Where's Best to Live in NZ and what do we need to know: PART TWO!!!

[AngryBeaver]

Wow,have just gone to post and it wouldn't except it! So have had to start a new thread. Hope everyone finds it ok.I feel a bit like we've all been out for the night and somehow got seperated and no one has their mobile!!
Anyway,this was the question I've had to cut and paste from the old thread:...

Sorry,have had a quick look but can't see...has anyone used emirates?
I think the sky couch thing looks good,but we'd have to buy a couple and that would be pricey.
Dh reckons Emirates are fine,but I don't think he's anticipating how different it's going to be travelling that disatnce with 3 exhausted infants.
He has limited travel experience as it is and the longest he has been on a plane with them is 3 hours. He keeps saying it will be fine,they'll sleep for loads of it...somehow I'm thinking this will not happen!!

My local school has a programme run by OSCARs. They were all at the beach when we were there today.

Thanks for your help on this one everyone - I feel very British stressing about mental commutes to work. It was chaos before but I was on foot and everything was so compact it was all manageable.

Skids - unfortunate name - my boys will love that

justabout - I've just been reading some of your blogs - are you going to take DS2 back then for more of the dubious nursery?. The school sounds great though which must be a relief. Is DS1 there?

Good she knows of another one as the one you tried didn't sound very convincing tbh. Is it close? Is that ds1 starting his first term or did you get him in before Xmas?

Littlestkiwi - the Eastern bays - what are they like? You live there don't you? Sorry if I'm getting confused - I've been studying my maps and been on the maxx public transport list trying to work out commutes.

DN who is 14 is very upset according to facebook. She says she's never cried so much and this is the worst news ever. She loves her nephews to bits and I feel really mean and sad but DH points out we only see her every 2-3 months. I hated being 14 though - everything was so emotional and shit really.

Definitely call them and ask - you have nothing to lose. Shy bairns, as they say round my way, get nowt.

I was going to ask DN if she wanted to do a gap year here after A levels (visas permitting). I'll ask when it all calms down a bit as didn't want DSIL to think I'm trying to steal her dd after running off with her DNs.

Ps - not total weirdo up at 4am- still feeding ds4 who is full of snot.

I know live in Thailand but lived in Christchurch for 6 months and loved it! Such a relaxed pace of live with loads of cafes and restaurants. Really beautiful country!

The Eastern Bays are lovely. Being near the beach is fab and the traffic is less of an issue. Although Tamaki Drive (along the waterfront) does get jammed at rush hour. There are good bus services into town.

All the schools apart from Orakei have good reputations.

Housing is expensive though, and good rentals hard to find.

You might want to look at Parnell if the commute is a big concern. There is a link bus that runs on a loop every ten minutes and cost $1.60. It's a little snooty but most expensive inner suburbs seem to be.

T'is not going so great with DHs family - tell me people get a bit happier/more used to it with time? 'devastated' is a word being used alot. DN had cried herself to sleep 3 nights in a row apparently and FIL has told MIL that he thinks he will never see us again as we've said we're not planning on holidaying back in the UK in the first 2 years (I've spent my life holidaying in the UK to date) and he's saying he doesn't feel they could afford to visit. Feeling very guilty.

Sorry to hear that Lolly. We were in a slightly different position as we originally came for 12 months. But we do get guilt trips, often from people who we didn't see that much in the UK (through their choice) and who don't make the effort.

I think people either adapt and end up with stronger relationships despite the distance, or they behave badly and drive you further away.

I wouldn't stress that you are unlikely to visit straight away. You don't really know what will happen and it is a lot for people to take in.

Lolly that sounds hard, we have made the decision that we are not going to commit to returning the UK for "holidays" when we go, one reason is that with 6 of us the cost of flights would be horrific. Instead we plan to save a small ammount monthly and offer to pay for flights for both sets of parents to visit us every couple of years.

littlestkiwi - I have become friends with this maxx travel website. It says if I live in mission bay or st heliers I could get into town in 20 minutes in the rush hour - sounds too good to be true - what's the catch? (aside from difficult rental and steep propety prices)

The family situation is getting us down a bit. They have been asking DH if he can come home for a holiday next year on his own as the expense for all of us is too much but he's said no - there are a thousand places in NZ he wants to visit to be honest. We're trying to arrange to visit a couple of times before we go and FIL saying he's not sure if we can come to stay as SIL and DN are too distressed and he doesn't know how they will feel having us around. She lives in her own house so we figure if she doesn't want to see us then she can stay there but apparently not so. DH called her but after 5 minutes she said she was too uspet and couldn't speak. I just wish they could say 'we're sad you're going but we understand why and wish you all the best'. Instead we are just hearing alot of 'we're devastated, we're such a close family and you're tearing us apart' (DH is close to his folks it's true, but we live about 150 miles away and see them every 2 months or so - SIL/DN about every 3). Apparently they are now going to have a weekly family meal night together to consolidate. Why am I feeling slightly manipulated by all this....?

So flights are booked (singapore), as is furniture removal (anglo) and we arrive mid march. Can I ask - are plunket the best people to hire car seats from until ours arrive in the container? Does anyone know any cheap accomodation for about 3-4 weeks until we sort a rental? I got in touch with a motel but their rate was $200 a day (and that was the reduced long stay price!!) and I also spat me tea out.

Just a quick one as I'm off to Mission Bay Craft fest today ;-)

I suspect the bus may take a little longer in rush hour but there is a bus lane. No catch. That's why we live here. But houses are expensive! Get signed up on the barfoot and thompson website for email bulletins of new rentals.

Not sure about car seats as I haven't had to hire them. If you hire a car you could get them from them? I would just call plunkett and ask. I have a capsule you could borrow but suspect your kids are older?

Re short term accommodation I'd look for a holiday home.

Try travelbug.co.nz (cheapest I've found) bookabach and bachcare. Also holiday homes. Ask about longer term discounts. Another place you may find somewhere is gumtree.

We booked an apartment via apartments in auckland when we arrived.

Wotif is a good hotel website.

hi lollystix, just popping on to say it's also worth checking out trademe for longer term apartments. Or, try posting a 'wanted' request on gumtree for a housesitting role if you want to keep the budget down.

Can you not take the car seats with you on the flight? it depends on the airline but some will give you an extra luggage allowance for child car seats. even the excess baggage charges would most likely work out cheaper than renting them out here.

Good luck!

You can just email Plunket and ask. I asked about hiring two high-back boosters for a few weeks when I went home for Christmas and it was about $20 for each one for that period, plus a deposit that you get back at the end.

In the end we hired a car though and they provided the seats for free.

Thanks ladies - I did a hire car quote (admittedly just one) and the seats were $35 each per day so $140 in total a day - non starter. I've emailed plunket and waiting to hear back and I'll check with airline. Have to buy baby seat there to be honest as ds4 is in a borrowed one (gave mine away after ds3 like all my other baby stuff). Any clues on good baby seat brands - not too dear as he'll be 6months and only in it till about 12 months.

Bizarrely our next door neighbours daughter lives in St. Heliers and I was speaking to her in the street today and she visits each year. She said it was fab there with great schools and her DD had only gone for a year but 7 years later she was still there.

Any links welcome .

F all chance of his company paying car hire sadly. I got a quote for a 7 seater for a week and it was $120 a day - do need to shop about though. The plan is to get off plane (at midnight with 4 little ones ), rock up to the bank on Monday am to get our cards and then buy a car straight away....that's the plan anyway....The only part of the move logistics DH is remotely concerned about it the car and I'm totally apathetic on this front other than the price element (which we totally disagree on). He intends on locating a few in advance and telling the dealers we'll be visiting. No doubt we'll need a hire car for a few days at least though.

Can I join trademe without a fixed address?

lollystix I just hired a car in Queenstown for 6 days and we got 2 car seats with it for free. We hired the car from Apex Car Rentals.

Ha, cross posted :)

www.apexrentals.co.nz/

I joined Trade Me without having any proof of address, I think.