If work/money wasn't an object... where in NZ would you live?
May 24th 2011, 11:28 pm
#16
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Re: If work/money wasn't an object... where in NZ would you live?
We have just celebrated 2.5 years in NZ, more specifically in the Hibiscus Coast, and although it is beautiful up here, we are starting to feel a bit "stuck" (guess it doesn't help that we live almost at the end of the peninsula) and are considering a change of scenery.
We are both 41 this year and work for home, so all we really need is a good internet connection (or as good as it gets in NZ
), and we have no children to worry about, hence we don't need to be near schools etc.
We both enjoy kayaking so would want to be near water - sea, rivers, lakes etc. Would also want to start cycling to get fitter, but one of us is not very confident on a bike... and it's very hilly around here!! Somewhere a bit flatter would be nice... All in all we'd like somewhere nice and quiet, small enough to have a nice community feel to it with low crime rates, but big enough to have some sort of social life!
So... if you could work and live anywhere, and your salary didn't change according to location, where would you choose to live? If you already live there tell us all about it too!
We are both 41 this year and work for home, so all we really need is a good internet connection (or as good as it gets in NZ
), and we have no children to worry about, hence we don't need to be near schools etc.We both enjoy kayaking so would want to be near water - sea, rivers, lakes etc. Would also want to start cycling to get fitter, but one of us is not very confident on a bike... and it's very hilly around here!! Somewhere a bit flatter would be nice... All in all we'd like somewhere nice and quiet, small enough to have a nice community feel to it with low crime rates, but big enough to have some sort of social life!
So... if you could work and live anywhere, and your salary didn't change according to location, where would you choose to live? If you already live there tell us all about it too!
Have to say we like living here & having visited other areas of NZ, we haven't found anywhere else we'd rather be. Russell & BOI is very pretty but far too quiet for us. Taupo is lovely but I like being near the sea & too cold in Winter for me. Wellington, I found it really oppressive & OH said he would rather live in Melbourne or Sydney than Welly. ChCh was nice to visit but too quiet for me.
If money wasn't an object, then I'd live here most of the time but head back to the Northern hemisphere from June to August.
May 25th 2011, 1:44 am
#17
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Location: Up in dem hills.........
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Re: If work/money wasn't an object... where in NZ would you live?
Marlborough - Nice and flat (in parts), great climate, lots of affordable rural sections within 20mins of Blenheim/Renwick/Havelock. Broadband, the Sounds (kayaking with dolphins), wineries, skiing, Christchurch and Nelson close by.
If you are loaded the Nelson area would be a great choice as well.
If you are loaded the Nelson area would be a great choice as well.
May 25th 2011, 3:23 am
#18
Joined: Aug 2006
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Re: If work/money wasn't an object... where in NZ would you live?
I'd live right where I already do! Lucky!!!
May 25th 2011, 5:34 am
#20
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Location: Anywhere and Everywhere, we're International House Sitters! :)
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Re: If work/money wasn't an object... where in NZ would you live?
Wow, lots of great replies, interesting to see so many different responses! Thanks everyone for your input, it's great to see so many ideas/suggestions
Maybe I should clarify that when I mentioned money being no object it didn't mean we are loaded - I wish!!! Quite the opposite... we spent all our moeny bakcpacking!
(no regrets though). Just meant that moving wouldn't really impact on our income as the main provider (him indoors) works for a UK company and his salary remains the same regardless of where we live.
I fear that we have been really spoilt and have become rather demanding
We want it all! lol. Agree that the Bay of Islands is beautiful but really wouldn't see ourselves living there, far too quiet particularly in the winter and far too remote. We'd like to be a couple of hours from one of the main 3 airports really... did consider Warkworth as it's so close to so many beautiful places on the coast. But not sure we want to move further north.
The north of the South Island is also very tempting for the natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities it offers, but again a bit isolated perhaps? Totally love the SI (hey, we got married there!
) but I already spent 10 years being cold in the UK 
, so would rather stay somewhere warmer... (sorry Sue! Chch does hold a special place in my heart but far too cold for little me ). Guess windy Welly wouldn't be for me either then?
So yes, as bo-jangles rightly pointed out, I think we are indeed limited for choice as it'll be difficult to find a place that ticks all the boxes. Having said that, we visited Cambridge at the weekend and it does tick many of them! About the right size, nice and flat, lovely countryside around it, big lake for kayaking, 1 hour drive to either coast, 2 hrs to the airport, and close enough to many destinations for weekends away... we are very tempted!!
Cheaper to rent too which would allow us to save some money to either buy a place of our own or go travelling again
Anyway, keep the suggestions coming... our mind is not made up yet. Think we'll give it another 3-4 months here to see if a couple of projects take off, if they don't we might plan a move in the Spring...
Maybe I should clarify that when I mentioned money being no object it didn't mean we are loaded - I wish!!! Quite the opposite... we spent all our moeny bakcpacking!
(no regrets though). Just meant that moving wouldn't really impact on our income as the main provider (him indoors) works for a UK company and his salary remains the same regardless of where we live.I fear that we have been really spoilt and have become rather demanding
We want it all! lol. Agree that the Bay of Islands is beautiful but really wouldn't see ourselves living there, far too quiet particularly in the winter and far too remote. We'd like to be a couple of hours from one of the main 3 airports really... did consider Warkworth as it's so close to so many beautiful places on the coast. But not sure we want to move further north.The north of the South Island is also very tempting for the natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities it offers, but again a bit isolated perhaps? Totally love the SI (hey, we got married there!
) but I already spent 10 years being cold in the UK , so would rather stay somewhere warmer... (sorry Sue! Chch does hold a special place in my heart but far too cold for little me ). Guess windy Welly wouldn't be for me either then?So yes, as bo-jangles rightly pointed out, I think we are indeed limited for choice as it'll be difficult to find a place that ticks all the boxes. Having said that, we visited Cambridge at the weekend and it does tick many of them! About the right size, nice and flat, lovely countryside around it, big lake for kayaking, 1 hour drive to either coast, 2 hrs to the airport, and close enough to many destinations for weekends away... we are very tempted!!
Cheaper to rent too which would allow us to save some money to either buy a place of our own or go travelling again
Anyway, keep the suggestions coming... our mind is not made up yet. Think we'll give it another 3-4 months here to see if a couple of projects take off, if they don't we might plan a move in the Spring...
May 25th 2011, 6:38 am
#21
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 588
Re: If work/money wasn't an object... where in NZ would you live?
But if within NZ, I'd be thinking about somewhere down the Dunedin Peninsular, or beyond Port Chalmers, on Portside of the harbour. Or Karitane, Moeraki..... one of those smaller, off the main road, fishing settlement type places. Ohhhhhh, I did kind of fall in love with Mapua a few years back
just not keen on the road over the hills in and out of Nelson!
May 25th 2011, 9:50 am
#22
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Re: If work/money wasn't an object... where in NZ would you live?
Sydney, don't get me wrong I like it, but its a bit of a shithole.
May 25th 2011, 9:50 am
#23
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Re: If work/money wasn't an object... where in NZ would you live?
And if money or whatever wasnt an issue for me, I would live in Whitianga....gorgeous, love it up there
May 25th 2011, 1:42 pm
#24
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Re: If work/money wasn't an object... where in NZ would you live?
Here you go: http://www.fullers.co.nz/tickets-far...eke-island.php
There is a car/passenger ferry from Half Moon Bay too, but the bus connections are not so good.
There is a car/passenger ferry from Half Moon Bay too, but the bus connections are not so good.
May 25th 2011, 1:47 pm
#25
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Re: If work/money wasn't an object... where in NZ would you live?
Pretty much anywhere in NZ! 
May 26th 2011, 12:57 am
#26
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Re: If work/money wasn't an object... where in NZ would you live?
Easy The Mount for 9 months a year and then 3 months in Italy. Just need a Lotto win for the 3 month part
May 26th 2011, 8:26 am
#27
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Re: If work/money wasn't an object... where in NZ would you live?
Here you go: http://www.fullers.co.nz/tickets-far...eke-island.php
There is a car/passenger ferry from Half Moon Bay too, but the bus connections are not so good.
There is a car/passenger ferry from Half Moon Bay too, but the bus connections are not so good.
May 26th 2011, 10:03 am
#28
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 75
Re: If work/money wasn't an object... where in NZ would you live?
We have just celebrated 2.5 years in NZ, more specifically in the Hibiscus Coast, and although it is beautiful up here, we are starting to feel a bit "stuck" (guess it doesn't help that we live almost at the end of the peninsula) and are considering a change of scenery.
We are both 41 this year and work for home, so all we really need is a good internet connection (or as good as it gets in NZ), and we have no children to worry about, hence we don't need to be near schools etc.
We both enjoy kayaking so would want to be near water - sea, rivers, lakes etc. Would also want to start cycling to get fitter, but one of us is not very confident on a bike... and it's very hilly around here!! Somewhere a bit flatter would be nice... All in all we'd like somewhere nice and quiet, small enough to have a nice community feel to it with low crime rates, but big enough to have some sort of social life!
So... if you could work and live anywhere, and your salary didn't change according to location, where would you choose to live? If you already live there tell us all about it too!
We are both 41 this year and work for home, so all we really need is a good internet connection (or as good as it gets in NZ
), and we have no children to worry about, hence we don't need to be near schools etc.We both enjoy kayaking so would want to be near water - sea, rivers, lakes etc. Would also want to start cycling to get fitter, but one of us is not very confident on a bike... and it's very hilly around here!! Somewhere a bit flatter would be nice... All in all we'd like somewhere nice and quiet, small enough to have a nice community feel to it with low crime rates, but big enough to have some sort of social life!
So... if you could work and live anywhere, and your salary didn't change according to location, where would you choose to live? If you already live there tell us all about it too!
But each to their own.
