellenmelon]

Thanks for the responses all.
Yes we are in the UK, Alexandra looks good, New plymouth not bad, well every where looks great lol. I think the hard part will just choosing 5. whats Christchurch like? Everywhere looks like it just sprawls and then open space.
Where is the hottest part of nz and where is the wettest? Strange that after sitting in front of this screen for half an hour I can't think of anythink to ask.
CnD

new plymouth is great but it can rain a bit.its quite humid too. anywhere on the west coast is like that really. christchurch is great i reckon cause its hot in the summer and crisp in the winter (and close to the skifields). its great in my opinion. there are a lot of small..settlements? out of christchurch so you could live in somewhere like rangiora or darfield (my parents have bought a house there for when they move back to nz one day..) and still have the convienience(sp) of a big town if needed.

[wiki]

Alex is a great wee place (my sis lives there) but you said you "didn't want to be isolated" and Alex does tend to be a blot on the map.

It has the most extreme temps of anywhere in NZ - truly its own microclimate - with bitter hoare frosts and snow in winter and scorching 35+ in summer (and as it's quite an arid area you really feel the heat more).

But it's a big orchard and vineyard area (great irrigation schemes needed) and quite sociable. You're looking at a 90 minute drive to Queenstown, depending on how many tourist buses and campervans you get stuck behind - it's a wiggly, windy, cliff-hugging road which is beautiful, but a real pain if you're in a hurry. Wanaka (the other big ski centre) is also about 90mins away.

You're about 2 hours from Dunedin which is a great city, with plenty of good shopping and a great place to stock up on provisions. Alex has a New World, but in the height of summer the shelves can be bare as it gets a massive influx of holidaymakers (mostly kiwis, rather than foreign)

Not wanting to put you off - as I love Alexandra - but if you're coming from the UK it will be like nothing you've ever experienced...

[ellenmelon]

oh and alexandra is GREAT in my opinion. probably cause i spent most summer holidays as a kid down that way (mostly in roxburgh which is 45 min away) cause my grandparents live there. nice town for sure.