[janie]

Hi,
seeing as i got such a fantastic response to my last post, I thought I'd give it another try.
I've got a job in Auckland, hoping to go January, but we are looking for somewhere still commutable but as far out of the city as poss. (dont mind 30-40 min commute but no more or might as well stay here!) Friends have suggested Kumeu but cant find much for that area. Anyone got any ideas?
Just want a nice area for the kids, some good amenities but with plenty of greenery around!
Jane

[Jodie]

Hi Janie,

The North Shore is a lovely place in Auckland, and if you can take the ferry into work, then it's only a short 10 minute journey to the CBD. Plus the time getting to the ferry, then from the ferry landing in the CBD to your work, but I can't imagine that would take more that 40 mins.

We visited Devonport while we were there which was lovely - a real holiday village feel to it. Plus there's some other bays close by which are supposed to be nice.

Otherwise, depending on how much you're looking to soend on a house, if you've got a big lump theb I really likes St Heliers and Mission Bay - just along the coast heading East out of the city. They too have a real holiday feel to them but are quite expensive places to live. I think it's about a 15 minute commute into the city from there, but that was outside of rush hour.

Hope this helps - anyone else more knowledgable about Auckland?

Jod

[Craig]

Hi Janie,

We are currently living on the North Shore. A suburb called Birkenhead :eek I agree with Jodie, the commute by ferry would be a very pleasant way to get to work in the morning and there are several ports you can use from this side of the river. It depends on whereabouts in the city you will be working and what times you'll be commuting.

The ferry from Birkenhead costs $9 return, but there are monthly tickets available, which cost $105 (prices correct as of yesterday). if you were wanting to drive I'm not sure how long the commute would take. The Harbour bridge can be extremely busy from around 7am.

Devonport is a really nice little town right on the waterfront, but there are plenty of other good suburbs around too :yes :yes Depends on what kind of lifestyle you require.

hope this has helped. Are you planning on renting initially or buying at the outset?

[Tash]

Hi
We've been living in Auckland (Ellerslie - quite central) for the past year, having moved from Sutton Coldfield. We love Auckland, but I have to say the trafiic is a mess. It's the main reason a lot of people don't like living here. The motorways are jammed during peak times, and a lot of the time in between. We're quite central (12 km from CBD), and it takes about 25 minutes to get into and out of the city - more if you travel during the very peak time of just before 9 and just after 5.

Kumeu is a fantastic area. It's quite rural - many wineries and fruit/veggie growers. I'd love to live there. If that's the scene you're after, it'll suit you. I'd imagine that commuting will take +-40 minutes, maybe more. I've never had the courage to venture out west during heavy traffic, - it's mostly along the Northwestern motorway. Ironically, it seems that avoiding the motorways means less hassle. Off peak, it's only about 15 minutes from the city.

The North Shore is a great area, and as mentioned you can travel by ferry. The same is true if you live on the eastern end of the city (Howick area). If you want to commute for under 25 minutes, you have to stay quite centreal. Draw a 15 km ring around the CBD and that gives you an idea. Many of the central suburbs are fantastic. Large parks, good schools, safe neighbourhoods. The Eastern Bays have easy acess to great beaches. The nicer the area and the better the schools, to more you pay both for rentals and buying.

Basically, it depends on what you're after. Auckland is a small city by UK standards, but it's still a city. A lovely one, and you can choose to live on the outskirts, or more suburban. There are many projects on the go to try and improve the travel problems, but it's a few years away still. If you want anymore specific info regarding areas with schools and house values, I'll try and help.

Good luck
Tash

[Timbo]

We have been looking at various locations for a while now, and seem to getting drawn nearer to the action of Auckland. One area I have just found is the Kowhai coast north of the city. It seems to be a lovely spot by what I have seen on the net and been told by Kiwi friends. It is a 45 drive from Auckland, with the town of Warkworth being the main centre.

http://www.warkworth-information.co.nz/index.htm

[Michelle and Richard]

Janie

I would recommend you rent for a while when you arrive, this is a big (area ) city and you need to get a feel for the different areas. We have lived here before but still chose to rent to get reaquainted. Managed to get a 3 month rental that will then roll on from month to month so not tied in too much.

Personally we love Kohimarama and St Helliers, they have good facilities great walks and I believe good schools. Mount Eden and Epsom are also good, I only really know this side of the city to live in but you get more for your money over the bridge and its great if you can get work over there as well.

Michelle

[leslie]

11 years ago we lived in cambridge, south of hamilton, and i could drive to auckland in slightly over an hour - in a ute! either something has changed or the suggested time-travel-commute guides in all the books we're buying are a little pessimistic.

[Michelle and Richard]

Its much worse now, they are in the process of builing an extension to the motorway we went through at the weekend and the roadworks slowed us down. There is no way you can commute from South of Auckland into the city everyday and keep your sanity the motorway is horrendous at rush hour.

Michelle

[AliJax]

ok.....2nd Jan we'll be in Manukau City for the first two weeks (in a motel), Linda & I are looking at Bucklands Beach or on the coast (Idellic) Lindas work is in Manukau City (Middlemore).

I'll probably be working in the City (CBD what does this stand for?) for a design consultancy.

In Theory is it a good set up :yes / :no

[bbq]

I'll probably be working in the City (CBD what does this stand for?)

hiya AliJax

"Central Business District" Sounds right to me, but its a guess!!

cheers

alex :P

[Michelle and Richard]

Hi Ali

You can get the ferry from half moon bay to the city its an option we are considering as I believe the road trip is one way in and out so not great, plus you have to find somewhere to park and thats about $10 a day

Michelle

[Terry&Sophie]

Hi all,

Linda & Ali, you're looking at the same part of Auckland as Terry and I! Seeing as your going to get there first (we're aiming for end of Jan), let us know what it's like! :nice1

The job I'm aiming for ( :hopeso ) is in East Tamaki, while Terry could end up anywhere, potentially causing all of the roadworks everybody hates (he's a civil engineer :roll: ). So, Bucklands Beach area seems perfect to me, just a little far from the surfing! Terry would prefer to stay West towards the surfing - from a brief look through books and websites he likes Titrangi. No idea what the journey from there would be like for me.

Any advice on travelling/living around these areas would be great :nice1

Good luck Linda & Ali with the in-laws and the move - take care and let us know how it goes.

Sophie

[Michelle and Richard]

Hi Sophie

I work with a girl out in Titirangi takes 45 mins to an hour to get in and its not a great road. She loves it out there but it is quite different also gets very very damp so houses can have a damp smell. Its great for the west coast beaches which are about 20 mins away and you can get good views back to te city and Manakau harbour. Prices are more reasonable.

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help from this end

Michelle

[Terry&Sophie]

Thanks for the advice Michelle,

I think we'll just have to get there and have a good look around - there are things you just can't find out from reading about a place - including damp and traffic problems! It'll also help when we find out where we'll be working. I'm sure when I have more idea about that I'll be in touch for some more advice!

Thanks again

Sophie

[toots]

Kumeu is a great place, never seems to be much on the market there though. The area is scheduled for a lot of developlement, as is the Albany area and the land either side of Highway 1 North of Albany. Dairy flat and Coatesville is good too, but again scheduled for much development.

North Shore Council (and I would imagine all the other Auckland councils too) have struture plans on it's website so have a look at them. There are some areas where the housing density is very high. You may buy a house only to find that your neighbours subdivide their section and built a house in their garden.

Now that the property market is in decline the pressure may be easing a bit to use every available bit of space to built a house on.

My advice to anyone coming over here is to rent a decent house first and get a feel for the area, schools, travelling times etc. Spend some time looking before you buy. If you decide to build allow a good year for the whole project and find a reputable builder.

[Timbo]

Michelle. Could you do me a little favour, and ask the girl from Titirangi if she happens to know a guy called Barrie Mckoy ( he runs a glazing business there). If she does, get her to say hi from Tim. :cheers

[Michelle and Richard]

Hi Timbo

Asked my mate but she doesn't know him, sorry. Hopefully wont be too long before you can look him up yourself !

Michelle

[Wannaway]

Happy New Year to everyone on the forum. Its been a long time since we posted, probably a good six weeks ago now. We have been in NZ for nearly two months, which seems to have flown by.

We are in Auckland, which was not our first choice, but we are enjoying it. We are renting a place in Point Chevalier, which is a fairly quiet suburb just to west of the CBD. Close to a beach and decent parks, and only 20 mins drive from the mega shopping areas on the north shore.It takes me about 35 mins to get into work door to door by bus, and I have the luxury of a bus lane for part of that journey! Looking out to where the motorways and main roads meet in the CBD the rush hour traffic is horrendous (and I have previously lived all my life in the clogged up SE of England).

We have seen a few areas in the city and the following seem like good places to check out; Pt Chev (West of CBD), Kohimarama (East), Glendowie (East), St Heliers (east), Herne Bay (west). On the North Shore look for Northcote, Birkenhead, Chatswood, Devonport, Bayswater, Belmont, Stanley Bay (all fairly commutable to CBD by ferry). But be aware, house prices in central Auckland are very steep, more so than in the UK relative to salaries. A decent 3/4 bed house in Devonport could set you back $700k+ (but Chatswood/Northcote may only be $500k+). Some areas are ridiculous in terms of price, Parnell and Remuera are out of sight. Other areas are reasonable but are hemmed in by main roads (eg Epsom, Sandringham). Also, it is only when you get here do you get warned off areas (and not just because they are rough, I have been told don't live in such and such a place because the wind blows straight through etc, that kind of thing). Seek out the advice of locals, they are only too willing to give their opinions (just watch out for bias!).

It is worth being aware also that there has been a lot in the news recently about Auckland's rapid expansion. Current population is about 1.2m, and they think it will hit 2m within the next 30-40 years. That may seem a small number, and still a long way off, but believe me the city is cramped now and is struggling with the current popoulation. Generally the traffic and public transport system is seriously stretched or (in the case of a train service) practically non-existent. There is a lot of talk of the need for new land to cater for the growing population, and places like Kumeu and Dairy Flat are high on the city planners hit list. As for Albany, well it just looks like one huge construction site. Don't get me wrong, some nice looking houses, good size, reasonably priced etc, but it is one grand development that still has some years to run before it is completely mined out. Good shopping up there mind!

I think it is a good idea to rent for a good six months or more here if you don't know the city that well. It will give you time to work out what is important to you and then sniff out the suburbs that might suit. Also, house prices have got to stabilise here and, with a bit of luck, might start dropping in value a bit over the next year or so. Could also do with the Kiwi$ weakening and/or the pound strengthening.

Aside from the above, we like Auckland and, whilst it is a city, it doesn't feel that big and impersonal. Out of rush hour it is fairly easy to get around, but you do need a car!

Lee & Nicky