[tomo1340]

I have seen a few Auckland threads but thought it better to start my own instead of hijacking another.

I have been talking to a company in NZ about a job and one of the things that came up was that I didn't really want to live in Auckland. To be fair I have never been there to make a sound judgment but in my mind I just see a massive city full of the exact things that make me want to escape the UK, gridlocked roads, busy streets bumping into each other etc. The guy from the company said that Auckland is diverse with plenty of quiet suburbs or the choice of quiet coastal areas or more rural areas but I still have doubts. I have a friend who lives in Ponsonby and she has built it up me as a massive 24 hour non stop bustly city that I really wouldn't like. Although I am still young my hell raising days are behind me and I just want a relaxed and quiet life for the kids. My OH was a city girl from Liverpool who moved to a large town in Merseyside and then onto a town with me in the Lakes before we moved to our quiet village here. I grew up in a busy market town and have travelled a lot in the forces and now we have children I feel like I can't handle busy traffic, or being elbow to elbow in shops and bars etc. Our little village suits us here,the main street has a small co op, a spar, a couple of pubs, a few other stores etc. I can walk to the co op and back armed with bread and milk in less than 10 minutes. When we need anything that isn't here, or to do a big shop we go into the city and brave the hustle and bustle, generally no more than twice a week. I work in a fairly large town 40 mins away and the best part of the drive is either before I hit the morning traffic or after I leave the last set of lights before home. When we lived there it was constant stop-start to get to shops, visit friends/family, and to be honest it turned us into lazy hermits. Since moving to our village we are almost guarenteed to take a family stroll into the village on a saturday morning, whether we need anything or not. So I suppose I am asking for an honest opinion on whether we could find something similar in the Auckland area. It doesn't have to be as quiet, but I don't see the point in moving to New Zealand for a hectic home lifestyle so it would likely throw up big doubts on the move happening.

[Bruckner]

Have only been to Ponsonby a few times so I can't comment but I can recommend Devonport. Short ferry ride to the CBD and very quiet at night. We're about a 10 -15 minute walk to the center of town and there are great parks for our little ones too.

Emily

[dharder]

I have a friend who lives in Ponsonby and she has built it up me as a massive 24 hour non stop bustly city

Haha, I wish. Normally, when people say 'I don't like big cities', I comment that Auckland will be alright for them then.

But seriously, I think it totally depends on where you are. I would expect Ponsonby to be a tad more lively (I don't quite see 24 hour bustly, but perceptions may vary) than where we live. We live in East Auckland, and it feels incredibly suburban to me. It's very, very quiet, we have a beach close by (not the most exciting one, but still) and we see the river from our house.

I do see that you don't want to move to have the same situation, and that is a concern for me as well. I don't have a job yet, but the commute is a worry. I will not drive into town, so am looking at alternatives. Luckily, a bus leaves from my doorstep, that takes about 35 minutes (don't know about rush hour, though), and am considering cycling.

I wouldn't discard Auckland because it is a city that is too busy, or has a big city feel about it. There are a number of reasons to discard it (for one, I don't find it terribly attractive, but that may be just me), but I think if you avoid certain issues/areas, you could live rather suburban and never have to face the 'CBD'.

Good luck with your decision,

Daniela

[Familyofmonkeys]

Auckland suburbs vary considerably. Ponsonby in fairly close to CBD (therefore very expensive)and near some of the major routes into CBD, so you would expect it to be noisy, not to mention the fact that the houses are all very close together with small gardens and very little off street parking. Whilst the villas of the area are very pretty and there are some nice shops/cafes etc in the area, I personally would find it too noisy to live there. But further out...
North shore, West or East (don't know anything about South, i'm afraid) there are many, many nice quiet family friendly areas. Whilst we might get used to Auckland and complain certain areas seem busy or gridlocked...the roads here really don't have a patch on UK traffic jams (we apart from going over the harbour bridge during rush hour).
We live in Albany on North Shore and the bus from the park & ride down the road takes between 20 and 25 minutes to get to CBD during rush hour, and it is cheap. Many other areas are well served by commuter buses too, although travel times vary...when we lived in Waitakere it was more like an hour on bus into town.

[xanctus]

Ponsonby is considered as city sometimes...and yes it will be quite busy at times. But as some other people already said, if you live in the suburban areas such as Devonport it will be pretty quite and also close to the beach.

Auckland is just an OK city for a big city, compare to Chicago...it's not too busy and loud. So yeah, I think it's better if you can just come over and take a look at it by yourself (if you can), that way you will have a better perception about Auckland itself.

good luck

[tomo1340]

Thanks for the replies everyone. The work I would be doing is not specific to one location as in an office, it would be telecoms work in and around the Auckland area and as such I get them impression anywhere in reach of Auckland is fine. It has been suggested to me that we rent in Auckland centre to start with and then get a feel of where we would like to move to, but my OH is concerned that would mean a move to an unsuitable place first and then another move albeit only a minor one, within a short space of time, so I might need to do some convincing there.

[Tattie]

Hi there,

we've now been in country for just over a month (arrived 29 Dec) and this is first posting since then!

We're in Auckland and are looking out to buy in the West Auckland area.

Be advised you will almost certainly require a mortgage if you want to live in a nicer area. Average prices seem to be at least 450 - 600k for a good house. Most areas we have looked at are 'similar' to the UK, i.e. houses close together, some even built in the back yard (glorious those sub divisions). This includes most of the North Shore all the way to Orewa/Silverdale

West Auckland, you seem to get more land for your money and can still be only 30 mins to the CBD. Difference is no mains water, it will be via tanks and rain harvesting and a septic tank system.

We're looking up towards Helensville as it has a few shops and a Supermarket etc. Some of the other villages/towns such as Waitakere, Whenuapai, Riverhead, Coatesville just have a dairy (corner shop). This includes the beaches on the west which might have a cafe too but only open to approx 6pm. Kumeu/Huapai and Waimaku are also nice with a good selection of shops but a little more expensive than helensville.

If you haven't guessed we have spent ages looking around!!!

We are currently in a cheap rental which is fine at the mo because the weather has been absolutely fantastic. Best summer in 10 years apparently.

anyway hope this helps

Tattie

[tomo1340]

Thanks for the reply. If it all comes off I wouldn't mind living with in an hour of my work location, which at the moment would be classified as 'The Auckland area' so for all intensive purposes I would count the CBD as reference point and have an area of up to an hour away from their to look. I currently have to travel between 45 mins to an hour to get into work but I only work 36 hours a week less overtime, so it may be a different story if I had to work 42 hours a week plus do 2 hours travelling a day. The size of the surrounding area and the local ammenities are unimportant to us, currently we go into the city or a big local town and do a massive bulk shop either fortnightly or if we can stretch it to a month we do that. We then use the local shop for stuff that we couldn't buy a full supply for as it would go off. We used to live with a 24 hour supermarket near by and would end up popping in for a pint of milk and coming home with armfulls of crap we didn't need and would more than likely go off.

The harvesting of rain water wouldn't bother me, but that would more than likely freak the OH out.

[dharder]

If it all comes off I wouldn't mind living with in an hour of my work location, which at the moment would be classified as 'The Auckland area' and I would count the CBD as reference point and have an area of up to an hour away from their to look.

I am finding the time frames here rather deceptive. For example, there is a bus in front of my house that takes 15 minutes to where I want to go at around 8am, and it takes 35 minutes at 8.30am. And this is a relatively short distance, I imagine if I had to go further, the difference would get even more significant. In an hour on a Sunday afternoon, you can cover quite some distance. In an hour in morning traffic, you can't.

An hour away by car from the CBD (provided you have parking there) might not get you very far.

Just a thing to keep in mind when drawing that line around the CBD :)

Daniela

[Familyofmonkeys]

and

I am finding the time frames here rather deceptive. For example, there is a bus in front of my house that takes 15 minutes to where I want to go at around 8am, and it takes 35 minutes at 8.30am. And this is a relatively short distance, I imagine if I had to go further, the difference would get even more significant. In an hour on a Sunday afternoon, you can cover quite some distance. In an hour in morning traffic, you can't.

An hour away by car from the CBD (provided you have parking there) might not get you very far.

Just a thing to keep in mind when drawing that line around the CBD :)

Daniela


That is very true. There is a major difference in travel times at different times of day, plus buses are often quicker due to bus lanes too. When we lived in West Auckland it took about 20 minutes into CBD off peak and about 45-50 minutes peak traffic. Here in Albany it has taken as little as 10 minutes to get across the bridge into town and nearly an hour in rush hour (although buses take about 25 minutes due to the new bus lanes).

[annaerb]

Depends on where you will be working but Auckland has some beautiful places around.

I live in on the Pohutukawa coast at a place called "Maraetai" which means meeting place by the sea. It is a small seaside village and a great place to bring up children.
http://www.pohutukawacoast.co.nz/Maraetai-Beach--Omana-57.html

We have a great Golf course nearby http://www.formosa.co.nz/
Ferry service to Auck City http://www.pineharbour.co.nz/

The Pohutukawa Coast lies to the east of Auckland City, a distance of approx 50 km by road, and to the northeast of Manukau City approx 20 km by road. Move from the hustle and bustle of city life and traffic, to the more relaxed lifestyles of semi-rural Auckland before confronting the wonderful coastline and seascapes of The Pohutukawa Coast.
http://www.pohutukawacoast.co.nz/




Spinnakar bay - New Housing estate:
http://www.sbay.co.nz/about.asp


At Spinnaker Bay we’ve recreated the great Kiwi experience for those who love all that Auckland city has to offer – but who value the quality and simplicity of a less cluttered life.

Living here opens up the choices for how you and your family live your life. Your children can sail yachts, fish off the wharf or learn to ride ponies – all in their own backyard.

You can enjoy a dip in the sea after work at your choice of safe, clean local beaches – without battling with the crowds; or take a picnic and a short drive around the coast for a real summer experience.

It’s these simple pleasures that make Spinnaker Bay a great spot for a holiday - every day of the year.

Te Puru sports complex http://www.tepuru.co.nz/

If you need to know any more then PM.

Carol

[CJ22]

annaerb, how long does the ferry to Auckland take, and does it land at the CBD harbour (I forget what it's called)?

[annaerb]

annaerb, how long does the ferry to Auckland take, and does it land at the CBD harbour (I forget what it's called)?


It takes 30 mins from Pine Harbour to Auck CBD Quay street arriving at terminal 3.

Here is a map
http://www.pineharbour.co.nz/uploads/AC24E_Pine_Harbour_Ferry_Map_July_07.pdf

Is there an exact place in Auck CBD you need to be? There is also a free bus that a lot of commuters use, it's called the city circuit. It does a loop.
http://www.stagecoach.co.nz/citycircuit/

Anything else you need to know just ask.

Carol

[tomo1340]

and

I am finding the time frames here rather deceptive. For example, there is a bus in front of my house that takes 15 minutes to where I want to go at around 8am, and it takes 35 minutes at 8.30am. And this is a relatively short distance, I imagine if I had to go further, the difference would get even more significant. In an hour on a Sunday afternoon, you can cover quite some distance. In an hour in morning traffic, you can't.

An hour away by car from the CBD (provided you have parking there) might not get you very far.

Just a thing to keep in mind when drawing that line around the CBD :)

Daniela

I was just using the CBD as a central point because geographically and logistically it seems more central. In reality the work would involve travelling all over Auckland but I don't want to pick a specific region now as an hour south of south Auckland would have a larger impact on if I needed to get to north Auckland for work. I am not sure how it would work for me completely. Here I have a place I could work from 5 minutes walk away, but because until recently I worked in another area and happened to cross an insignificant (to me anyway) boundary into another region I have to travel to my old place of work which is 35 minutes on a clear run but an hour in traffic. Once I get to work for my start time I could then pick up work theoretically anwhere within a 50 mile radias, possibly even back in my town where I now live.

[CJ22]

Cheers Carole. Looks good. Might be a bit too rural for the missus :)

The company I'll be working for is on Queen Street near the north end, so hopping off a ferry at the quay would be ideal. Would save me having to drive every day, and I can sit and snooze on the ferry or watch the views. Strikes me as more civilized than either driving or busing it. I'm also looking at Birkenhead for the same reason.

[annaerb]

It is a semi rural seaside village. Depends what you want I guess.

Have a drive out to the pohutukawa coast and Birkenhead and check them out. You can't judge a place really untill you've had a look for yourself no matter what people tell you.

Good luck.

[gil]

We are in Bucklands Beach, about 10 mins walk from Half Moon Bay ferry to CBD (35 mins travel). I often drive in, especially if visitng clients around Auckland and it takes anything from 40 mins off-peak to an hour and ten mins if traffic is peak and busy.

It's brilliant for us here: we live at the top of steps down the cliff onto Bucklands Beach, excellent schools for our kids, all within 10 mins walk (Pigeon Mountain Primary, Bucklands Beach Intermediate and Macleans College), Howick village a 5 min drive away with good shops and a small Foodtown, Botany is 10-15 mins drive, the largest shopping mall in the southern hemisphere (apaprently) and lovely beaches all around for kayaking, dog walking and lazing.

Property is quite expensive, but not as bad as the North Shore, especially if you don't live inside the Macleans College zone!

Howick Golf Club is at the end of our peninsula and Pakuranga Country Club about 10 mins drive. We joined Bucklands Beach Yacht Club (neither of us sail!) which has a lovely little restaurant (NOT flash!) and bar. There are three nice restaurants all within walking distance (La Mama, The Barracuda and The Beach House) and a cafe called LouLou at The Beach. There are a couple of dairies near by too, and a local Post Office.

Motorway access is easy, and there are also buses to CBD about every half hour.

It's lovely to get out of the city after work, but be close by if we want to go in....

Gil

[Nienke]

West Auckland, you seem to get more land for your money and can still be only 30 mins to the CBD. Difference is no mains water, it will be via tanks and rain harvesting and a septic tank system.


Maybe if you're out of all the suburbs and living rural in West Auckland, but the rest of us do have mains water!

[CJ22]

It seems strange that you can be within a stone's throw of a city of over 1 million people and not have mains water :)