[CjChris]

Ok, I'm sorting papers and fretting over the ITA (due in a few weeks) and need a nice break...so, thought I'd post a question here.

My OH and I have been researching where to live when we come to NZ..of course we'll visit a few places before deciding for sure, but we really, really love what we've discovered about Wanganui!!

I know smiler lives near there because I've been drooling over her lovely house and garden photos...but who else is there (or near)?

I've read in different places that Wanganui is 2.5 hours from Welly, but a map I found online said 8 hours! Which is it? I need to know this because my daugthers (22 and 18) may live there rather than with the OH and me (the oldest has previously been in Welly/Lower Hutt area on volunteer holiday).

Basically what I'd like to know about Wanganui are questions like...

are there many choices regarding things to do (other than outdoors events, because we know there's plenty of that everywhere!)...like art/music/social things to do?

many choices to eat out (like to do this once in a while..!)

good places to grocery shop, get fresh produce (we may grow some of our own), get wine?

movie theater?

Broadband internet?

Cell service?

Crime? Bad areas?

Thanks bunches for anyone who offers your two cents' worth :nice1

[Smiler]

8 hours to Welly hahaahhaahahah! :laugh:laugh:laugh Yes that's via Napier!


Have read your post and PM, just running off out for the day so will reply in detail later, if that's ok? :)

[CjChris]

Glad to hear that map was wrong!! I thought those roads must REALLY be steep and curvy for it to be such a long drive!!!!

Write back any time, Smiler...no prob.

Another question....are housing prices really as affordable as my research tells me?? Wait, shhhhh...whisper that answer, don't want the masses to know....

:raebanana

I love that dancing banana!

Christine :laugh

[Smiler]

:raebanana:raebanana

Have PM'd you some bedtime reading, Christine.

Let me know if I've missed anything. :D

[CjChris]

..Smiler...some reading that was!! Thank you heaps for all the info. All the paperwork for the ITA had squashed my excitement over the move, now it's back! Yippeee...I want to go NOW :D

By the way, I should know how to properly pronounce Wanganui if I'm to live there!...can you confirm: is it "wanga-nooee" or "wonga-nooee"?

Christine