Hebe

So we were settled on St Heliers/kohi/mission bay areas - hubbie has had a good look around there and loves it. I am coming in three weeks to try to secure a rental or buy. However it now turns out we can't keep two dogs in these areas unless we get a permit which includes getting permission from the neighbours etc etc so that scuppers those plans

Now looking at North Shore were it appears you can keep two dogs without a permit.

In light of this can anyone recommend some good areas about 10k max to CBD - budget for rental up to 5k a month. Been told Castor Bay nice but this was from a friend of a friend so not sure and not many rentals on Trade Me for this area.

All suggestions gratefully received. Many thanks

A Rush And A Push

I didn't know the regs for dogs were different in different bits of Auckland but you're right, they are. Must be a hangover from when there were several different councils.

Most of the North shore is very nice, especially the bits nearer the coast. 10k from CBD would take you as far as about Milford/Castor Bay I think. Devonport has a reputation of being a bit staid/tea shoppy but has some lovely beaches (as does all the Shore, tbh) and you can get the ferry to CBD from there (the one road in and out gets v busy I believe). Takapuna is maybe the closest thing to the "town centre" of the Shore with some bars, cafés, mall etc.

You can't really go wrong near the sea on the shore for areas. East of the motorway is most expensive. Friends lived in Birkenhead (west of motorway) which seemed nice - a little further to the west, Beachhaven can get a bit scruffy (but not downright rough). All of the Shore near the city is pricey but for $5K a month you should be fine! If I had that to spend on housing I'd find a nice house near an east coast beach...

davros1984

Wow, 5K a month on *rent*, I assume NZD. That is a lot.

You'll have no probs renting a decent house on the Shore for that. I would check out Milford, Castor Bay, Mairangi Bay and surrounding areas. Browns Bay, Long Bay and Torbay are possibly a bit too far.

Good luck!

Hebe

Thanks for that - will carry on searching but not many rentals at present in Milford area

I gave the rental price so that people who live there or know the areas will point me to the right location. I would rather not rent but having thought about it I think it would be silly to buy straight off.

sarahw

I live in Mission Bay and there are quite a few people with more than one dog so it can't be that hard.

It does say on the council website that "If you don't get all your neighbours’ signatures, please explain why. Sometimes neighbours refuse consent for no good reason, so please tell us if this is the case" and I don't think they generally stop you registering the second dog if you've got a stroppy neighbour.

You might actually find it harder to find a rental that will let you have dogs than the registration process. Good luck.

Northern Henry

Read with interest, in similar position for this spring..Would the North Shore not give extra issues with traffic on the commute...I've written this area off as a sensible route into City Hospital due to the bridge traffic?

A Rush And A Push

Depends what time of day you would be commuting to Auckland Hospital - would you be on shifts or in a 9-5?

Northern Henry

9-5 ish but on-call commitments

mickey_d

Wow, I want your job! I could move into a rental down our road & commute to work every day by air & still have plenty left from my budget

A Rush And A Push

Then yes, the commute from the Shore would add to your commute quite a lot. Plenty of people do it though - hence the congestion. But if I was working at Auckland hospital with (I assume) a very reasonable amount to spend on rent/mortgage - Kohi/St Heliers/Mission Bay would be my choice. Parnell, Remuera and Mt Eden are all v close to the hospital too (though not beach suburbs).

Northern Henry

Yep one of those the likely haunt,

Just trying to weigh up Primary schools, Meadowbank seems popular...

Sorry Hebe, didn't mean to hijack your post

bearskin

Is the job an easy commute from the Ferry Terminal downtown? In that case, my choice for renting would be Devonport and get to work on the ferry, with a walk on the other side - almost painless.

For long-term and buying though you may want more than Devonport has to offer - in terms of access to other places, schools etc.

I'd put my neck out and say Castor Bay has the reputation of being the best regarded of the Shore coastal suburbs. In sweeping generalisations though, the common consensus seems to be the further south, the better - so Milford beats Castor Bay, Browns Bay beats Torbay etc. I would imagine it has a lot to do with proximity to town though, for the commute.

FWIW I would buy reasonably quickly - around Easter is good buying time. I can only see prices going up.

gazmac

Hebe - Did you conside West Auckland? Titirangi ect ect, from a dog walking perspective access to the west coast beaches like Bethells, Huia or the Waitakere Ranges is easier. Might not have that North shore buzz but its not a bad place to settle.

Henry - I used to live in Meadowbank and it is a very family orientated suburb.
you have good bus and rail links into the CBD. there is also a supermarket and small mall close by which makes the usual afterwork trips for milk or bread less of a chore.

Less than a 10 minute drive to Mission bay, St Helliers, Kohimarama as well.

Hebe

Thanks for your replies. Very helpful.

Gazmac - hubbie looked at titirangi but said too far out for him. We also looked at a fabulous house in swanson butmthatmis the same

gazmac

Geographically the NS may appear closer but overall commute times may even things out depending on times, location ect ect.

Devenport is nice and handy for the ferry to CBD.

As someone mentioned previously Parnell is a good option if living by the water is not the be all and end all.

No idea about restrictions on dogs in these areas though.