[RMJ]

Hiya

Well we are busy applying for jobs. It looks like we will be ending up working in Palmerston North Hospital.

The question is we would ideally like to buy a lifestyle block. We are the best possible areas for this regarding location, schools commuting distance etc.

I have read through previous threads and it seems like south of Palmerston North seems the better choice. Am I right? Any areas to avoid?

Thanks in advance.

Robin.

[dawn]

Yay Robin!! That's great, we're going to Palmy too :D

I'll be able to answer your questions from 7th July.

[Diny]

I live just south of Palmy in a small village called Ashhurst. Yes this side of the town is considered to be the 'poshest' but there's nice areas all around here.

There's a huge amount of lifestyle blocks springing up for sale, the Pohangina Valley is particularly nice - and the views are just magical.

Other areas you may wish to consider are Feilding, Colyton and anywhere around there. I particularly like Feilding - a small farming town which has a lovely feel to it.

As for schools, that was one of the reasons that made us move to Ashhurst, out here we have (what is considered to be) the best junior school in the area. I've recently been looking at other schools but have realised that people are probably right in that consideration.

There are some good senior schools in Palmy too, the Boys High and the Girls High being the best (IMHO). Unless I win the lottery and am able to send my boys to a private school (oh how I wish I could do that) our only consideration will be Palmerston North Boys High School. They are a zoned school. Out here in Ashhurst we don't come under any zone (school wise) so we have to apply for a place at our preferred school. PNBH will take boys under certain criterea (sp) - one being the fact that if your father attended the school you are in. Thankfully my husband did - what a relief. Anyway, enough about schools.

One thing that I really like about PN and the surrounding areas is that it's off the tourist track, no white water rafting, bungy jumping and extreme sports. This is the 'real' NZ - warts and all. Being a non-touristy kind of place means the prices for property are good - in some places very good !!

There are some wonderful bush walks and hiking tracks with DOC huts. Great rivers for canoeing and swimming and a 5 min drive out of PN you're in rolling farm land with wonderful views of the Tararuas and the Ruahines.

PN itself is a great town (it actually has city status but don't let that fool you). It manages to keep hold of the small town feel yet offers everything you could possibly want/need. It's a uni town (Massey) so it has a very vibrant feel to it, lots of bars and cafes - and although we don't 'get out much' (how sad) it's a great place to spend a night out, especially in the summer as there's often free bands and concerts in the square. It's an extremely easy place to find your way around as it's set out on a grid system, after a couple of days driving around you'll know it like the back of your hand.

The hospital is very modern and clean looking - thankfully I've not had cause to actually visit it yet (touch wood). Thinking about the location of the hospital, easy commute living areas would be Feilding, Kelvin Grove, Ashhurst, Pohangina. Don't be pulled in by the cutesy name of Bunnythorpe either - it's a dive of a place. Just a power station and a railway line - not pretty.

If there's any specific details you need to know please feel free to ask, I'm only too happy to help. Hope your arrangements run smoothly and that we'll see you over here soon.

Diny

[Diny]

Yay Robin!! That's great, we're going to Palmy too :D

I'll be able to answer your questions from 7th July.

Hey Dawn, have you decided on Palmy now, I thought you were going to Levin, or am I getting confused (most likely).

Diny

[dawn]

No, you're not cofused, we're indecisive!

We started off with Palmy, then changed to Levin, but I knew something wasn't right with us going to Levin, so we've definitely decided on Palmy now. My job is in Palmy centre (just off Ferguson Street) and I told hubby that we're going out to NZ to change our lifestyle, if I still have to drive 40 mins to get to work, it's not going to be too much of a change (in my routine I mean). I'd still be getting home at 4.30(ish) everyday, still setting off at 7.30. And I know it sounds daft because it is going to be different, but I want it all to be different. We've put a bond down on a house in Palmy that is 1k from my office and 750mtrs from the kids school (Palmerston North Intermediate Normal), which means a big difference, we can walk! At the moment, the kids have a 30 minute bus ride to school. I can walk to work in 5 mins.

Hubby will have to drive, because he'll be in Ohakea, but at the moment, he walks to work! The world is turning on it's head!

And besides all that, the kids are still pretty young and we think that there'll be more for them to do in Palmy, Chris and I can always move to Levin once they're in Uni (about 5 years time).

So, in the end, Levin just didn't make sense, but I will live by the sea one day!

[marcia]

Seems like there will be a few of us heading in the direction of Palmy from the forum.

We still have to sell the house and complete the ITA, (and get Visa's) but we would like to be there by the end of the year at the latest!!

Waiting to have a proper look at areas and commuting times till we get there. Kev will be working for palmy council, we have 3 boys, 10, 8 and 2 so will be looking for good schools and kindy, would like to buy a plot of land and build our own house (we already know a good builder out there!! ;) )

So great to know there will be a few others from the forum around to meet up with!!

[Diny]

Palmerston North Intermediate Normal ..... hubby went there too !! Give us a yell when you arrive, we'll 'do lunch'.

Diny

[dawn]

Give us a yell when you arrive, we'll 'do lunch'.
I haven't done lunch in FOREVER!! That would be lovely.

Maybe we should arrange a Palmy mini-meet too :D

[RMJ]

Thanks for the replys and info

Much appreciated

[felix]

Hello RMJ!! Kate myself and our 3 nippers have been here since April 2005..we adore Palmy a great place to live. There is so much to do wether you have kids or not, we fancied a lifestyle block too but in the end we settled for a house just 2ks out of town with views in lovely area..life style was not an option for us in the end cos of driving..i go in and out of town about 3-4 times a day..school runs, play groups etc.etc. Don't think there are any areas to avoid (other than one or 2 areas in town), Feilding is great value for money as is Ashurst..both about 20 mins to the hospital. Feilding is the larger of the 2, supermarkets etc etc, but Ashurst, lovely as it is does not have the same facilities..however it is nestled in the feet of spectacular ranges and wind turbines, not to mention the mighty Manawatu River and the even mightier gorge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So you takes yer choice outta those 2..convenience of Feilding agin the raw beauty but outta the way Ashurst. I would love to live in either..far better value for money and so on but its the 3 kids under 6 thing..there are soooooooooooooooooooooo many things for kids of that age to do..and the adults can enjoy the 72 restaurants, many bars, art gallery, 3 theatres, 15 cinemas, museum, 19 public parks, many walkways, mini golf, real golf, go karting..indoor and outdoor, jetboating..thats nearer to Ashurst, white water rafting 20 mins away and more to boot!! You have a lot to look forward to!! Kate works at the hospital as a perm nite nurse 4 nites a week..she loves it!!!!!!! If you want to know more please feel free to get in touch. NZ is everything we came for and more. Will never willingly return to the UK!!!!!!! Kind regards, Dom.

[felix]

Dear Dawn..good choice..Palmy's great..that's not to say Levin is not..its just a hell of a drive 2 times a day five times a week!!!!!!! Think of all the time you will be able to stay snuggled in bed. As you can see from my post to RMJ we are very up tempo about Palmy and the general area..unlike John Cleese!!!!! Please feel free to give us a shout when you get here...not long now ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh!!!!!! :cheers

Life is so good here (in spite of a problematic year for me changing from breadwinner to beleagured house dad)....still all worth it. I'm just like you and soooooooooooooooo wanna live by the sea.......just spent a weekend in the peeing rain at Peka Peka beach (sounds great eh?? near Waikanae...only 1 hr away..we only saw the sea once a year in Northampton, we can see it every week now!!!) listening to beach FM..inspite of the weather it was still great...I guess the beach will have to wait a bit until the kids are older, the facilities here for kids are bordering on perfect..no one ever gets bored. Hey, look forward to meeting you in July and hopefully Dinny too, best wishes to you all, Dom, Kate et al XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx :raebanana :nice1 :clap

[Diny]

Dom & Kate - where are you in Palmy? We're out in Ashhurst (don't forget the 2 h's). It's a cracker of a place out here - abit like the back of beyond within easy reach of civilisation.

Palmy is looking like quite a popular place for forumites, not only Dawn & Co arriving soon but Marcia, Kev & Clan. Also Helen & John (not been on the forum for a while cos their pc has only just arrived) are here too. In fact, there's a good few of us here.

This area is just wonderful for 'getting on' don't you think. Great housing at great prices - off the tourist run, scenic, easy roads, great shopping and eateries (in Palmy) ..... everything you need.

By the way - have noticed in an earlier post I wrote that we are south of Palmy when we're actually north (but hey - guess it depends which way you hold the map).

Hope to meet up with you soon, when the others arrive and the weather is better we could arrange a get together somewhere.

Diny

[felix]

Blimey Diny you are a senior member..how many thousands of posts have you done?? We are just off Summerhill Drive, by the Fitzherbert bridge..you are right Diny about great houses and great prices too in this region. We really like Ashurst..we go to the Herb gdn and the Domain..great place eh? I am a househusband with 3 under 6's..find the change from being the breadwinner a tough one but it is well worth it to live in this awesome place. Sounds a great for all of us to get together..I know a few chums in Palmy we could have a bit of a get together what..share info, ideas and gossip!!!!!! How long you been here Diny? what does your partner do? Kate's a nurse..loves her job at the hospital in Ruahine St, anyways look forward to hearing from you..if you PM me I will send you our details, kind regards, Dom, Kate and the Littlies XXX

[Diny]

Ashhurst Domain - my sister in law works at the cafe there - have you been? We went to the domain on Christmas day which was abit strange.

Herb farm is great - the warm raspberry and white chocolate muffins are to die for.

We've been here for a year now but have visited NZ on many many occasions before living here, hubby is a Kiwi so trips to see the outlaws were a fairly regular thing.

He lived in Ruahine Street for many years !!

He works for an oil company and his 'office' is wherever he's needed. He's just finished a contract in Egypt and is about to return to West Africa, he works month on month off.

We're moving house at the moment - did the bulk of it today - should finish off tomorrow. Staying in Ashhurst. We also own a rental property out here in Ashhurst too.

Meeting up would be great. I think the next couple of weeks or so are going to be hectic but after that will be a good idea. Our boys are 9 & 10 and go to Ashhurst school - what school does your eldest go to?

Keep in touch Dom and we'll get something sorted for a get together - I'll have a word with Helen & John - due to call them over the next day or so.

I recently went back to the UK for 3 weeks (solo trip) and Mark was a househusband while I was away. He loved every minute of it, agreed it was tough work but right up his alley. Don't know how he'd manage full time like you though - good on you !!!

Speak soon.

Diny

[voth30]

Hi All,

It seem that there a couple of us now/in the near future and it warrant a mini meet sometime.

Vincent

[dawn]

If it's near the end of July, count us in, gives us time to settle in a little. Might even offer to host it as part of our "country" warming! lol Hubby only needs a tiny excuse to buy his new bbq!

[felix]

:yes Hello Vince..we have been here 14 months now..we are off Clifton Tce, off Summerhill Drive. Kate's a nurse and I am trying to be a house dad with 3 x under 6's!!!!!! I am still sane thus I guess I am winning!!! Give us a PM and I will pass you on my phone no and address if you would like to come over. How long you been here?? Great innit, aye????? Look forward to hearing from you, kind rgeards, Dom. :raebanana :cheers :roll