[randomone]

I'm thinking of moving to Nelson at the end of next year and am looking into house prices, etc and wonder if anyone can tell me if some areas around Nelson should be avoided? For instance, what are Mapua and Motueka like? Is there a particular area in Nelson itself that should be avoided?

Thanks

[Moorf]

Hello

I have limited experience of Nelson but I have been to the Motueka / Takaka area.

I personally didn't like Motueka, felt it was run down and shabby and it didn't have the coastal frontage I'd imagined.

But the surrounding areas are lovely and even property advertised as in "Motueka" can be in outlying areas and you could use Nelson itself for your main city.

There's a few folk on here who live in the Nelson area - I'd happily move there but there aren't the jobs we need up there and the property prices are pretty high (but that's cos it's a lovely place to live!).

That's my 2-pennies worth :)

Moorf

[thezorbster]

I was about to ask the same question as we arrive there in just over 3 weeks.:raebanana

Heard on our recce that Motueka has a bit of a drugs problem at night - not sure how true it is but it was a local who told us.

I fell instantly in love with Mapua, on a beautiful estuary, lovely villagey feel and I think you'd begin to feel part of a community there. Currently remains my no 1 destination but we have a lot of areas to investigate when we arrive. Expensive.

Loved Nelson itself, didn't see any bad bits but not to say there aren't any.

Lots more surrounding areas which may be nice - also depends what you are looking for in the way of a property. We're currently torn between a lifestyle block which would be slightly inland, Brightwater/Moutere way or a house with nearer neighbours hence smaller garden but that would mean more 'local' friends for our little girl.

May be able to answer in more detail in a few weeks time as we will be driving round looking at potential areas to settle.

[Debbie P.]

Mapua is lovely, highly recommended. Our friends were very happy when they lived there - were renting only, though, and couldn't afford to buy there.

I got the impression it was OK if you were a UK tourist thinking in £s, but expensive for the NZ $, e.g. we had brunch at a lovely cafe right on the wharf, which seemed very reasonable to us, but our friends were a bit disapproving of the prices.

[uk_munros]

I was about to ask the same question as we arrive there in just over 3 weeks.:raebanana

Heard on our recce that Motueka has a bit of a drugs problem at night - not sure how true it is but it was a local who told us.



On a recce in December last year we were warned off Motueka as well. The comment was made that you just had to read the local nelson paper to see where all the bad stuff happens =Motueka

One real estate agent we are dealing with has commented that a lot of immigrants with kids start off with the 10 acre block/lifestyle thing but within a couple of years sell up and move in closer to town because of the travelling time and distances involved. thought that was food for thought.

Slightly off topic, but has anyone found good rental/shortterm accomodation in Nelson?

Gordon

[thezorbster]

uk_munros

Slightly off topic, but has anyone found good rental/shortterm accomodation in Nelson?

We're renting a holiday home just outside Mapua for 3 weeks whilst we look for a more permanent rental. There are quite a few websites detailing these, I can let you have details if you would like but an internet search should bring up a few.

[Carey]

Staying with our friends in Nelson in March they warned us of several areas where houses have been built on very steep land which are now experiencing huge slippage problems, but of course I can't remember the names of the exact areas! sorry!
Our friends did slightly look down on Tahunanui but not quite sure why, seemed a nice suburb and we visited the primary school fayre which was great.

[randomone]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I should have known Motueka was a spot to be avoided .... by the affordable accommodation prices. Good to have feedback on Mapua (would love to hear more once you (thezorbster) have had a scout around.

Interesting to hear about the land slides and local views on Tahunanui ... it is that sort of information which helps to flesh things out.

I won't be able to afford a lifestyle block but keep the information feeding in as everything helps.

[uk_munros]

thezorbster - yes please send links, saves me reinventing the wheel especially if you have found a good site

[thezorbster]

Links to holiday homes sites coming up..............


Holiday Houses
(lots of Mapua/Nelson places)
http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz


Baches and Holiday Homes
http://www.holidayhomes.co.nz

Cottage Stays
http://www.cottagestays.co.nz

Nelson Tourism Services
nelson@nzdirect.co.nz (or phone 03 546 6338)
http://www.nelson-direct.com

Nelson i-site Visitor Info Centre
vin@NelsonNZ.com (or phone 03 548 2304)
http://www.NelsonNZ.com

Hope this helps

[uk_munros]

Thanks!

[bozandhelen]

Also Known as "Pot"uaka.

Saying that, a few hippies, tourists and 9-5 drop-outs cannot distract from it being quite a nice area especially the outskirts.

Most of Nelson and Bays is quite nice, but a few hundred metres along a street can make all the difference... My advice, (and it goes for anywhere), Don't live on a main road, near students or within 100M of anyone with a big exhaust and you should be fine. Also good to check your neighbours gardens/houses these can tell you a lot about who lives there, and of course it is always good to ask the locals. Failing that, get a modern house with double-glazing, crime is generally not a problem, noise is.