[robininman]

hi all, i have been reading these forums for the past few weeks and i am loving the sound of bringing me, the wife and the kids out there to live sooooon.

i am looking at whangarei or maybe tauranga (bethlehem)

i have a couple of things i was wondering if anyone could answer.

1, what are the schools like (bethlehem) primery at the mo as mine are 7 and 5
2, what is the hospital like (my wife is a dr in the uk)
3, crime??????
4,and is it as laid back as you all say, beause that swinging it for me

i hope to read your messages soon (when you all get up)

many thanks
the inmans

[victoria24]

I stayed at Bethlehem last month and I loved it! papamoa beach just up the road :)

[catt]

Have been in Tauranga a few weeks now and very close to Bethlehem (Wairoa Road in a lovely holiday cottage at the moment but moving into our rental on the 3 April). Bethlehem has all you need in terms of shopping and is very nice generally. Most of the places in Tauranga dont appear to have much crime to speak of (at least we havent witnessed it) and i personally feel very safe here no matter what time of day or night.

The hospital seems quite large it covers a few acres from what we can see from the H2 and Greerton Road as we pass by but havent experienced it personally.

Laid back is a definite, the people are friendly the roads are good and since being here i havent been in one single traffic jam :laugh in fact everyone seems very courteous on the roads.

As far as schools i have no clue as we dont have need to worry about it but i am sure others will be along soon to answer that one.

Good luck in whatever you decide :nice1

[ablears001]

I have family in Bethlehem (Have a look at Google Streetview (http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=5+Knightsbridge+Pl,+Bethlehem,+Bay+of+Plenty+311 0&sll=-41.244772,172.617188&sspn=21.983845,65.478516&ie=UTF8&cd=3&geocode=FU-6wP0d9FF_Cg&split=0&ll=-37.701954,176.115818&spn=0.00893,0.041885&z=15&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=-37.70204,176.115848&panoid=skORA8CZ66CWNDa8f2DOxQ&cbp=12,179.16676755674075,,0,6.475409836065575)) and they love it. It's certainly one of the nicest areas of Tauranga (read: expensive). It's a quiet, salubrious area. It actually has a little town centre now - my parents rarely need to go downtown any more - good supermarket, boutiques, an off license run by a guy who really knows his whisky, and a few good bars perfect for lazy afternoon drinking (mmmm, Mac's Black).

My little sis went to primary school in Bethlehem and loved it. I went along to pick her up from school once and was amazed at how relaxed it was. Lovely environment too. I wish I'd gone to a primary school like that.

I got PR last week (:cheers) and am heading to Bethlehem Heights in October to live. It was a close call between that and Waiheke which proved just a bit too expensive right now... maybe one day!

[Mickstim]

I am studying at Bethlehem Tertiary Institite on the same campus as the primary school and my son is a teacher at the high school. The school has an excellent reputation and is in beautiful grounds - may be an issue with getting in (i.e. waiting lists) but I don't know about that! I don't think there is much crime in the Bethlehem area and it is pretty laid back but have no experience of the hospital.

It's a great area altogether!

Bx

[robininman]

thanls for the reply's guys, its nice to speak to people who have mad the change and loved it.
do you know of any other areas in tauranga (near the beach) thats nice.

[Tesall]

I LOVE Pillans Point/Buretta. Has to the best suburb in Tga in my opinion. It is the suburb where people who grew up in Tga live.


Try this address at google maps
Pillans Point School, Bureta, Bay of Plenty 3110

http://maps.google.co.nz/

It is walking distance to the CBD (20 min walk) , 10 minutes to the beach across the bridge, highly affluent, lots of houses with impressive harbour views, decile 10 primary school, nice parks and access to swimming in the harbour (kids love swimming there).
It is also only a 10 min drive ot the hospital due to the causeway.

[Lugo]

Hi

Bethlehem has grown considerably in the last few years with lots of new houses and a new shopping centre.
There are 2 primary schools in Bethlehem that I am aware of, Bethlehem Primary and there is also a primary school attached to Bethlehem College (Christian, partially fee paying school). Both have good reputations.
I also think there are a lot of other really good primary schools in Tauranga (some are zoned) and completely agree with Tesall about Pillans Point as my daughter goes there and we love it.

As to the laid back question well for us life is certainly a lot less stressful than living in London!

Good luck with your decision.

[victoria24]

again, I liked papamoa beach :D did i mention the ice creams? yum

[robininman]

lol thanks guys

[mgf]

Matua area is quite nice as well and easy walking distance to Fergusson Park where kayaking, wind surfing, kite surfing all occur. Very nice homes near the water. Hospital is okay I was not overly impressed with my stay there but the staff were all quite nice. There is a Private Hospital Grace Hospital as well. Matua Primary is a very good school as well. Feeds into Otumoetai Intermediate and College later. Which is were my daughters have attended. Bethlehem and Pyes Pa are all the newer neighbourhoods.

[amckean]

Grew up in Tauranga and although I was home schooled, was involved in sports and other activities @ Bethlehem College and quite enjoyed myself. We are moving back to the Tauranga area and can't wait! I don't think you will go wrong with the Bethlehem area. ;)

[Will_2007]

If you want to be near the beach, your choice is Papamoa or the Mount. Tauranga, Greerton, Bethlehem, Welcome Bay etc. are all a minimum 10 minute drive to the beach, more on weekends and holidays due to the tourist traffic (and the bottleneck at the harbour bridge, but that should ease when the new bridge is finished in a year or so).

Papamoa is nice, it's just a big old suburban sprawl, with some ok shops, bars and the odd restaurant. I know people who live there and have heard good things. You can get a lot for your money.

The Mount is nicer (but I would say that, cos I live there!) but there's no real justification for it other than it's 'cooler' to live at the Mount... the beach is exactly the same here as in Papamoa (v nice, and never gets busy, even in summer - apart from main beach, but that's for tourists), but things are more expensive, what with it being so trendy and all.

If you live near the beach, however, you'll have to commute over the harbour bridge or through Welcome Bay to get into town - can be long delays (by NZ standards, peanuts by UK standards!). From our house at the mount into Tga CBD takes 10 mins by car if you leave before about 7.50am - after that it's 15-20 minutes. Cycling is 15 mins regardless :) It's something to consider if you want o live by the beach, though.

Don't have kids yet, so can't help on schools, sorry.