Hi - I’ve been offered a job in Auckland on a two year contract and my wife and I are excited but hesitant... excited as it’s a new adventure but hesitant because we have three young children - 4, 8, 10 and we are worried about what impacts there might be on them.

In particular we are wondering where to move to - we would like a smallish town but In commutable distance to Auckland where there are good schools, reasonable priced accommodation for rent and a family community feel.

Any suggestions on location or any advice on the whole topic from anyone would be greatly appreciated!!

thanks

Glenn

Have a look at recent Auckland and Auckland housing threads, you need to look at a map of Auckland for starters and narrow it down a bit depending on where your work is.

First things first, notice the lie of the land and you will see there are very few places that you might consider as a 'smallish towns' within commuting distance. Auckland is as BIG and widespread as London and there are not really an outlying small 'towns' that are commutable unless your job is on the outskirts of Auckland. Hamilton is 100km south of the most southerly part of Auckland and there is not much at all in between. Warkworth is nice but about 40kms from the northern suburbs. Orewa and Whangaparaoa could be worth a look but will depend entirely on where your job is, as they both would guarantee a long slow 40km commute to CBD in bumper to bumper traffic for 75 - 80% of the way on work days

The term 'reasonable priced accommodation' when talking about Auckland in the same sentence is an oxymoron - what do you consider to be reasonable priced accommodation?