Hoyo

Wellington is the most rural city in NZ.

Although noone has mentioned it there are places in Karori which are waaaay out in the sticks.

A bit further out, places like Belmont in the Hutt, are cool. If you want to be in the bush you could always start wrapping yer head around a commute from the wairapa (sp)

Then there is makara.

Basically, if you are willing to look there are heaps of places.

One thing I suggest you do though is make sure you choose a place which gets all day sun - some places in welly are in perma shade.

Avid

True. 10 minutes out of Wellington and it could be the Shetland Islands.

luvwelly

Amazing but true enough.
Not much at Makara apart from the beach and a cafe or did I miss the main bit? Not sure I'd want to drive into Wellington on that bendy country road everyday though. Fabulous orange gorse and the standard yellow too on the hillsides last time I visited. Very pretty and Scottish.

zoej

We decided on Silverstream/Pinehaven area as it has very quick links to SH2 into Welly, train station which also goes into Welly and is more rural/village like. we came from a West Sussex village so like the feel of a more community based area. The primary school is great and house prices are very affordable compared to some places. It has a New world local supermarket, Dr's, Pharmacy, travel agent, estate agent, dentist, hairdresser, cafe, bar, vets, kindy, bakery, card shop come post office, chinesse and the other other side of the railway is a video store.

Some of the Lower hutt hills also have similar communities (trains at the bottom of the hill) i.e Korokoro, Manguraki, Normandale etc.

Riverstone terraces is an up and coming estate - no community facilities yet - i.e bus route, shops etc. But due I hear to get a dairy (corner shop), playground and at least 5 more stages of house building! It is getting quiet big - It feels more like a new uk housing development.

The further out you get (i.e up the Hutt Valley the cheaper the housing), also you find more flatter sections in the valley floor compared to steep sections on hill sides.

Eastboure is lovely and very community feel as well, but very sought after and expensive - and first to get hit is a tsunami hits and there is one road in and out that can get shut in high winter tides when windy.

danny.f

Don't forget Hutt and Eastbourne and even Kapiti coast-all well within the preferred 40 minute boundary.
However-you can't ignore Porirua. Although I don't live within the city walls,we can be rural within 10 minutes.

JaneAS

Wow - loads of replies, and places to check out - thank you guys!

Wilma - we have a little boy (almost 8), and he is our main reason for moving to NZ. We hate the way the UK is developing, and want him to have the opportunity to see a different lifestyle while he is still a child.

Luvwelly - I have lived in Warrington all my life (40+ years) and the changes over the past 30 have been massive - it has trebled in size, lost most of its green areas, and sprouted shops and offices everywhere. Oh and pretty much all of its industry has gone.

Here is a question to put it into perspective. For those of you who have recently migrated, which English town / city would you most compare Wellington to (size / business / cleanliness / general feel). Does it 'feel' like Cambridge? Or a Manchester suburb? Or Edinburgh? Or is it more akin to Chester?

Thanks,
Jane

Avid

Edinburgh.

Capital city. Small. Quite cultural. Chilly.

Boopy

Maybe York? That's compact & has a friendly feel to it.

Ted Logan

Wheres the sea in York ????

Wellington is Wellington. Michael J Fox likened it to Vancover when he was here.

luvwelly

It lacks the historic buildings to be like any of those - although by NZ standards it has got a lot...Government and University Buildings, lots of art deco buildings, wild west town-style shops (New Town especially), a few smart shopping streets, a hotch potch of high rise in CBD but pleasant nonetheless as it lies behind the waterfront and the whole thing has a very hilly backdrop.

So think small hilly sophisticated seaside-type town with everything you need (theatre, art galleries, library, cinema, restaurants, cafes, sports facilities, views etc etc) and few of the downsides normally associated with town life. The air is very fresh and clean. Google for snaps of it...they give a good idea although possibly make it look bigger and more sprawling than it seems in reality. I was thinking to myself this morning that the most exciting and hairy, driving in Central Wellington gets is the Basin Reserve Roundabout which has a cricket pitch in the middle of it!

Ted Logan

where abouts do you live ??

luvwelly

Over your side of town.

Ted Logan

You mean the sunny side !!!

luvwelly

It was when I first arrived...would rather not say exactly where I am on open board.

Ted Logan

UK police still looking for you than