[Tentun]

Hi everyone

I know this might seem like a bit of a random question but we plan to move to Auckland region sometime next year as we recon it's probably our best bet at finding work plus we know a few people out that way so we think it will make the whole move a lot less lonely.

However, we have always been country people at heart so would prefer to live a bit further out of the city however, we do like the idea of being able to work in the city if we need to or just to soak up the 'bright lights', so to speak, every now and again so we don't want to be too far away.

Can anyone recommend any family friendly suburbs or towns that would still be within a reasonable commuting distance to Auckland. I travel to work about 40 minutes in the car one way at the moment and am happy to do the same.

Thanks for all your help

[speckythecky]

We are expecting to end up in the browns bay area which is on the north shore with a similar commute time.
it is close to albany for shops and also quite a few jobs are advertised there.
From what we have been told it is a nice area.

[hball]

We live some forty minutes outside of Auckland in a lovely rural area (Clevedon) exactly for the reasons you stated - access to the CBD and all it has to offer; theatres, resturants, events, nightlife, etc. And work of course!

However - Auckland is a booming city and spreading in all directions at an unbelievable rate. Ten years ago Albany was just a village you drove through on your way north, with chickens literally living on the verge. Now there is nothing but acres of new housing, a stadium and large out-of-town shopping. To the south it is a similar story with huge growth in the Manukau area - for Albany read Howick with a further 40,000 houses planned for the next few years. On top of that we have just started a new town on the Karaka Peninsular to cope with Auckland overspill - much to the chagrin of those owning million dollar plus lifestyle homes there!

So while yes there are still lovely areas of green belt which would fit in with what you are looking for, you may have to keep moving further and further out in order to keep it!

[gil]

Hi Tentun,
We have settled very happily in the Howick area of Auckland.

http://www.howickvillage.co.nz/

This is a suburb in the south east of the city. We are about 1 minute from the beach, with another about 6-7 minutes' walk. It is a very family oriented area, with great schools, local shops, access to bigger shops at Botnay Town Centre/Sylvia Park and a 40 minute commute to the CBD by ferry, or by car, anything from 35-110 minutes! It is about 30 minutes commute to Manukau City.
It's not everyone's cup of tea obviously, but it suits our family (me, OH and daughters 16 and 9, son 11. Plus 19 year-old daughter visiiting from UK!)

Whitford and Clevedon are lovely too, as is Titirangi, although I understand high school ages are not so well catered for there.

Gil

[jubjub]

Other option would be to go south to somewhere like Pukekohe, there is a regular train that goes into the CBD,and OH knows a few folks that do the commute, either by car or train, but the prices are beginning to go up down there too...

[KerryS]

Alternatively you could head north west towards Kumeu and Helensville. It's not too bad to commute down the North Western motorway (or so I've heard from colleagues, wouldn't dream of it myself as I'm a city girl).
It's still very countrified out there and the prices are lower than some of the areas south of the city.

[Jameelka]

We live at Maramarua, very rural!
James wks at Manakua, takes about 40 mins one way to get there and I wk abit further on at the airport, on a good run takes 50mins, but if traffic is heavy can take over an hr.
Love it here, do our shopping in Pukekohe and girls have clubs there too, about 25 mins away.
We have only been in NZ since August last yr, but have seen a huge amount of new houses going up, the outskirts of Auckland is certainly growing rapidly.
Lived in Waiuku for a few months and that's rapidly expanding too.
Best thing is to have a look for your self and rent for a while before u buy, to make sure u are buying in the right place to suit your life style.
Mel

[checkout]

hows howick?