[andrewandjane]

hi were are aiming to be in NZ end of feb, and are considering living on waiheke? I will be commuting into cbd. any views or information on the island and what its like.

heard you have to collect own rain water etc. (I think this is great but jane;s a bit worried about it) any advice welcome or information on what to expect.

thanks

Andrew & Jane

[gil]

Hi Andrew and Jane,
Sorry, I can't help with your question in really informative terms, but poeple who I know live there wouldn't live anywhere else! Come to think of it, I'm sure there's someone on here who either lives or lived on Waiheke. (I can see it from where we live but as I haven't been there yet am worse than useless to you. :o)

http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/auckland/introduction/waiheke/default.asp links to Auckland City Council's pages for Waiheke, may be soething on there?
All the best,
Gil

[andrewandjane]

thanks, I have had a good look on councils website as thats who i wil be working for

will carry on looking .

ta

[jubjub]

look for posts by JonSE he lived there for a while and loved it.. but had to move... for better job prospects

[Debbie]

To the best of my knowledge there is no mains water and no sewage so its all septic tank and rain water collection. From speaking to the landlords of the place we rented it can get a bit 'dry' Feb and March so no baths only showers. You can get water tanked in. It seemed frightening to me but I since seem places on the mainland just the same. You need to get all that checked out when you buy and there are checks you can have done/ filters added for water purity.
If you don't mind PM me your address I can post you last weeks Waiheke Week paper. It's only small but the adds will give you an idea of services on the island and local views. I got it for details of the wine festival :cheers at the begining of Feb. If it's any help I can send you details of the Bach we rented might be an idea to try a few weeks rent there to see if you like Island life before having to commit to a 6 mth rental.
Debbie

[dean1968]

I know someone who use to live there. There is a high turnover people don't seem to last long there, a couple of years at most. It is an idyllic location. IF you have megabucks or if you are DIY = Do it yourself capable handy man you will be fine. Can fix things when it breaks down. Do repairs etc.

The problem is the commute it becomes a drag, essential services, like hospital, or schools for kids. I imagine things cost more and getting repairs done etc are expensive.

[jonSE]

look for posts by JonSE he lived there for a while and loved it.. but had to move... for better job prospects


Yeah we had to move to Australia LOL. Nothing to do with Waiheke - just NZ.

I know someone who use to live there. There is a high turnover people don't seem to last long there, a couple of years at most. It is an idyllic location. IF you have megabucks or if you are DIY = Do it yourself capable handy man you will be fine. Can fix things when it breaks down. Do repairs etc.

The problem is the commute it becomes a drag, essential services, like hospital, or schools for kids. I imagine things cost more and getting repairs done etc are expensive.

There seem to three tribes on Waiheke - the move there for the summer tribe, the live there for a couple of years tribe and the settlers who live there forever. I can without doubt say that we would have stayed probably forever had the right employment opps been available (on the mainland not the Island)

So long as you are working in the CBD and within a walk or short bus ride to the ferry terminal The commute has to be one of the best in the world. Its the only commute I've had that I actually looked forwards to - 30 minutes with a coffee and your book travelling by ferry, and the ride home was even better, beer in hand banter with a few of the regulars and the little highlights now and again as the ferry stops for 10 minutes to let us all look at the whales/dolphins/orcas/penguins.

[andrewandjane]

update from asking this a while ago from UK. we are living on waiheke now and really love it.

were sure we made right decision....

[maracuja]

thanks for posting an update! It's good to hear that you're happy with it. I've been curious about people who live there, it's an area that I'm looking into.

Any problems with the rainwater issues or does that all work out pretty well?

[jonSE]

Andrew and Jane

Just looked through your blog - I really miss Waiheke but OZ isn't so bad. Don't really miss Wapping at all.

If you haven't yet, get a book called Whacker McCrackers Cafe out of the library. It's a good read, set on Waiheke, and written by Tony Ward the Photographer whose studio is across the road from Waiheke library. IIRC the library has a section on books set on Waiheke.

[movefromus]

If you don't mind me asking - how much does it cost to commute by ferry? I loved the idea of living there but it seemed expensive. I'd love a first hand account of this...are there any special deals you can get?
Thanks!

[maracuja]

I don't live in NZ yet, but I've been doing some research, and it looks like it's $300 for a monthly pass, and the pass also includes other public buses. the website with the schedule and fares info is here:
http://www.fullers.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/38

My question for anyone who lives there is, what happens if there's bad weather and the ferries can't run? or if you need to get off the island at 2am?

[andrewandjane]

thanks for posting an update! It's good to hear that you're happy with it. I've been curious about people who live there, it's an area that I'm looking into.

Any problems with the rainwater issues or does that all work out pretty well?

rainwater collection is great!

especially when you read about the proposed rises in water rates in Auckland city of 10% per year. so extra bills there. If it gets too fry you can get a water delivery anyway.
having rainwater just makes you a bit more aware about wastage and water consumption. its also a bit more environmentally freindly too:nice1 . So for us it was a big plus.

[jonSE]

I don't live in NZ yet, but I've been doing some research, and it looks like it's $300 for a monthly pass, and the pass also includes other public buses. the website with the schedule and fares info is here:
http://www.fullers.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/38

My question for anyone who lives there is, what happens if there's bad weather and the ferries can't run? or if you need to get off the island at 2am?

Bad weather cancelling the ferries is pretty rare - didn't happen to us in a year of commuting although there was one night where the early evening ferries (17:30 through to about 20:00) were cancelled - it was great all the regulars went to the pub and got drunk, got home about 21:00 and the late evening ferries were then cancelled - time to sleep under the desk if you were working really late. It does have to be pretty bad to cancel the ferries though - sitting on the lower deck in the middle of the ferry I once caught my beer bottle about a foot above the table as we fell off a wave. As a yachtie with about 30,000 miles of sea time I'ld rate that as getting near the Oh status.

If you need to get off the island at 2am it would presumably becaue of medical emergency too series to be dealt with on the island - free helo ride coming right up!

It must be acknowledged that things like early morning flights from Auckland airport will require staying on the mainland the night before. If this is rare the cheaper rental costs on the island compensate, but if your job means lots of air travel then maybe sadly Waiheke isn't an option.

[andrewandjane]

hi, ferry pass is $300 that gives you unlimited travel inlcuding all buses on island and in auckland too! so pretty good deal. the ferry was cancelled last week(was the worst storm for 20 yrs) the ferry company subsidised hotels for people or let people sleep on the boat. I got the last boat back before it was cancelled, the waves where breaking over the top of the ferry and it was like a roller coaster, the waves were huge. it was great fun. though we did have no power for almost three days.

having said that thats pretty rare and the rest of the time its a very gentle commute.

the shopping isnt the best in the world. a couple of supermarkets etc and tourist shops. but its a great community and everyone is very freindly and knows everyone else.

we love it and are sure we made the right move.only problem it is can seem expensive, but its stil loads cheaper than devonport and places like that.

the beaches are amazing to. and theres loads for little kids to do which makes it very easy to make friends if you have small kids. theres two primary schools and one secondary and theyre all good. lots of sporting activities on the island and a choice of gyms etc. and best of all its only half hour from central auckland.

ps shhh! dont let the secret out and tell everyone!