Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

Hi

We have been in chch for a couple of years, but been contemplating moving up to Akl for about 6 months now. Chch is too quiet for us and its time to move on. We have been trying to find affordable areas (for us) with reasonable primary school. Having discovered there are ferry services to both Hobsonville and Beach Haven we have started looking at properties there.

Does anyone live in either or can give me advice? TIA

Re: Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

Hi, I lived in Beach Haven for over a year. Friend has a rental there but has decided to sell it rather than move back as its quite rough around the edges and really not much there other than a great kebab shop, cafe and bakery. Burglary is a bit of a problem in the area, its quite a mixed area and there are a few tensions as a result (although not always obvious on first vists).

Would I move back there? No I wouldn't, not now. I tried to buy a house there but was vastly priced out (and 18 months later than when I tried, prices are still rocketing!!!). I consider myself very fortunate to have left Auckland. Hobsonville seems nicer, but its even more pricey than BH.

Re: Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

Thanks, that backs up what we thought. Will look more carefully at Hobsonville, as we def want to be on ferry or relatively easy public transport commute. Takes OH over an hour in car in chch, we want to avoid that (well certainly sat in a car!)

Re: Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

I think you have to bear in mind that Hobsonville is going to be a building site for the next decade and whilst it looks all very green and pleasant just now; it is difficult to imagine what it will be like ten years on from now. From what I can see it has great potential of becoming Milton Keynes or Basildon MKII in the longer term.

Re: Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

If your budget can stretch that far, try Devonport...

I have a friend up there and she loves living there. It's pricey but what area of Auckland isn't.

Is Wellington out of the question?

Re: Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

Beach Haven;

A colleague and friend bought there about six months ago and they're delighted with how property prices are rising in the area as are rents (should they decide to let the place out).

It might be rose tinted spectacles from the husband of the couple but he thinks positive change is afoot in Beach Haven.

Re: Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

Took a drive to Beach Haven last week and couldn't believe how bad it was. It looked dirty, tired and uncared for. The shops looked tacky (except for the nice chocolate shop) and crime is a problem there. Lived there for several weeks a few years ago and couldn't wait to get out.

Hobsonville is an area with lots of new building going on. New houses going up everywhere. However, it's still a far bit away from the city and will take years to develop any decent infrastructure.

Re: Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

I lived in Beach Haven for a year until I bought my own place a year ago (not in Beach Haven but only because I was outbid on the houses I wanted there)

I didnt have any problems living there. There are some really nice streets and some not so nice just like everywhere else. I had no issues with crime although Im sure it exists, again just like everywhere else, I dont think its notably worse there though.

Theres a couple of really nice cafes, its close to the Malls and the motorway and of course theres the ferry if you need to get to the CBD.

Re: Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

Hi,

Where are the Malls near Beach Haven? Also, the Birkenhead Ferry is also a fair distance from BH. The motorway is miles away across the river and cannot be reached from BH.

Re: Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

Erm, Glenfield mall is 5 minutes from Beach Haven, there is also a Beach Haven ferry so you dont need to go to Birkenhead and the motorway is 10 mins away (I'm not sure what river you're talking about but there's no need to cross any river to get to the motorway, I travelled it every day to get to work in South Auckland from Beach Haven?)

Re: Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

Just reading back over this I think the OP would do well to widen the search and seems quite hung up on the idea of getting the ferry to work to the exclusion of all other options.

The Beach Haven / Hobsonville ferry offers a very limited service operating during weekdays only - with two ferries arriving Aucks 7.20 or 8.25am and returning 5.15 pm or 6.15pm - taking about 40 minutes.

It's somewhat of a idealistic fancy to expect that you can secure a job that does not require any further onward journey to and from the Ferry Terminal; you can expect that you would likely need to hike through the wind and rain, up and over the hills in the CBD, or walk to the buses at Britomart to access further reaches of the city fringes.

The bus would be cheaper, more frequent and arguably quicker - I am pretty sure you can get from Britomart to most places on the shore and elsewhere by bus within 40 mins.

Re: Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

http://www.westfield.nz/glenfield/ I suppose does technically meet basic requirements and be loosely described as a mall but doesn't have much going for it really.

I doubt anyone would go out of their way to get there. :rofl:

Re: Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

Its as good as the majority of the other malls in NZ, anything with a Warehouse and a Farmers seems to count as a mall around here. But, if you want more variety Westfield Albany is only 15 mins away.

Re: Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

Having lived in Beach Haven for over a year (on Aeroview drive) I echo a lot of the comments on this thread. The ferry is great if you work in the CBD itself. If you work nearer the top end of Auckland CBD, invest in a bike as you can cycle to the ferry and then cycle uphill in the CBD (what I used to do to get to Vincent Street). If you work in the viaduct however, its a great commute. The limited service though means you have to be very strict with your work start and stop times.

Alternatively there are the 973 and 974 birkenhead bus services which take you into the CBD. You are at the start of the bus journey so you'll get a seat. But after 5-10 minutes the bus will be packed, you'll sit in traffic for around 20-25 minutes and you'll be in the CBD about 45 minutes (depending on time in morning) - not a pleasant experience in the height of summer.

Public transport in Auckland is not joined up whatsoever. So the idea of getting on a ferry/bus to the CBD to then catch a bus or train to somewhere like Ellerslie, its a real effort doing that every day.

As for Glenfield mall, really - that is quite a major-ish mall in Auckland. Shopping malls are nothing like what you're used to in Australia, UK, US or Europe. The only 3-4 sizeable malls in Auckland really are Albany, St Lukes, Pakuranga, Sylvia Park. They do have a great Sunday night market at Glenfield on a Sunday evening.

Do research where you're likely to get work, but as stated elsewhere, Auckland is very very expensive for housing so there's a good chance you'll be fairly limited in terms of where you can afford to live.

Re: Thoughts on Beach Haven & Hobsonville?
 

I have to say, this property just staggers me and highlights how dire the situation is now compared to only a year ago.
This property is only 2-beds and is a less desirable area of Beach Haven than we were in! (We lived on Aeroview drive). Seriously, unless you have more cash than sense, please don't do it!

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