[the emery family]

Hi all. My husband has a job in Takapuna starting January 2007 and so we're moving from London. We're really excited but don't know much about the areas in North Shore and would like to start to do some flathunting before we come out there. We'll be looking to rent a nice family home and ideally, having lived in London and being currently spoiled for choice of cafes, bars, shops within 10 minutes walk, would like to find somewhere that will still be lively with plenty to do - also somewhere with nice parks/play areas nearby for our little girl who will have just turned 2 when we arrive. We've so far heard that Takapuna is nice but v expensive, and that Devonport is lovely but has a slightly older resident profile, ie people tend to move here when they retire. Also, we have been told that Browns bay is nice, and also Milford. Does anyone have any comments about these or suggestions as to other good places to look?

Also, i currently work in the UK but won't have a job when i come to New Zealand so i'd love to meet some other mums with young ones (the thought of losing my antenatal coffee circle and our long hours over lunch/cake and gossip is a scary one!!!) but also any other young couples who like to socialise - we love a glass of wine and and are both really sociable so keen to make friends.

Hope to hear from someone....!

[Milliemoo]

Hi there,

We're moving to Devonport in November, and we're a lonnnnnnnng way off retiring :p

At the risk of sounding like a broken record.... we LOVE Devonport :D It is expensive, and we'll have a similar size mortgage to what we have here in Edinburgh, but the benefits totally outway any risk of a large mortgage.

There are parks, beaches, restuarants, cafes, bars, local shops, supermarket, cinema and a ferry to the city...what more could you ask for. Oh, and a fabby Thai take-away :)

We were staying there last November as part of our honeymoon. To see some pics, have a look at our blog www.milliemoomclean.blogspot.com.

I've got copies of the local community news letter if you'd like them. Just shout.

Milliemoo ;)

[KerryS]

I agree with Milliemoo - Devonport is nice, albeit quite expensive in some parts. I wouldn't say it is really a retirement area per se either. The one drawback is the horrific commute, as there is only one road off the penninsula. It's great if heading into the city by ferry, but rush-hour traffic is awful.
If your husband is going to be working in Takapuna you could consider some of the city suburbs - reverse communting over the bridge is usually fine. St Mary's Bay, Herne Bay, and surrounds are all lovely areas.

[Park City Partner]

Both Devonport and Takapuna are nice. I also like the Birkenhead area. The point about traffic from Devonport is a good one.

Certainly get hold of me when you arrive in January as at the moment I am not working and have a 3.5 month old girl. I have a good coffee group going and am always game for meeting new folks.

Good luck with the move!

Cheers, Amy

[Babette & Andy]

Welcome to the forum Emery family! Thanks for your pm - I've replied a few minutes ago.

As you can read on our blogsite, my saviour has been joining the local playcentre with our youngest (www.playcentre.co.nz) I think it's a wonderful way to meet people and start making new friends, as well as a great place for our youngest to get into 'mucky play' rather than doing this in our rental!

Let me know if there's anything else I can tell you.

Babette

[Jax]

Just add my cents - I was born in Takapuna and if theres any place in the world I would want to live, its there, I love it.

I'm currently in London, moving back early next year but I fear Taka is going to be too expensive for us. If you have any specifics the ask about the North Shore feel free to ask

[the emery family]

Hi all, that's really helpful thank you. Never heard of hernes bay and st marys bay, are they in auckland city itself? Amy, you're on for that coffee (and of course the obligatory bit of cake...) Can't wait to meet some great new pals!
Any other views on great places to live? We want at least 3 beds, somewhere that is in good condition ideally with a bit of outdoor space but close to lots of stuff to do, and have a budget of up to 550/600 per week.

[Park City Partner]

I think that budget will work. We live in Glenfield and have a 4 bedroom with 2 car garage and big back yard and pay $450/week. Takapuna and Devonport are more expensive but that budget should get you something that will work.

As for that cake....I have a huge sweet tooth and already know the place in Takapuna where we can meet. In fact, I am in there so often they know me! But they have lovely sweets...one of the owners trained in France...yum!

Look forward to meeting and let me know if you have other questions I might be able to answer. Also, Babette is a good friend, a wealth of information and the queen of playcentre!

[the emery family]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I'm going to go away and look at some other areas too now. I'd only considered the north shore so i'll also have a look at herne bay etc.

The cake sounds far too good Amy, let's absolutely do that. When we do arrive, what's the best way for me to contact you?

Babette, thanks also for your pm. Great suggestion about meeting up and coming to playcentre with you, i'd also really love to do that and i'm sure that Ava would relish some new friends to play with!

I'd also love to know whether there are such things as "play cafes" in auckland - a great concept that has just opened up in our town in surry. a huge coffee shop with homemade food that has a big safe enclosed play area in the corner with tons of tons so that you can sit and chat, eat, drink, gossip whilst the little ones play safely..........it's a real godsend and i was curious to know whether that exists over there?

[jubjub]

Over here with have play places, a Lollipops playland and Chipmunks, soft play for little ones, and big slides for older ones, all around a cafe.. good for coffee group meets.