[Saint]

Hi

We're thinking of settling in Howick or surrounding areas.

Can anyone tell me what they know about this?

My son will be starting the equivalent of A-Levels out there and we're looking at Howick or Macleans as a possibility.

If anyone can tell us anything at all, I would be very grateful.

Cheers

Sue

[Timbo]

I have not been there Sue, but it does sound nice.

http://www.howickvillage.co.nz/index.html

[Saint]

Hi Timbo

Just had a look at the site.

Very useful.

Cheers!

Sue

[foolsgold99]

Hi Sue,

Howick is very nice, we live about 2 miles away. It's a good area, nice houses without the stupid prices you'd pay a little closer to the city, plenty of shops and lesuire stuff, like cinemas and swining pools. (All council run facilities are free). Within a 10 minute drive you have the choice of 3 nice beachs.

All the Schools round here seem to be good, but McLeans seems to have the best reputation, although some folks say it's not as good as it was.

Can be a bit of a drag getting into town, but if you work either south or east of the city, it's not a drama.

Where about in Warickshire you from ? The wife is from south warwickshire.

[veronica]

Our daughter and son in law live there and they like it enough that they have just moved out of the rental there and bought just around the corner.

[Saint]

Thanks Foolsgold and Veronica

It's good to hear positive info about the area!

I'm from Rugby in Warwickshire.

Cheers again.

Sue

[AliJax]

Hi Sue, We've moved (the same weekend as Foolsgold) into Howick out of our rental hell & absolutly love it.

In rush hour it takes me (from leaving at 0740) 40-50 minutes into Newmarket.

If you can get in a quiet street do so because there are the hoons with their big bore exhausts - but they are everywhere any way !

The shops into Howick are run by genuinely friendly people, even in Foodtown. You have a short run out to Botany (brilliant shopping & entertainment centre complex).

Avoid the front at Eastern Beach - this is a cruising zone during the summer & a hang out for kids at night. Bucklands Beach is really nice as too is Half Moon Bay, Cockle bay was a little too pricey for us for what we wanted, and just that little further out for my comute to be under an hour.

The schools as you pointed out are McCleans & Howick both are decent - check out their individual websites for info.

If there are any specifics you'd like me to look at for you ask a way.

[annaerb]

Agree with the others. Any of the areas around Howick are fine.
I live about 30 mins from Howick/Botany at a place called Maraetai (My Right eye) .
I have a daughter in yr 10 (14) at Howick College and have no problems although I'm still trying to figure out the NCEA Exams for next year which is equivilent to your GCE (I think) exams. If you need to know anything thing willing to help.
www.howickcollege.co.nz
http://www.macleans.school.nz/

Carol

[Saint]

Thank you both annaerb and alijax.

Alijax - that's not a bad commuting time - if you left earlier, would it be even quicker or is that the basic time?

Glad to hear your daughter is settled well at Howick annaerb - hoping things wont be too hard on my son. Feeling guilty that we're moving him etc - especially as he's at an excellent school at the mo.

Well, if I have anymore questions, I'll keep in touch.

When you say council facilities are free - does that mean swimming pools?

Cheers, Sue

[jubjub]

Yup, swimming pools, apparently, unless you go to a class, such as aqua-aerobics, should be testing the nearest one this week hopefully! but even the classes are only a few dollars.

[Saint]

Wow, that's great - free swimming!

Paying a lot for that privelege here!

Sue

[jubjub]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/8/story.cfm?c_id=8&ObjectID=10369891

was going to put this in a new thread, but kind of made sense to go in an old Howick one...