[Kerry and David]

Calling all Aucklanders!
David has just had his store location confirmed and it is in Albany. We had settled on Bucklands Beach to live but do we need to re think this as would the commute from BB to Albany be a nightmare? Am I right in thinking that you would be at least going against the traffic?

Any thoughts appreciated!

K x

[gil]

Hmm, definitely a bit of a nightmare I think Kerry. You can't get to Albany without going on the motorway through the city, and that means going WITH the peak traffic flow, not against. To get to work in the city by 9 means allowing an hour (and sometimes it takes longer). To get up to Albany would probably add another 20 mins at least.

It's not something I would personally want to do from BB. Will you be in temporary accommodation at first? You could try it from a motel in BB for a couple of weeks and see?

There are some lovely areas up nearer Albany though (Orewa, the Bays etc)). Is David likely to move from that store soon? It would be just as bad to live in the north of Auckland and have to travel to work in Manukau, for example.

Difficult one, as it depends how far a commute is OK/tiresome for the individual.

Sorry not to be much help, good luck with the decision.

Gil

[jubjub]

I agree with gil, the commute would not be something we would want to do on a daily basis.... I got stuck in traffic one day and it was over an hour to get back from Albany (and it wasnt even rush hour) just glad DS had fallen asleep! On a good run with no traffic at all its about 30 mins

If this is the place he is going to be working at for a good while (and not get shifted about) then maybe you could look at Browns bay etc, there are quite a few forum members round there who love the area.

It is one of those things you would need to see for yourself I guess to make a decision....

[kanatakiwi]

I agree with gil and jubjub-- that communte twice a day would drive me bonkers. plus the cost of petrol is close to $2 a litre and rising. I just wanted to add that we housesat for someone in Dairy Flats which is very close to Albany, and it was idyllic, beautiful views out across the valley, lots of birdlife etc, great place for dogs etc etc. Not sure what your lifestyle is like but if you are looking for a non-city life on the edge of the big smoke, the area around Albany would certainly qualify. and you are very close to the north coast beaches. maybe scout the area out, bucklands beach is lovely, but the southern motorway into the city and all other routes into the city from there are a nightmare.

[Kerry and David]

Thanks for your replies and I was expecting you to say it would be a tough journey!
As some of you know we did our reccie trip in April and although we really liked the North Shore we set our heart on BB there was just something about it that felt right and the schools BBI and Macleans College were fantastic.
The company have said that David will possibly move stores after his training period but I think they will keep him over on the North Shore.
I think we will need to look more over that way it's hard as we thought we were all sorted!

So any suggestions would be appreciated - we need good schools and Kindy (3,11,16) beach, we like more of a village feel but want to be close enough to the City (up to 40min away) so our older son can go and see the music gigs.

K x

[Familyofmonkeys]

Absolutely....commute would be terrible as you would be going with the traffic to CBD for at least half of your daily journey.