[NickH]

Well. after a year of headaches and hassle, we're here. AND LOVING IT! Even after visiting NZ previously, we still had doubts about our ability to 'settle in', but the first few weeks has confirmed that (so far) we have made the right choice.

Quick resume: Arrived in Auckland 4th January, and spent a week on the Waterfront just soaking it in. Literally, because for a couple days it tipped it down. Since then the weather has been glorious, and I'm being careful about sunburn now!

After doing the usual domestic stuff (activating bank accounts, buying a mobile phone & car etc) we spent a couple of days looking around the areas in Auckland. You've all read it before: Remuera - expensive, lovely, but not much 'soul'. Mission Bay/St Helliers - great location! South Auckland - not so good (in our opinon). Devonport (where we originally had hoped to settle) - great. North Shore Bays - Great beaches, but houses seem a bit hemmed in. Takapuna - expensive but great. Full stop!

So - decided on Takapuna then.

We've now taken a lease on an apartment in Takapuna, sea views etc and within walking distamce of just about any amenity you can mention. (Sorry- no kids so can't comment about schools).

Business opportunities are coming thick and fast. I've joined the local Business Network group, joined the Sailing Club, joined the local Les Mills gym (great!) and even getting the odd "hellos" from people in the street that we've started to know.

If you'd like to see some pictures of the areas, I've put them, with a bit more detailed log of our progress, at:

http://www.quattrostar.com/nz

Finally. Are we delighted with our decision? You bet!

Good luck to anyone following.

Nick

[Diny]

Takapuna is a nice spot. My hubby was stationed at Devonport when he was in the Navy, it's a lovely spot. Nice street cafes around that area.

Diny

[Milliemoo]

Wow, great post thanks!

I'd never thought too much about Takapuna before, but it looks great.We were thinking of Devonport, but will certainly be taking a good look at Takapuna. Is there a ferry service there ? if not how is the local public transport? Is there a large supermarket as well as lots of local shops eg: green grocers, fish mongers?

:P :P :P

Milliemoo :nice1

[Glenda]

Hi Nick,

Great post - glad you are settling down so well. :yes Really enjoyed reading your website too with all its useful info. :nice1

One very silly and insignificant query with your list of NZ facts - aren't flipflops called "jandals" in NZ and "thongs" in Australia? Or have things changed since I was there? Perhaps, someone knows? :?

:cheers

[markkellaway]

Nick,

A fantastic "uplifting" post, and the same can be said of the web site. Your comments about the friendliness of the people over there reinforces just one of our reasons for choosing NZ.

Thanks,

Mark. :nice1

[Mildred]

Your website has sold NZ to me! I want to hug that tree on the beach right now :yes

[xanctus]

Wow, I really like the way you make a link about "101 things that you may not know about NZ" it's quite informative actually. :nice1

[Diny]

Glenda

You're right. Call them flip flops in NZ and you get some right funny looks.

Diny

[jesselyn]

thanks for sharing... :nice1

[jan]

:clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap


10 out of 10 for the website info. It is GREAT.

:nice1 jan xx

[Babette & Andy]

Thanks for that uplifting post Nick :clap Hope all continues to go well for you. 'Little' things like some people already starting to say hello to you must help your settling in process. Well done for making your dreams come true. Look forward to reading more.

Babette :nice1

[Diny]

Nick

I've just had a look at your website, it's really good. I think it's a brilliant way of keeping everybody informed - well done.


Must admit I've never seen the road sign that tells you to 'merge like a zip' :laugh I always smile when approaching a junction, the words 'give way' are written on the road as 'way give' ........ basically 'cos you drive over the word 'give' first, and then 'way'.

Diny

[NickH]

Hi Milliemoo.
I must admit your question made me chuckle a little. I can tell you that within 5 minutes walking distance (probaly less) we have a Post Shop, a theatre, a cinema, more shops than you can shake a stick at, several dozen restaurants of all nationalities except British :P Loads of winebars. The Foodtown here is as big and as organised as any Sainsburys. And there are good specialist food shops, grocers etc, including a great wet fish shop that sells everything fishy.

A few second-hand book shops, and on Sunday mornings, there is a massive (and I mean BIG!) market in the town centre.

Then after that there's the Westfield Centre which is an indoor mall with, I would guess another 50 shops.

So - no problems spending money then!

[Milliemoo]

Thanks, that's good to know.... definately worth investigating.

Look foraward to further updates :P

Milliemoo :nice1

[Lil]

Glad you are settling in well, seems you arrived in Takapuna just as we were leaving. I have to say it is a lovely place and our minds are made up that we will base ourselves somewhere around there or maybe just a wee bit further up the coast. We stayed in The Spencer on 16th Floor with a view directly over Rangitoto and as you say you have almost everything you could want within a short walk - lovely cafes, cinema, shops, banks, restaurants etc.

I liked going to the cafes in the mornings for breakfast, no airs and graces with old ladies out shopping, families with dogs and kids dropping in for a coffee and a read of the papers after a stroll on the beach. I could very easily get very used to that kind of lifestyle. :eek

Hope things continue to get better and better for you.

[StevieD]

WOW! you have been busy! Great read and website. It looks beautiful. Good luck to you both from over here in Liverpool.

We have finally made the decision to DEFINITELY move over the last week or so. Only found out other day that we may have rellies over there which may help greatly.

Can't wait to get life sorted here and transport the family down there. Not naive enough to think that life will be a bed of roses, but can't be any worse than here. :yes

[RoadRunner]

Nick,
Glad to hear you are settling in so well! :cool

The Web site (and 101 things) was great! Thanks for sharing.

:cheers
RoadRunner

[sarahw]

Hi Nick

The post was really interesting & the website is great! - especially for all your friends back home so they can relate to where you are & what you're doing. :nice1

[Annierobrigado]

hello nick and sue

thanks so much for that wonderful post, and the pictures were great. it seemed like i was reading a guidebook, but am glad it was 1st hand experience. takapuna looks and sounds like a great place to live, i just hope there would be jobs available for us there. i kept saying oh my god oh my god while each picture came out. it's like i want to go there right now, and take your temporary apartment when you move to the real apartment you leased! the neighborhood looks like one of those posh villages we have in the suburbs south of manila here.

i agree with cirque de soleil -- it;s a show not to be missed. i missed it and i have to spend the rest of my life hearing my sister-inlaw saying i missed 1/3 of my life. :wah

thanks and looking forward to further updates on your nz life.

:cheers
annie

[lindajax]

What a lovely post,
Great to see you've slotted in and found the palce you want to settle.
We got here on the 2nd ( I'm sure you've read our posts) and we haven't been up that way yet so your post is dead informative to us

It sounds really happening where you are and with no kids ( we have one 4 year old) You'll be able to make the most of all those wine bars and restaurants ( I'm so envious!! - It doesn't seem to be the norma to have Family dining places here that cater for smaller kids - but we'll adapt!)

When you think about what us people who had never been here expected and what we got its just fab - and for you you already had expereince of here and have loved it even more this time ( I think I read you do) - I think thats wonderful!!!!

Keep on Posting and keep on enjoying it

Love Linda xxxxx

[leslie]

where did you find time??????????

thank you for interesting info, v helpful. good luck in days to come