[kags1694]

2 Adults & 1 Children (15), we have never been to New Zealand before we are over for 3 weeks, we are planning to stay one week near Auckland, one week in Bay of Plenty and last week in Wellington.
We are arriving on the 9th March.

We are hopefully moving over middle of next year, we want to check out schools etc.

Regarding Auckland, to explore where would be best area to stay within one hours drive.

Bay of Plenty, which area would be the best.

Wellington as above

Thanks

[kanatakiwi]

There are lots of places to stay within one hour of Auckland, all of them rural or semi rural. To the north you have the warkworth area, or over near Helensville, there is Waimauku, Riverhead, Kumeu (lots of fruits and veggies grown there), and to the south there is Papakura area, Karaka, Waiuku, and the Hunua Ranges. Closer to Auckland there is Henderson, Titirgangi , Piha, and Huia. Some of these involve a winding road so although closer might still take nearly an hour to get into central Auckland.
It would help if you mentioned what work you are after and whether that would limit you to large cities, or do you hope to find work in smaller communities. ?

[Tia Maria]

Just to warn you 3 weeks is a very short time to cover all those areas and with the jet lag, it will be very full-on.

As Kanatakiwi says Auckland is a big place so if you want to check out houses, schools etc (rather than just get a feel for the place), then it would be a good idea to work out your top 3 places to see before you go.

If you are looking on the North Shore, then most of the teenagers I know like to be based near Takapuna, as it has a good bus system and bit more life to it. Most schools round there have good reputations. Rangitoto and Takapuna Grammar are popular with Rangitoto being slightly more sporty and Takapuna being more artsy.

www.rangitoto.school.nz

www.takapuna.school.nz/files/home.asp

Houses cost more if you are in the right zones, so check this is within your budget.

This thread might be useful for you:

www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14469

Also I'm sure Gil won't mind me saying, but if you search through her posts she's written quite a bit about Howick and local schools plus moving with older children. For instance:

www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14833

Search for 'Howick' for more relevant threads

Hope this helps

Cheers

Tia

[neil & bella]

hi karen there is a book out which covers auckland and all its suburbs its called where to live in auckland, gives a guide to house prices schools what each area is like and type of peple that live in that area might be a help to you good luck with the trip

[Jules]

Bay of Plenty, which area would be the best.

Rotorua of course :nice1

Jules