[real_sunfire]

As most of you know we originally were going to live on Waiheke Island - which seemed to be the ideal community (pretty alternative/green outlook)- but my fiancee is now pregnant we have been doing some re-thinking. Caz doesn't want to be isolated and doesn't want me doing a long commute - she was worried about the length of the ferry journey and me then trying to get to work.

Unfortunately we weren't planning to living in Auckland itself. Therefore I feel a bit a clueless about where to live in Auckland even after looking at some of the threads on the forums. We are planing to uby the book "Where to live in Auckland" but would like people's opinions.

Our main requuirements are:

* Ability to get to CBD without a car (i.e. walk/bus/train/bicycle) with no more than
an hour's (30 mins would be perfect) commute each way. Being environmental
aware we would rather try to live without a car if we can.
* A good bus//train service both during the day and at night.
* a good range of shops including such things as supermarkets, baker, greengrocer,
deli, etc.
* Has restaurants and pubs
* Plenty of greenery - parks or bush or other green spaces.
* plenty of things for my fiancee to do during the day when she is at home looking
after the baby.
* An area which doesn't shutdown after 6pm - we don't want to live in a dead
surburb which is empty and dark in the evenings.
* A place which is a community rather than just a place to live.

Any advice on where to live in Auckland which meets the above requirements?

Also any links to photos, webcams, and detailed descriptions of the suburbs you suggest gratefully received, thank you.

Rgds.,
Nick.

[KerryS]

Reading your list of requirements the places that spring to mind are Grey Lynn and Mt Eden. Both are in easy commuting distance of the CBD and have a nice community feeling. No trains, but plenty of buses to both, and both walkable too, although bit of a trek (but I've walked further).
Also Kingsland, which is a booming area - train station, few nice stores, but no supermarket, Mt Eden is only 10 mins walk though.
Grey Lynn would be my choice, just because it is such a fab area. There's a very arty, hippy feel to the place. Excellent restaurants, good deli, wonderful butcher and grocer (supermarket too but I don't go there too much).
If you want more info just ask.

Here are a couple of websites I found:
http://greylynn.nz.co.nz/greylynn/home/default.asp
http://www.greylynn.org.nz/

There is even a dedicated weather page!
http://www.greylynnweather.net/

[Park City Partner]

Can't really help too much as I live on the Northshore and I don't think any place here really meet your criteria comletely. Devonport and Birkenhead would probably come the closest.

I moved here in April and had my baby here in June so if you have any questions about having a baby in NZ feel free to PM. I used a specialist and had a mid-wife through him for my after care and both were GREAT! So, if you end up on the North Shore and need recommendations, let me know. Good luck with your move!
Amy

[KerryS]

Devonport and Birkenhead are fine if you don't mind the commute by ferry to the CBD. Other than that though, neither have a fantastic community atmosphere.
If you don't mind a longer trek into the CBD then Titirangi is a possibility, but is dead at night. Personally I would go for one of the city suburbs - Grey Lynn, Freemans Bay etc are excellent areas and have really good, friendly feeling to them.

[jubjub]

Not an expert opinion, but somewhere like Beachlands might suit you, its got a ferry to the CBD, it is rural, and more of a community, but the downside is there is not much in the way of major amenities, it has a supermarket etc, but not much in the way of other shopping, you would need to come into Botany for that.

An area I do know well is and may be worth considering is Howick/Half Moon Bay/Bucklands Beach, again you have a ferry available from Half Moon bay, Howick has a lovely village feel to its main street, with some good cafes etc and is also near to two big shopping centres (Botany & Sylvia Park).

There is also plenty to do with a baby, music groups, play groups and the local pool is free with a lovely separate baby pool, you also have the advantage of beaches nearby too.

Depending on who you have for your maternity carer, you can either go to Middlemore or Auckland city to have the baby, or use a birthing centre, there is one at Botany and Parnell. I used a specialist for our baby last year, and went to Auckland city.

The only thing I would add is that with a baby in tow, life without a car can be a challenge, although my one friend does manage 4 out of 5 days without one. So you could maybe just have one small car if you found it a bit much, personally I am too attached to mine to even think about not having it! Although I do walk to quite a few places from my home.

[Smiler]

although my one friend does manage 4 out of 5 days without one.

Nooo Sal you've got us lot too! :D :p

[jubjub]

Nooo Sal you've got us lot too! :D :p
:laugh :nice1 OK, my grammar was all to pot (i blame the wine!)

[Rose]

Nick

Ponsonby would be excellent. Big parks, views, easy walk to town, lots and lots of cafes and Magazino, a magazine and newstand with lots of international publications. Around Ponsonby are St Mary's Bay, Herne Bay and Freeman's Bay. As a student, before prices went up, I lived in these areas (as well as Kingsland) and regularly walked to the university or to town.

From Kingsland to town there is a walking path (maybe even a cycle way these days) to town. Auckland Regional Council should have info and maps on walking and cycling. You can get buses and trains from Kingsland but the buses are better.

Devonport, across the harbour, is lovely too but a bit less lively and people at home with babies might feel a bit isolated.

Best way to find out: go and have a potter around.

Good luck!
Rose

[Rose]

I had a little look at the Auckland Regional Council website and the Auckland City Council website and I can't say I am hugely enlightened. They seem very bureaucratic, more interested in describing strategies than providing useful cycling maps, grrrr. We are lucky in Sweden - we have lots of cycle routes, most of them away from traffic. And maps to show you where.

Anyhow, city council:
http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/auckland/transport/bikes/default.asp

You could think about Westmere too and Pt Chevalier by the sea. You can walk around Meola Reef, an old volcanic tongue that extends out into the sea and now has walking paths and native trees on it, from there...

Have a good look before you discount Waiheke island for good. You will find a community there and cafes. Maybe you can get some house sitting or something so you can test drive different locations...

Rose

[jo-and-jeff]

We lived in Freeman's Bay right next to Ponsonby for 3 months, and loved it. Walking distance (although a fair walk) to the CBD, lots of nearby shops, pubs, cafes, restaurants, a library, fairly lively at night. Western Park (http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/places/parks/westernpark.asp) a large, landscaped area is nearby.

I would usually go for a daily walk down the lively Ponsonby Road and often saw Mums (and Dads) with prams, some even appeared to have organized groups for that purpose.

If you haven't already gotten Where To Live In Auckland (http://www.wheretoliveinauckland.co.nz), I highly recommend it.

[Oregonkiwi]

* Ability to get to CBD without a car (i.e. walk/bus/train/bicycle) with no more than
an hour's (30 mins would be perfect) commute each way. Being environmental
aware we would rather try to live without a car if we can.
* A good bus//train service both during the day and at night.
* a good range of shops including such things as supermarkets, baker, greengrocer,
deli, etc.
* Has restaurants and pubs
* Plenty of greenery - parks or bush or other green spaces.
* plenty of things for my fiancee to do during the day when she is at home looking
after the baby.
* An area which doesn't shutdown after 6pm - we don't want to live in a dead
surburb which is empty and dark in the evenings.
* A place which is a community rather than just a place to live.

As Kerry mentioned, Mt Eden has all these things. It's about an hour's walk into the city, and there are plenty of buses. The shops in "Mt Eden village" include good bakeries, excellent greengrocer and butcher etc, lots of cafes and restaurants, good little book store, etc etc. Mt Eden itself (the volcanic cone which gives the neighbourhood its name) is a large park and there are plenty of other parks and green spaces. There are lots of community events like Artists in Eden. There is a Playcentre on Poronui Street and lots of kindies.
http://www.mounteden.co.nz/
As of next Wednesday I'm going to be living in Mt Eden, so i may be a little biased ;) but I think it's a great area. Feel free to PM me.
Avril