1 week in.....
 

One week in and what a wonderful week its been. It feels much longer than a week as we’ve packed so much in.
The journey was long but at least its one way, and it was made fairly pleasant by the fab plane and entertainment on the Emirates A380 airbus. When we arrived at customs, we had a bit of stress due to Jax’s missing hiking boots. They wanted to inspect our boots after declaring them on the landing card. But in which of the 5 suitcases were the bloomin’ things?? We had to go through all of them on the floor before we found them but at least the bio-control lady...she say YES! ( she was impressed with jax’s obsessive toothbrush scrubbing with Jeyes!)
Matt’s special moment happened when asking one of the immigration guys if we should go in the NZ residents passport control queue.. he replied “Yeah...sweet az!”..such a cute drawl!
Straight on to the Coromandel for 3 days of recuperation. After a white knuckle ride in the dark, in a strange car, and suffering from sleep deprivation, over the mountainous tracks/roads with the sat nav conking out, we just about made it to out idyllic retreat. See attached fotos! It was sooo worth it in the end.

Back to reality in Auckland, and exploring our new town (Botany)and gaff. Our first supermarket experience in New world and Pak n save went well. We were impressed with the value of seasonal stuff and fruit and veg seemed good quality. And as others have said. Some things are expensive, some cheaper than UK. We love waking up to see pukeko birds, minahs, and sea birds strutting outside the patio whilst we have a breakfast al fresco! Still cant get over how mild it is, even on a wet and windy day.

We’ve enjoyed the sales for the queens birthday, and bagged a couple of bargains! Some good shopping in Botany! Sorted out NZ sim cards, bicycles and a car and possible our house for the next year or so... fingers crossed on that one!
We are loving it all so far!( May feel different next week when Matt starts work and Im on my own all day.. roll on my nurse registration and paperwork etc!!)

Think we are finally getting over the jet lag, made it till 8.30 tonight without nodding off!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/...5d1e0202_m.jpg beach coromandel

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/...3dff7815_m.jpg view from room at Coromandel early a.m

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/...46cffc8b_m.jpg sunset from our room

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/...53f7fc20_m.jpg harbour at Whitianga

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/...709869ed_m.jpg view from room in B&B

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1282/...c4264a46_m.jpg Fish & chips in newspaper and Champagne :rofl:

Re: 1 week in.....
 

Fantastic :thumbsup: it looks soooooooo beautiful. Seems like you are settling in very well. Bet that was a quick week.Loving the fish & chips with champange, my kind of style :lol:

Not been to the Coromandel in all the times I have visited NZ so will def have that on the to do list. I seem to recall hubster has an uncle that has a bach up there ;)

Lovely update Jax makes me just want to get going, then I think of all the stuff I have to clean :eek: Good luck with the rental :fingerscrossed:

Keep the updates coming always good to hear how people are getting on

Dewb xx

Re: 1 week in.....
 

Since we have been here there seems to have been a sale every weekend! :thumbsup: Its amazing!!
By the way Welcome to New Zealand!! :thumbsup:

Re: 1 week in.....
 

EErrm :unsure:

He is looking a bit like a startled deer, which is not a good look in New Zealand. :p

Welcome to New Zealand. :)

Re: 1 week in.....
 

Ahhh fabulous update, made me very excited for our departure next week!

Coromandel is beautiful, we visited last year... will definately be adding it to the road trip itinerary for this yr too!

Keep the updates and photos coming and CONGRATS on your arrival! :D

Re: 1 week in.....
 

startled deer...? he always looks like that lol!:rofl:

looking good for the rental... man you have to be quick to get a good un! we're going round tonight to sign on the dotted line! its a lovely modern house in Cockle Bay. cant wait to get in a proper house and unpack our suitcases for good

Re: 1 week in.....
 

Ahhh, lovely photos, we nearly settled in Whitianga, such a lovely place.:thumbup:

Best of luck with the rest of the settling in and welcome, welcome, welcome!:thumbsup:

Re: 1 week in.....
 

thanks everyone!
and yey! we've got the house. should move in on 20th June. container due to arrive on 12th July... so now we just need to somehow furnish it to a liveable standard until then...?

the mind boggles at the necessities needed! we looked at hiring stuff but its really expensive (and dead money), so will probably study trade-me this weekend! anything we have to buy, we can maybe re sell later.

what have you other guys done to tide you over until your container arrives?

Re: 1 week in.....
 

Well done !!! it looks lovely there... enjoy..
Berni;)

Re: 1 week in.....
 

All sounding good....glad its going well for you guys :thumbsup::thumbsup:
Enjoy...enjoy....enjoy!!
B x

Re: 1 week in.....
 

Hi. Glad everything is going so well for you. We have been here nearly five months and have just about settled in to the country and our new home which we bought a month ago. Up until then we had to rent a furnished apartment in the city (never again).

Anyway, hope you settle in well and good luck for the future xx

Re: 1 week in.....
 

hope you are enjoying your new home!
we are in a rented fully furnished appartment in Botany at the moment, and its laughable what is supplied in the kitchen! we have a posh pastry brush, but nothing useful like a veg peeler, sieve, whisk, bread knife!...but it has a regular supply of cockroaches...yuk!
anyway, we're out this weekend, and move into a nice rental. weve bought some essentials off Trade me, and our landlords are lending us some stuff and we bought a cheap kitchen pack from Kaymart, so we'll be ok and can manage for another few weeks until container arrives!

Re: 1 week in.....
 

Haha. I know exactly what you mean about the cooking utensils. We had exactly the same problem in our apartment. We ended up living off rice and chips. Didn't see the point in going out and buying stuff when we had a complete kitchen in the container. Oh well never mind. These things are sent to try us.

Yuk on the cockroach problem. Again though I know what you are up against -sort of. We have an ant problem where we are now. They are everywhere. Going to have to get some ant killer I think. At least you don't have to put up with it much longer. Hope the new place is much better.

Re: 1 week in.....
 

i know.. was reluctant to buy stuff again which is on its way from the UK.. but just couldn't manage without some essentials, especially in the unfurnished house!. but we can always re sell the furniture, and can lend out the kitchen pack to any newbies to use until thier container comes.

i think i would prefer ants to cockroaches.... but only just..:p
boiling water poured in the nest works well. but otherwise its the unsightly lines of white powder all aound the house.
but i do remember in the UK a product called Nipon. you put drops of this clear goop near their runs, which was very attractive to them,..so they would take it back to their nests and kill themselves and their colony with the poison in it....ha suckers!!!

Re: 1 week in.....
 

Yea they have something similar here too. The only problem is I'm not sure where the nest is. All I know is that they are always in our bedroom and the bedroom next to ours. Went in there earlier and there were loads.
I don't like insects at the best of times. So seeing that lot today has really creeped me out. Can't stop scratching :(

That's a really good idea about lending the kitchen pack to other newbies. The question you have to ask yourself though is what state will it be in if and when you get it back. Something to think on though.

Re: 1 week in.....
 

well the idea is to pass it on to the next newbies when their contianer arrives. (the forumites set up something similar on the South island). we wont have any further use for it.
.. and it really is a cheap pack..probably won't last very long anyway!:D

Re: 1 week in.....
 

Thats such a nice idea Jax :thumbsup: can I put first reserve in ;)

Hope you are loving settling in. I'm getting emotional over socks :eek: long story.....

Dewb xx

Re: 1 week in.....
 

your sure can! i'd even gift wrap it for you deb!
i saw the sock thing too lol...
dont worry! there's socks a plenty here. in Botany there's even a sock stall in the 'Arndale' bit! loads to choose from.. but probably a tad more expensive than your Tesco bargain

Re: 1 week in.....
 

I hardly dare comment least the Jun 9th 2010 be classed as an old thread! :lol:

Anyway I found Auckland to be a nice city to live in. I lived near The Domain and often use to walk down into Parnell and get some fantastic food treats from a deli. There use to be a gourmet pie shop / deli along the main street and I haven’t eaten pies that good before or since. There were also some really good cafes in Ponsonby.

We use to often take the ferry over to Waiheke Island to visit a winery. The Bay of Islands to the North is a gorgeous area and makes for a nice holiday location away from Auckland.

If you have not done so already, I hope you get chance to explore the South Island (especially the West Coast), there are some beautiful holidays to be had down there.

You sound like you are enjoying yourself – so good luck with it all.

Re: 1 week in.....
 

mmm Pies!!! will check that out!.
i love that Domain, we walked through it as part of the coast to coast walk last week. we have all those other visits on a "to-do" list. there's so many things to try! although im glad we're living out of the city centre. its very peaceful here Cockle bay and Howick
we will definitely travel to the south Island. we like snowboarding so may visit the slopes there this (or next) winter,but i really want to explore it in the summer too. it all looks beautiful. we should plan a route to call in and visit along the way of some of the forumites darn sarf!

Re: 1 week in.....
 

Glad you like it. Its a cool little town ay? You will be saying Sweet As before you know it

Re: 1 week in.....
 

I caught myself saying that today.........was a trifle annoyed :p

Also caught myself saying Awesome for gods sake!!!! :unsure::o:unsure:

Re: 1 week in.....
 

I just told the pizza guy sweet as tonight

Re: 1 week in.....
 

ive tried it a couple of times but it doesnt sound right with my manc accent.... am practicing the NZ drawl and already say "perfect" (purfikt) in the kiwi way wihout even thinking of it lol!

Re: 1 week in.....
 

:blink: I already say awesome, not even there yet! could be influence of hubster though :unsure:

Dewb

Re: 1 week in.....
 

The emerging word in our house is "choice". Not too bad at 1st but is starting to get really annoying. Already using the word "Eh" (pronounced A) and that's just as bad. Everything ends in A? Just can't get used to it. Suppose I will in the end though A?

Re: 1 week in.....
 

ive even started texting ay

Re: 1 week in.....
 

:rofl::rofl:
OH driving me mad with 'eh Barb' on the end of everything.....and we're back in the UK!!:banghead:
Son uses 'awesome' & 'choice'....never been to NZ :rolleyes:
My kiwi speak favourite is 'sweet as'.....used where ever & when ever :o
B x

Re: 1 week in.....
 

i love "Sweet as"... ive seen a t shirt with 'Sweet AZ' written on it.. deffo want one for the summer
j

Re: 1 week in.....
 

hi glad you like nz we have been here 13 years and would never go back to the ukwe to live in howick medowlands and think its a fantastic place to live.
have you tried muzzas pies in howick they are the best pies ever,if you ever miss uk food go to the uk shop pakarangr called bramptons also go to the farmers market on sat mornings in howick 830 till 1230 best eggs and bacon.
want to know any more get intouch
cheers:thumbup: