[Carey]

Well it looks like we're moving onto Plan B as Plan A hasn't happened ie securing a primary teaching job from UK. This means I will enrol in a 1 yr diploma in ECE and then apply for a job & as ECE is on long term skills list, should give us the points we need. Despite the cost for the course this does mean we can choose where to locate !! Sounds fab but where do we go?! Had thought Nelson and after our 2 weeks there in Apr were very keen but now also considering Whangarei, for cheaper houses?, similar climate? nearer to beaches? How easy to get out of Whangarei to beaches, bush? Only been there for a few days 19 yrs ago so can't picture it, so any advice, thoughts, info would be greatly recieved!

We're wanting good schools for our 12 yr old, 9 yr old and 4 yr old. Love the outdoor life , not bothered by small choice of shops etc, moving from very rural area in Suffolk but do want to part of a community not out in the sticks as here where we spend much time ferrying kids about.

This has really come about after spending time with family this xmas and thinking perhaps we should be nearer Auckland for visitors and if I do this course I need to get to AKL several times during the yr and from Nelson its quite a hike!

Will track down several posters who do live there but any other contributions welcome!

[ourquest]

Whangarei, for cheaper houses?, similar climate? nearer to beaches?

Hi Carey,
Best of luck with your decision. Always good to have a choice. I do not have much experience with either (I have visited though) but in the case of the above questions it would certainly seem that houses are a bit cheaper, but I wouldn't say the climate is similar (others might confirm?). Nelson has more sunlight hours, but a bigger summer/winter difference in temperature, with relatively cold winters. The humidity in Whangarei is higher, which will make it feel warmer also. The surf temperature is also a little higher in Whangerei (I think 1 to 2 degrees) and the beaches are certainly no less close by than in Nelson. I doubt you would be making much of a mistake in either, actually! The proximity of Whangarei to AKL might be useful...Nelson is rather far by road from a major centre. But Nelson is closer to mountains and lakes, and winter snow.
Decisions, decisions...:)

[Potato]

Well it looks like we're moving onto Plan B as Plan A hasn't happened ie securing a primary teaching job from UK. This means I will enrol in a 1 yr diploma in ECE and then apply for a job & as ECE is on long term skills list, should give us the points we need. Despite the cost for the course this does mean we can choose where to locate !! Sounds fab but where do we go?! Had thought Nelson and after our 2 weeks there in Apr were very keen but now also considering Whangarei, for cheaper houses?, similar climate? nearer to beaches? How easy to get out of Whangarei to beaches, bush? Only been there for a few days 19 yrs ago so can't picture it, so any advice, thoughts, info would be greatly recieved!

We're wanting good schools for our 12 yr old, 9 yr old and 4 yr old. Love the outdoor life , not bothered by small choice of shops etc, moving from very rural area in Suffolk but do want to part of a community not out in the sticks as here where we spend much time ferrying kids about.

This has really come about after spending time with family this xmas and thinking perhaps we should be nearer Auckland for visitors and if I do this course I need to get to AKL several times during the yr and from Nelson its quite a hike!

Will track down several posters who do live there but any other contributions welcome!

Hi,

In terms of climate they are not all that similar. Whangarei gets just under 2000 hours of sunshine per year. That is a bit less than either Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton or Wellington (all of which hover just about 2000). Nelson gets something like 2500. It does make a difference.
Whangarei will have humid, hot summers, with temperatures usually in the mid 20s and with heavy rain and t-storms possible. Nelson will be a few degrees cooler, but much less humid and with fewer instances of cloud.
In winter, Whangarei isn't cold but neither is Nelson. You'll be looking at 15C in Whangarei and 12C in Nelson. Lots of sun in Nelson winters, lots of rain in Whangarei winters. Nelson will also get frosty nights.
Depends on what you prefer!

You mention the outdoors, well Nelson is usually cited as having the best of it in all of NZ. Put it this way: Abel Tasman NP about 90mins drive away. Kahurangi NP also close, depending on which part you go to. Nelson Lakes NP 90mins away. Those are great opportunities. Not to mention the Marlborough Sounds and Golden Bay. Also, the West Coast is reachable (about 3-4 hours). Really it is a great area for getting outdoors.
Whangarei has no nearby national parks but there are the usual scenic reserves, and the Kauri trees are a few hours to the Northwest. Beaches are about 1 hour outside the city, and there is good variation in type.
Yes, the water temperature is higher off Northland. If you're game, you could swim there in the winter, as I don't think SSTs get below 14/15C, and they will be about 22C at their peak. This is still quite cool for the latitude, but that's just the way NZ is.

In Nelson, you won't really feel out in the sticks. It's not a genuine city but it is fairly built up. But as usual in NZ, open country is near. Tahunanui is the nearest beach, it's practically in the city and is quite pleasant. Further afield, there is rabbit island and other beaches in the Tasman district. Abel Tasman has amazing beaches, well suited for weekend trips. You could also pop in the other direction and go to some of the quieter bays in the Marlborough Sounds.
The area just around Ngunguru (spelling?) outside Whangarei has some lovely beaches, I would say superior to the Nelson area but that's a matter of personal choice. It's about 1 hour from the city.
In my personal opinion, the potentially slightly better beaches in Northland don't really counterbalance the outdoor lifestyle you can get in Nelson; it really is the tops.
If you need to get AKL, from Nelson it's about $169 flying, takes about 1h 20mins I think.

[markynz]

we have lived in Nelson for 16 months now and like it.
However there are some things to consider.
Housing stock is very low. Trying to find rentals round here is virtually impossible, especially in summer. House prices have climbed very high too. I know you can get a much better house in Whangerei for the money than you can here. Wages are also relatively low, they call it ' sunshine wages '.

We have friends in Whangerei who say its a nice place, they have seen both areas too and claim that food costs less in Whangerei too. I must admit, its a real concern how much food costs in NZ. In some cases things cost more than in the UK, which is staggering if you think about wages.


We have known lots of brits who have come to Nelson, but have decided to go elsewhere, or back to Britain for a variety of reasons - house prices, lack of entertainment ( they moved from london ), through to worrying about the UV levels and just generally not liking being an immigrant.

Good luck.