TIE

Good luck with your move to Auckland.

I agree with the need to drive in Auckland mentioned earlier - otherwise you will be very dependent on the public transport which only really works for journeys to work to a few places, notably the city centre (CBD).

Try the following website which has some pointers to each of the suburb areas in Auckland:

www.auckland-suburb-guide.co.nz

They also have a link to a map-based guide book for new migrants to Auckland which shows the good/bad areas, better schools, transport, shopping areas, parks, kids entertainment etc.

It's all based on maps so quite easy to get to grips with.

Have a look & good luck

CCGM.IN.NZ

Otara, Manurewa, Mangere, possibly Papatoetoe and Otahuhu. Anyone else like to add to the list?

Browner_

Manukau

Batty

Noooooo - Manukau is a City - same as Auckland, Waitakere, North Shore. There are lovely areas there the same as the not so lovely ones.

Sorry - I should have added

Botany, Beachlands, Bucklands Beach, Cockle Bay - I can go alphabetically :-) there are loads of nice areas in Manakau.

Water Lily

Has anyone got a copy we could borrow?? There's only one copy available on amazon and it costs £55!!!!

Reading this thread with interest as we booked our ticket to Auckland yesterday... we're flying out in 3 weeks!! yippeeee!!!

Got nowhere to live yet, although we can be more flexible than most as we have no kids, and hubby will be working from home for the first 3 months as his current employer has decided to keep him on as a contractor (well sort of) and see how that goes. As his the main earner, I could just get a job wherever we end up (or try to at least).

He's been having a browse and likes the look of Whangaparaoa Peninsula, does anybody know the area?!?

Good luck with your search Riverside, sorry for hijacking your thread

Batty

Hi - this might be of use - not all suburbs are there but it's not bad as articles go. There is a list of other suburbs at the bottom of the page.

http://www.metrolive.co.nz/property/...Z/Default.aspx

scrubbedexpat094

Will PM you when I have more time, should be working right now

teambwr47

Some areas south of the CBD so 'South Auckland' have gang problems but then so do many areas on the 'expat mecca' North Shore.

Personally I wouldn't live on the North Shore as its the 'expat mecca', far to overcrowed with houses and if you work in the CBD a nightmare to travel in from.

Some of the most exclusive areas of Auckland to live happen to technically be 'South Auckland'...

waynepfry

The idea of living in the CBD (as suggested previously in the thread) is absurd if you have children.

There are lots of areas all over Auckland that are family-friendly with good schools. There's some (im my opinion) to be avoided but beware of sayings like beware of south auckland as some areas are actually very nice.

I live on the North Shore and personally wouldn't want to move away from it. That's not to say it's the best place to live and certain areas are not that nice and it is built-up in parts. I wouldn't say it's overcrowded and as far as it being packed with ex-pats (though there is a large element of truth in that depending on xactly where you live) I personally don't know any English people who live on my street or the one's nearby so it's hardly Little Britain.

Best advice is to scout out areas before you commit to buying but I wouldn't rule out North, South, East or West at this stage. Remember people have different priorities and ideas on 'the best' places to live and you're far better to decide on this yourself.

It would help to work out what things are important to to you - wide open spaces, the beach, schools, proximity of amenities, make-up of the people who live there etc. If you can decide on things like that it will be a lot easier to decide on the best place for you.