Originally Posted by MrCFD

They saw you coming!!!

We didn't even pay that in AUCKLAND for a huge 700m2 8 year old house with 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 4 living areas, HUGE office, large internal courtyard on 4 acres of manicured lawns with two rows of mature pine trees on two of the boundaries and a river running through the property!

Not far from courtenay place is not a selling point either! Especially with kids!

Originally Posted by Littletoe

Yeah, what she said! Places like Seatoun are very sought after, the reason I'm not so keen is because the houses are somewhat older and smaller and I dont like living inside of a city, so I preferred the Northern Suburbs. I can't understand this fascination with Mirimar, I personally think its a dump! But its an affluent area, so I must be missing something. Northern suburbs are more catered towards professional families. Churton Park does have some nice larger houses and new houses, access to motorway, schools, etc. Its kind of a more upmarket Johnsonville! If you head over Porirua way, don't be alarmed by the centre! Its pretty vulgar and as a rule most people from Porirua suburbs tend not to venture in. There are large supermarkets (Pac N Save for the zombies and as the name suggest you have to pack your own groceries! Crazy business!, and Countdown). Also a large retail park, but its quite rough and it makes me miss the North Shore shopping in Auckland. However, suburbs around Porirua are very popular. Whitby is rather charming, just DON'T BE ON THE Canon's Creek side, eurgh! Any of the Eastern suburbs are pretty much no go, reminds me of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire! Oh and Tawa and Newlands are areas best avoided (Northern Suburbs). Although I understand that Tawa is changing itself and appealing to investors, but its got a long way to go to look presentable! Newlands is without a doubt one of the worst suburbs, every time I've been in that area there are gangs lurking around. Generally houses have been damp and poorly looked after. If you drive a nice car through those parts - don't stop!! And DON'T LOOK THEM IN THE EYES! I'm obviously bias when I say I like Camborne/Plimmerton. Right on the beach, quiet, better class of people! Good schools, an EXCELLENT primary school in Plimmerton. but the commute is a bit longer maybe 40 mins in peak hour? And that's driving like an arsehole (like me!). Titahi Bay is a funny one. Its actually very pretty, right on the water. But as a rule my family and I stick out like sore thumbs when we're in that area, you'll have to use your imagination as to why, bro!

Rentals are better priced in the Northern Suburbs and your money will go further. Have a look at trademe.co.nz and/or quinovic.co.nz for ideas of price catergories and sizes. Don't forget, always negotiate on rent! It would be preferable for you to rent first until the market settles. Loads of Brits live in Papakowhai (think I spelt it right!) so if you want to be around your own kind, look no further.

Of course, the Kapiti coast is rather appealing, a few seaside type towns along the way. But the commute is a bitch. There is one road, its narrow and it doesn't matter what time I've driven on that road, I ALWAYS get stuck behind someone that crawls along I've not investigated Pukera Bay which is where Peter Jackson is from and apparantly has a house. Its after the lousy one laned road, maybe someone can comment on that?

Anyway, you won't know until you've seen them all. We came here with places in mind, but changed once we investigated the places! We got a six week rental in Johnsonville while we explored the local suburbs, this is something for you to consider doing as well.

Anyhoo, hope this helps!

Originally Posted by MrCFD

What are you on about? I don't live in Churton Park, but would bet my left one that I could get into the city from Churton Park faster than you could from Eastbourne!!!

Originally Posted by Pimali

I did not understand that the link was entitled "I give my opinion on how much the others pay their rent and I know better than them". Funny.

I hope that Richard managed to sort information out of the thread anyway, since some (other) people posted interesting pieces of information about different places in and around Wellington.

Originally Posted by poppets

my hubby used to commute into the CBD from the coast , & now commutes to the hutt, he quite enjoys his drive either over the paekak hills & the haywards down SH1, but hey one size doesn't fit all

Originally Posted by Littletoe

Oh the drive is lovely! I can imagine enjoying it every morning, the views are lovely and when we first got here the Kapiti coast was the only place I wanted to live! However, all you need is one accident and you won't get into work! Furthermore, the addition of commute times adds greatly to the working day. I think its something that someone will quickly decide when they do the route whether it suits or not.

Originally Posted by Kiwiprincess

Still, if you were driving it would be a nightmare and a half. Ferry is one thing but paying $8 each way is quite 'spensive.

Originally Posted by Browner_

$8 each way to be delivered from heart of residential area into heart of CBD with no petrol and no parking costs – I would have said that was quite cheap.

Originally Posted by teambwr47

Makes me laugh reading how people on here, in Wellington, think the traffic is bad..........