[DanFromCali]

Anyone have any opinions or recommendations on these areas?

Algies Bay
Snells Beach
Omaha Beach
Warkworth

Orewa
Red Beach

I have 2 small children, but will need to put the older into preschool in the next year, so community and schools are important.

I'll be working in Snells Beach, so i don't want to be too far away at first, but may wander towards North Shore City (Devonport, Takapuna, Torbay) eventually.

Vague post i know but if anyone has anyth ing to say about any of the places i listed, i'd much appreciate the input.

[Bruckner]

We love Warkworth! Cute little town with good shops and a great butcher. There's a nice walk along the river with a playground for the kids there too. The outlying area is very pretty too. Don't know about the schools but it's a place we actually considered at one point.

Emily

[DanFromCali]

Anyone know when the tunnel for the Northern Motorway extension past Orewa to Puhoi is supposed to be completed?

I am still searching all over for a place to settle for a couple of years while i work in Snells Beach and the biggest question mark i have is commute and accessibility to amenities.

I have narrowed my search down to Stanmore Bay (and adjacent suburbs), Hatsfield Beach, Orewa, Omaha beach to the north, even a couple of really nice homes in rural Puhoi, and Snells Beach itself.

I am going to be making a quick business trip at the tail end of this month so i guess i will be able to see more for myself at that time, just a few weeks b4 i have to move my entire family and life in general across the ocean.

I was just wondering if anyone had any info on that motorway because it could really help with some of the commutes im looking at.

Also, anyone been out to the Puhoi area? any opinions? Im worried we would stick out like a sore thumb in such a little village, but the homes i was looking at are very nice and the commute to work would be alright, plus its very accessible to the amenities in Orewa - i think?

[Bruckner]

Drove through Puhoi a few times. Cute but small. The surrounding area is beautiful. I think 2009 is their end date but I don't know if they're on target. I think it's about half an hours drive down to Orewa from there. If I remember correctly it's a windy, hilly drive at times to Orewa.

Hope this helps.

Emily

[DanFromCali]

for anyone who cares... i finally found a place closer to work in a great spot i just discovered on my latest business trip - Scott's Landing. i tested the frive to Orewa, Puhoi and Omaha and decided it was just too much - esp w/ all the huge trucks on the 2 lane road. Found an awesome rural house still close to the beach! now for the tough part - moving!

[Cindy]

Congrats in finding a place - sounds heavenly. Good luck on the big move.

[Bruckner]

Great news Dan! Have you decided who to use for the big move?

Emily

[dusk]

well done :)

[JandM]

Good news.:)

[Silverwing86]

Hi Dan,

My apologies (again !) for not getting back to you sooner :o, life's been that hectic, and you've been (t)here and back again already too !

Great to hear that you've found a place to settle and I'm not at all surprised you chose somewhere closer to work. It definitely makes sense not to have to travel long distances every day, especially on the two-lane roads as you mentioned.

Congratulations on finding a place to live as well, it sounds like your trip was very fruitful ! Now for the last, if not least, hurdle of actually moving here. Good luck with that and please do let us know if there's anything we can do to help.

Cheers,
Silver

[DanFromCali]

hey all. Thanks for the well wishes. And Silver, no worries - you have been more than helpful already.

I am going to buy my tix this w/e for sometime in the first week of Jun. Now that we have a place, the move feels much more real. I feel a lil more motivated to get things done here b/c now where we are headed seems more tangible, less theoretical.

can't wait to be there - mostly bc it will mean this transition is in the past!