Radders
3rd January 2005, 11:45 AM
Hello, Hello to you all!!
We have now been over here for almost 2 months, and have been busily spending time in various places, looking at what they are like, and trying to decide where we should set up first. I will tell you all now that we have still not made up our mind, and I am hoping that this little series will help me as much as anyone else!!
Right...Nelson.
We spent two weeks there, with my Brother-in- Law. It's a lovely place. Usually sunny. I was told that last winter, they didn't even get any frost on their cars it was so mild. If you suffer from hay fever, it could be a problem. We popped tablets the whole time we were there, and couldnot stop sneezing. The area is surrounded by pine tree forests. Some of you may have seen they had a major forest fire round that way not long ago.
For a small town it has a quite a cosmopolitan feel. It has a good selection of pubs, restaurants, night clubs, and cafes due to it's popularity with tourists.
Sports wise, there are some good walks close by, the harbour road heading west is perfect for running and cycling. There is plenty of wind, and so sailing,windsurfing, and kitesurfing are all popular.There is no Surf, be warned. The beach is only minutes by car, as is the airport. It's a 2 hour drive from the Ferry, about 5-6 hours from Christchurch, and only a 30 minute flight from Wellington, with the cheapest tickets going for about $70 one way.
Although Nelson has plenty, it can feel a little isolated. For example, I would feel better being able to drive to interviews for jobs in the North Island from somewhere such as Tauranga. Although the flying is cheap and quick, you have no transport when you arrive.
There are good weekend markets, where you can do almost all your fresh produce shopping - organic at that. There are 3/4 wineries in the vacinity that make some very drinkable wines.
Shopping is like any town in NZ, although if shopping is your life, you really shouldn't be leaving England in the first place. There is very little parking in the centre, and especially at weekends don't expect to get one. Although the parking is very cheap at 50c an hour. Buses are rarer than recent sightings of Moa.
Housing - we didn't go to many houses while we were there, but if you have questions I may be able to help. Rent for 2 bedrooms places started about 220-250 a week. We saw a few of these from the outside, and they were mainly in not the best areas, or did look a little grotty.
There were many houses for sale, and many open homes to look in. As you moved away from Nelson towards Stoke, prices went down, but rose again as entered Richmond. The real problem is that people have been selling off their gardens left right and centre. There are very few house within range of the centre that have gardens of a decent size. As veiw of the sea adds 300 to 400% to prices I'd say. I have also heard that rates have gone the way of Council tax in the UK....up and up.
The people are extremely friendly,and I'm talking generally, not just friends of relatives. The pace of life is very easy down there, and is a huge draw.
I'm sure there is much more, and if you have questions I may well be able to answer, so ask!!
We have now been over here for almost 2 months, and have been busily spending time in various places, looking at what they are like, and trying to decide where we should set up first. I will tell you all now that we have still not made up our mind, and I am hoping that this little series will help me as much as anyone else!!
Right...Nelson.
We spent two weeks there, with my Brother-in- Law. It's a lovely place. Usually sunny. I was told that last winter, they didn't even get any frost on their cars it was so mild. If you suffer from hay fever, it could be a problem. We popped tablets the whole time we were there, and couldnot stop sneezing. The area is surrounded by pine tree forests. Some of you may have seen they had a major forest fire round that way not long ago.
For a small town it has a quite a cosmopolitan feel. It has a good selection of pubs, restaurants, night clubs, and cafes due to it's popularity with tourists.
Sports wise, there are some good walks close by, the harbour road heading west is perfect for running and cycling. There is plenty of wind, and so sailing,windsurfing, and kitesurfing are all popular.There is no Surf, be warned. The beach is only minutes by car, as is the airport. It's a 2 hour drive from the Ferry, about 5-6 hours from Christchurch, and only a 30 minute flight from Wellington, with the cheapest tickets going for about $70 one way.
Although Nelson has plenty, it can feel a little isolated. For example, I would feel better being able to drive to interviews for jobs in the North Island from somewhere such as Tauranga. Although the flying is cheap and quick, you have no transport when you arrive.
There are good weekend markets, where you can do almost all your fresh produce shopping - organic at that. There are 3/4 wineries in the vacinity that make some very drinkable wines.
Shopping is like any town in NZ, although if shopping is your life, you really shouldn't be leaving England in the first place. There is very little parking in the centre, and especially at weekends don't expect to get one. Although the parking is very cheap at 50c an hour. Buses are rarer than recent sightings of Moa.
Housing - we didn't go to many houses while we were there, but if you have questions I may be able to help. Rent for 2 bedrooms places started about 220-250 a week. We saw a few of these from the outside, and they were mainly in not the best areas, or did look a little grotty.
There were many houses for sale, and many open homes to look in. As you moved away from Nelson towards Stoke, prices went down, but rose again as entered Richmond. The real problem is that people have been selling off their gardens left right and centre. There are very few house within range of the centre that have gardens of a decent size. As veiw of the sea adds 300 to 400% to prices I'd say. I have also heard that rates have gone the way of Council tax in the UK....up and up.
The people are extremely friendly,and I'm talking generally, not just friends of relatives. The pace of life is very easy down there, and is a huge draw.
I'm sure there is much more, and if you have questions I may well be able to answer, so ask!!