British Expats

British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   New Zealand (https://britishexpats.com/forum/new-zealand-83/)
-   -   in newzealand whats auckland like? (https://britishexpats.com/forum/new-zealand-83/newzealand-whats-auckland-like-604183/)

paul2 Apr 18th 2009 8:46 pm

in newzealand whats auckland like?
 
me the wife and kids have been in nz for 10 weeks it is an amazing place we are living up in the bay of islands,ive got a job as a builder am contracting earning $25 an hour. things are great but we find that we get a bit bored up here as there isent any shopping centres. would you say there is more to do in auckland or stay up here? what is the money like in auckland?:confused:

scrubbedexpat094 Apr 18th 2009 9:44 pm

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 
Hi Paul

We live on the Whangaparaoa peninsula, north of Auckland & love it. We went to the Bay of Islands last year for a weekend & although beautiful we were glad to get home:eek:. Just too quiet for us. We have some beautiful beaches on the peninsula but have good access to other things too. Shopping at Albany, Wairau Park & Newmarket. Cinemas at Whangaparaoa, Albany, North Shore. Theatre at Orewa (we both volunteer there) & in Auckland. Silverdale has Snow Planet, Luge, Go-kart racing & a new swimming centre has just started to be built. There's an excellent Indian in Manly village as well as a good Thai restaurant. For us it's a great place to live. There's lots more we do as well but don't want to bore you ;).

Can't help you on the jobs/salary in your field but sure someone will be along who can.

love30stm Apr 18th 2009 10:00 pm

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 

Originally Posted by Vitalstatistix (Post 7491792)
Hi Paul

We live on the Whangaparaoa peninsula, north of Auckland & love it. We went to the Bay of Islands last year for a weekend & although beautiful we were glad to get home:eek:. Just too quiet for us. We have some beautiful beaches on the peninsula but have good access to other things too. Shopping at Albany, Wairau Park & Newmarket. Cinemas at Whangaparaoa, Albany, North Shore. Theatre at Orewa (we both volunteer there) & in Auckland. Silverdale has Snow Planet, Luge, Go-kart racing & a new swimming centre has just started to be built. There's an excellent Indian in Manly village as well as a good Thai restaurant. For us it's a great place to live. There's lots more we do as well but don't want to bore you ;).

Can't help you on the jobs/salary in your field but sure someone will be along who can.

That's it sold I want to move there!

CCGM.IN.NZ Apr 18th 2009 11:55 pm

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 
Hi there
We live in east Auckland and just love it here. I know Auckland does get slated but I cant see why. Auckland is a city made of o lots of towns and villages and you have to go outside of the CBD to appreciate what Auckland has got. Over this side we have Botany and Sylvia Park for our shopping needs. Just 5 mins drive we have Howick which is a lovely little village with lots of little specialist shops and lots of cafe's. We have two teens and still enjoy family weekend trips to the regional parks Auckland has on offer. Some are coastal and attached to great beaches, others are bush walks. http://www.arc.govt.nz/parks/. Pack up a picnic and its a great free day out! We too have been for a weekend to the Bay of Islands, beautiful place, but I'm not sure I could live there either. Can't comment on the wages in Auckland as we are self employed but I'm sure someone can help with that as there are quite a few JAFAs on here. Good luck with your research :)

Beeka Apr 19th 2009 1:44 am

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 
Im in Whangaparaoa too, and its lovely :) It has the holiday feel with all the beaches / sea views but also the fun stuff youre looking for nearby - Albany is good for shops, restuarants, cinemas, etc. Vitalstatistix summed it up very well!

My friend is looking for labourer work around here and the going rate seems to be $25-35 per hour, after the boss takes their cut. However my mate has asked many contacts and complete strangers and there seems to be no work going in this area at the moment. I guess thats the impact of the recession?

BTW Bay of Islands is beautiful, I often think what it would be like to live up there permanently!!

lardyl Apr 19th 2009 12:32 pm

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 

Originally Posted by Vitalstatistix (Post 7491792)
Hi Paul

We live on the Whangaparaoa peninsula, north of Auckland & love it. ......

don't over-sell it every Pomm, Dick and Harry will want to move here.............
and don't forget that a commute to the CBD is a pain in the rear especially if you live down the peninsula........that 0530 feeling, I hated it......better to work on the Coast, Hibiscus that is, rather than in "real" JAFA-land.
Living here is like being on your hols year round, the wet weather is like English hols or weekends in Wales, summer is like the med/Florida and the rest of the year is just good fun :thumbsup:

whitesand Apr 19th 2009 3:43 pm

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 
I would say try Auckland. Wouldn't live anywhere else in NZ. I know it's awkward for travelling, but if you arrange to live near your work then I'm sure you won't be bored here.

scrubbedexpat094 Apr 19th 2009 9:09 pm

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 

Originally Posted by lardyl (Post 7493210)
don't over-sell it every Pomm, Dick and Harry will want to move here.............
and don't forget that a commute to the CBD is a pain in the rear especially if you live down the peninsula........that 0530 feeling, I hated it......better to work on the Coast, Hibiscus that is, rather than in "real" JAFA-land.
Living here is like being on your hols year round, the wet weather is like English hols or weekends in Wales, summer is like the med/Florida and the rest of the year is just good fun :thumbsup:

:o (Note to self) - Stop waxing lyrical about life on THE Peninsula :rofl: Sorry Lardyl.

Yeah, the commute can be a pain but the ferry is great, although it is known as Little Britain :eek:

lardyl Apr 20th 2009 12:04 am

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 

Originally Posted by Vitalstatistix (Post 7494163)
:o (Note to self) - Stop waxing lyrical about life on THE Peninsula :rofl: Sorry Lardyl.

Yeah, the commute can be a pain but the ferry is great, although it is known as Little Britain :eek:

yeah a bloke in Orewa told me that my "brum"-type accent meant I "came from Gulf Harbour"...........

scrubbedexpat094 Apr 20th 2009 6:11 am

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 

Originally Posted by lardyl (Post 7494457)
yeah a bloke in Orewa told me that my "brum"-type accent meant I "came from Gulf Harbour"...........

:rofl: Though I haven't met any brummies in GH :confused:

lardyl Apr 20th 2009 7:27 am

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 

Originally Posted by Vitalstatistix (Post 7494910)
:rofl: Though I haven't met any brummies in GH :confused:

aparently they invade one of the bars on a Sunday to watch the football or something in blue football shirts, odd that as I've as many villa fans as blues fans......he might be confused though as our accents tend to flumox the average Kiwi, unless that were borugh over as a kid from Blighty. :lol:

Kiwiprincess Apr 20th 2009 7:48 am

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 
I think the best way to view Auckland is from seat 1A on a departing 737 to Wellington.

Kiwiprincess Apr 20th 2009 7:53 am

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 
Actually I'm joking. Proud Wellingtonian but never really got into the anti auckland thing, although I prefer Wellington.

I think a good way to view Auckland is how a friend of mine suggested to me. She loves the city and will wax lyrical about it like you wouldn't believe. She said that sometimes it is easier to think of it as a sprawling city covering a large mass of area and sometimes simply a large collection of villages (especially in response to any "Auckland does't have a heart" argument). Basically, if you are the kind of person who prefers small close knit places then think of Auckland by it's 'villages'. Don't think of it as the commute from Wiri to Orewa. Think about it as lots of little places having their own heart.

But, if you like the idea that the Auckland metropolitan area has the Waitakeres, the Kaipara Harbour (actually, is that stretching it to say Auckland region?), the Waitemata Harbour and everywhere in between...if you like a place which is spread out then focus on that 'side' of Auckland.

Does that make sense? I suppose it's really more helpful to people unsure about the place.

luvwelly Apr 21st 2009 4:14 am

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 
I visited Auckland (stayed in CBD) for third time this weekend and even though it rained on the second day..I still really liked the hustle and bustle and big city feel. Also saw how great beaches were a 10 minute drive away. The view across the landscape from up the SkyTower was very attractive as we luckily got a clear day.

irnbru14 Apr 21st 2009 4:21 am

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 

Originally Posted by luvwelly (Post 7498525)
I visited Auckland (stayed in CBD) for third time this weekend and even though it rained on the second day..I still really liked the hustle and bustle and big city feel. Also saw how great beaches were a 10 minute drive away. The view across the landscape from up the SkyTower was very attractive as we luckily got a clear day.

You neglected to add that "You can't beat Wellington on a good day" or a bad day, or a wet and windy day, or even on a statutory holiday that happens to fall on the weekend kinda day... :rofl:

Auckland is ok though, once you realise that the city centre is rubbish and get out to the burbs.... :thumbup:

crap coffee Apr 21st 2009 7:06 am

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 

Originally Posted by irnbru14 (Post 7498541)
Auckland is ok though, once you realise that the city centre is rubbish and get out to the burbs.... :thumbup:

love what you've said mr bru... :thumbup: that's absolutely positively true though ;)

You surely is a sophisticated lad ~ :rofl: :thumbup:

whitesand Apr 21st 2009 2:26 pm

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 
Although I prefer living in Auckland to other parts of NZ, I agree that the city centre is terrible. It must be one of the dullest city centres on the planet. I remember the day we arrived and us running around trying to find the heart of Auckland and it was nowhere to be seen!

But, you have to go further out and about to find the pleasant areas to live. The city centre is just a container port with shops on the side.

crap coffee Apr 21st 2009 3:39 pm

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 

Originally Posted by whitesand (Post 7499893)
Although I prefer living in Auckland to other parts of NZ, I agree that the city centre is terrible. It must be one of the dullest city centres on the planet. I remember the day we arrived and us running around trying to find the heart of Auckland and it was nowhere to be seen!

But, you have to go further out and about to find the pleasant areas to live. The city centre is just a container port with shops on the side.

I just think a civillized person can't stand being in JAFAland. It's as Simple as That

Not only _deadly dull_ also messy, totally disorganized, characterless, souless and lack of intelligence

and

more importantly

ppl are unattractive..........the way they talk, the way they behaviour

Thanks god - I definitely don't have (and probably never will) an unsexy Kiwi accent and/or I am from here originally.

jmh Apr 21st 2009 7:48 pm

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 
I've been away too long, what/where is JAFAland?

CCGM.IN.NZ Apr 21st 2009 8:25 pm

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 

Originally Posted by jmh (Post 7500972)
I've been away too long, what/where is JAFAland?

Its the place where all the JAFAs live:thumbsup:

jmh Apr 21st 2009 8:35 pm

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 

Originally Posted by CCGM.IN.NZ (Post 7501070)
Its the place where all the JAFAs live:thumbsup:

You mean those orange flavoured chocolate things?:confused:

CCGM.IN.NZ Apr 21st 2009 8:42 pm

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 
:rofl: Just Another Friendly Aucklander :thumbsup: (though some people like to substitute the Friendly for another F word:ohmy:)

pricklykina Apr 22nd 2009 10:54 am

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 

Originally Posted by crap coffee (Post 7500055)
I just think a civillized person can't stand being in JAFAland. It's as Simple as That

Not only _deadly dull_ also messy, totally disorganized, characterless, souless and lack of intelligence

and

more importantly

ppl are unattractive..........the way they talk, the way they behaviour

Thanks god - I definitely don't have (and probably never will) an unsexy Kiwi accent and/or I am from here originally.

I'm pretty civilized, housetrained, smart and look ok in a misty light and i love Auckland
Life's what you make it and I have a great job, great friends and live in a nice neighbourhood that's near enough to beaches and bush.
People bag Auckland but it's great and diverse too

anglosurman Apr 28th 2009 10:03 am

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 

Originally Posted by Vitalstatistix (Post 7494910)
:rofl: Though I haven't met any brummies in GH :confused:

Brummies there is not many ut here ive been here 2yrs ive met 5 ony 2 true brummies how thy passed immigration i dont know probably th same way i did lol Auckland much better than brum thats all i need to say :lol:

SarahB Apr 28th 2009 10:14 am

Re: in newzealand whats auckland like?
 
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/...ectid=10569061


We love it here where we live, its so beautiful.... today the tide was in and a haze over the sea... simply stunning. We live in such a beautiful part of the world and feel very lucky to be here.:)


All times are GMT. The time now is 12:37 am.

Powered by vBulletin: ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.