steve_ruth_tom

We're ready and set to move to NZ. We are looking to settle around Auckland, we have a 7yr old boy so primary schools are high on our priority list. The two areas that appeal to us are Whangaparaoa / North Shore, Gulf Harbour on the whangaparoa and browns bay on the North Shore.

I will be working initially in Auckland CBD and then moving offices to Silverdale after 3-6 months. We would be grateful of any information on travelling, housing, schooling in these areas and also your views if you live there. We have spent days reading web page after web page but you cant beat opinions and experience from real people.

We are a family who like to socialize and are very outgoing, so we hope that the areas mentioned are this way inclined. if you dont think they are then let us know, if you do then tell us as much as you can.

Looking forward to your replies

Steve Ruth and Tom.

NZGrl

Hi there,

I have a 7 and a 9 year old boy and both go to Orewa Primary School which is great. They both attended Orewa North which they did not like as much as this new school. We live in Hatfields Beach and have a business in Silverdale...so its only a 10 minute drive home and I can pick the kids up from school really easily!

The area is lovely with lots to do and nice beaches etc....We also LOVE socialising but have found it quite difficult to make new friends even though we have been in NZ for over 5 years...So come over it will be nice to meet someone new!!

Any questions just send me a PM

Amanda

lardyl

We live in Red Beach, on the neck of the peninsula. Great place for kids of that age.
The commute to the CBD is not great by car, OK by ferry and OK by bus if you are close to the relevant stops or Britomart terminus. OK if you are office based or have a pool car, etc.
Silverdale is a growing community with lots of development planned.
The schools here are good for Primary - lots of choice with Catholic, Christian, state, etc all having good reputations.
Personally, I'd take Red Beach, Orewa, Whangaparoa, etc over Browns Bay in terms of cost and the laid back lifestyle. That part of the North Shore is good too though as it is close to lots of shops, ammenities and by the sea. But for *us* it is a *little* too "pressured" and crowded, not as laid back as we are here - IMHO and according to friends who have houses both on the shore (Mairangi and Browns Bays) and in Whangaparoa.
Good luck in deciding and personally I'd put up with the extra commute for a few months to live up here in Rodney.....which a recent survey said was the healthiest place with the happiest people in NZ......

lapsed kiwi

It's great up here, especially for families. Normally I'd say avoid being along the peninsula because travel to the CBD is awful, but if you're working in Silverdale (and are sure you'll be working there long term), then there are some really nice spots like Manly and the other bays. I find Gulf Harbour a bit too "legoland" for my tastes. Army Bay is nice but is right at the end of the peninsula. Orewa, Red Beach and Hatfields Beach are all nice and will be even better once the motorway extension is opened early next year. We're in Orewa and I commute to Devonport by car (40 min in rush hour). You could get to CBD in about 50min by doing the park and ride at Albany.

UKNZAUS

Hi

I'm in Orewa too but have lived in Torbay (next to Brown's Bay) and MUCH prefer my life up here. If I was looking for convenience to nice(r) shopping malls and proximity to the 'main towns' then Brown's Bay/North Shore is perfect, but for more space and an easier pace of life then up here is much much better. My on goes to Red Beach school, but have friends who have children at both Orewa schools (and I'm looking at Orewa Primary for my younger son).

There is a bus that goes from Hibiscus Coast/Silverdale right down to the city without stopping on the way down, this takes approx. 40-45 minutes to get onto Queen Street in the CBD. The beaches up this way are just simply stunning, well they are in most places but I much prefer the less crowded beaches up this way (except for Orewa in summer - that's when every man and his uncle come, that's how nice it is).

If you want/need anymore help just holler x

Michelle

Batty

Hi there. IMO if you like socialising and a bit of something going on you'd be happier in Browns Bay. There's no doubt it's really beautiful farther up (so is Browns Bay) but for me it's a bit quiet. A bit too suburban. And I'm no party animal

scrubbedexpat094

We live in Gulf Harbour & love it. Yes some parts look like legoland/toytown but there are also plenty of kiwi-type houses. We are 10 mins away from Shakespear Regional Park which has some lovely walks & a great beach for the kids, Te Haruhi beach.

No school age children but alot of our friend's children go to Gulf Harbour school & seem to be doing very well. They love going to school which I think is a big plus. It has good facilities, at least two great playgrounds, computers etc.

Travelling - there are two ferries/day to & from the CBD. They leave Gulf Harbour marina at 7am & 7.30am & return at 4.40pm & 5.35pm. Takes 50mins. There's a bar on board so friday afternoon is beer time . For more info take a look at 360discovery.co.nz. If I need to be in the office earlier then I take the car usually takes about 45-60mins. There is a bus service but I've never got it so can't give you any info on that.

There are two bars in GH, Pacific Bar & Neptune's & also a restaurant Carpe Diem. Quiz night on a Wednesday at Neptune's is fun. Both bars have live music on usually at weekends. Manly is 5 mins away by car & has some good places to eat or get a takeout, Sparx, Thai, pizzeria, a new Indian opening soon, Japanese, Chinese & a chippy (though I don't rate that one, a much better one in Whangaparaoa).

If you want anymore info, please PM me