[Aussie Pom]

Hello All,
It was a bit difficult to decide where to post this as it covers a few areas but decided that this one might be most suitable.
We just got back from our 2 weeks in the South Island. Our key places were Nelson and Christchurch so we spent a week in each.
Unfortunately as soon as we arrived in Chch my asthmatic daughter started coughing (which we were not surprised by this as we had been looking into this aspect of Chch) but it was still disappointing as it meant we had to rule it out. We stayed at the South Brighton Motor Camp which was great value for money is run by some ex-pat poms. We went up to Mt Hutt to see the snow, loved Akaroa, went on the tram ride around the city and also went out to the Botanic gardens, which looked fantastic with the magnolias in full bloom.
We moved on to Nelson via Kaikoura and Blenheim. Which were both lovely but the time needed for the 400km journey took me by surprise. It took all day. The roads were in good condition but I found the bends and hills fairly unrelenting and really felt it would not be a journey I would like to do alone. My kids loved the seal colonies that lined the road outside Kaikoura. Didn't appreciate the other drivers who were tail-gating a lot of the way.
Nelson is a very friendly town, we loved the Japanese water garden, so peaceful, so very Zen! We were a bit disappointed at the quality of the houses we looked at, and I felt the town lacked a little sparkle, perhaps that was just the weather that week. My husband felt he could move there but I do think it might be a bit too isolated for me and perhaps for the kids in the future. I would like to get some feedback from others who live there just to get an insiders view. We may still consider Hope or Brightwater which we thought were lovely but would mean a little bit of travelling if we get work in Nelson...not to far for Hubby to cycle though and they have schools which would mean the kids could go locally.
It does look like we may head for Hobart rather than NZ but we still have some thinking to do. I shall keep you all posted, we had a great holiday though!:nice1
Gina
Can also recommend the Tahuna Beach "Kiwi" camp site, at Tahunanui. Really clean, great amenities and helpful staff. Pony rides at Stonehurst farm were also an enormous hit. They do trekking too but my youngest was too young for that... but next time....

[migratory birds]

The quality of existing home construction is probably what has prompted several on this list to build from the ground up shortly after arrival. And the expressed needs of new home builders seems to be influencing construction policy changes (which have been referenced in other threads).

Glad you were able to travel before making the move to get an idea of whether these parts of NZ were for you and your family. Good luck with your decisions.

[Piper]

May I ask what particular aspect of Christchurch was causing your daughter's asthma problems?

Piper

[thezorbster]

If you have visited Nelson over the last 2-3 weeks then you have probably visited during the most miserable weather the area has had for a long time, or so everyone is telling me! We arrived in mid August and the first 6 weeks were sunshine all the way, since then it has been a bit grey for a lot of the time. When you say you think it could feel isolated then I understand what you mean but much also depends upon what you enjoy doing and what you want out of life. We're not great shoppers and decided that we could forego the luxury? of lots of shops etc around for the chance to be surrounded by 3 national parks where we can ski in Winter, kayak/sail in summer, walk all year, chill on the beach after work and immerse ourselves in the arty culture over here. In short, we decided that lifestyle won. We are 1/2 hr flight from Wellington so if culture/major shopping is needed we will hop on a plane or a ferry there (if the price is right!) or head over to Christchurch for a long weekend. To be honest we feel we have everything we need here, the people are fantastic and once the sun starts shining again all will be sweet! House quality is probably no worse here than anywhere else in NZ, it's just the way they build 'em. You will get more house for your money out towards Brightwater or Wakefield and they seem to be quite nice communities. We considered Wakefield ourselves but you would then need to drive into town, it's just that bit further out. Hope to us didn't seem to be separate from Richmond and I'm sure that as the area grows it will merge even more. There are some reasonably priced sections out Wakefield way compared to other more rural areas so you could always build if you wanted. If you have any more questions feel free to ask or pm me, I'll help if I can. :)

[Joanne100]

Sounds like u had a great time, i am surprised about ur daughters asthma, suppose it depends where u spent most of ur time, the city can be quite smoggy my son was on two inhalers in the Uk and hasnt used them at all here in Chch, its a shame u have had to rule out chch.
good luck

[bevsere]

We live in Mapua which is about half an hour from Nelson CBD. It's a lovely friendly little village , right by the estuary.
New Zealand is a bit isolated, and I suppose if you want a city fix then Nelson can seem a bit far from anywhere . Wellington though is just a half hour flight away and Nelson is a reasonable little city. More quiet in Winter than Summer but there again it can buzz when the sun is out and all the tourist, trampers and backpackers are about.
My husband drives into Richmond most days and TBH the drive is a pleasure.

[Aussie Pom]

Asthma in Christchurch - My daughter responds badly to sudden changes in air temperature and also poor air quality, which might be bush fires, smog etc, she had a really hard time while we lived in Kalgoorlie (W. Australian goldfields) which is why we moved. We had heard that the air quality in Chch could be poor so we weren't over surprised but I guess we were hoping for the best. This was Spring too so Winter would be much worse.
I actually saw a job in Mapua and enquired about it but the Principal said they were looking for NZ trained teachers so I didn't apply.
Houses - We don't particularly want to build a house, I think it would prove too costly when we are trying to be mortgage free, we did see some nice houses as we said but out of town.
Isolation - I suspect that the isolation factor may also be psycological... I have lived in the most isolated city in the world for 13 years, I have lived in Derby in the Kimberley for 3 years, they don't come more remote than that but it was only 2 hours drive to Broome. But I didn't have kids then so the choices you make can be frivolous. I came to Nelson really believing that we would be moving there next year but I just didn't feel "moved" by it, I was wanting to "fall in love" I guess (does that make sense?). We haven't totally ruled it out but I am not sure that the post school choices would be wide enough for me. The kids would probably have to leave home for Uni... if that was what they wanted to do etc. My husband says they will leave home at some point which i understand but I want it to be because they have found what they want and because they are ready, not because their home doesn't offer a career path or a course that they wish to follow.
As our other option is Tassie I think that Hobart may solve more of the long term questions that I have. We could do all the things that we could do in Nelson whilst having the convenience of the city and Sydney, Melbourne and indeed NZ a lot closer than we have now. We will also be in a stronger situation as far as future water supply is concerned (this is a major factor for us in the changing climate) than we are now. We can always come to NZ once the girls know more about what they want do or have left home or if the water dries up in Tassie! You can never say never!
Thanks for your interest and support in our venture, it is a very confusing and stressful time, especially as my husband really, really liked Nelson!!!!:wah
I have a sense of guilt not to mention that if everything goes pear shaped I shall be haunted by "Why didn't we go to NZ", but hey like I said we have time!
Gina

[Piper]

Thanks for the info Gina.
I just wanted to say that I think it's amazing, to someone who lives in London, that you base your choice of where to live on the water supply. If I hadn't been to Coober Pedy in the past I would find it even more incredible!

In the UK, the government is only today talking about extending future hosepipe bans to include disallowing people from filling up swimming pools & hot-tubs, jetwashing patios & caravans and other crazy things you could do whilst not being allowed to water your garden!

I have to agree with you on Nelson - I visited there once and it didn't 'float my boat' either. Now, Picton, on the other hand... ah, we can but dream!

Good luck Gina, wherever you end up living I'm sure you'll do what's right for the moment.

Piper