Moving to Auckland, Help!

Hey ladies,

Wow it's been a while since I last popped in here! Just wondering if anyone can give me some advice. DH has just been offered a pretty fantastic job opertunity in Auckland and we are just looking at the logistics of moving.
He would be managing a large warehouse in Mangere which I have been told isn't a great area to live. So just wondering if there are any suburbs not too far from his work, say no more than 30/40mins drive that are family friendly.
The girls start school next year so would like an area that has some good school options. We will probably only be there 2 years max so will be renting. I've heard rent in Auckland is quite expensive. Is around $400 per week unrealistic for a nice 3 bedroom family home?
Any help would be appreciated

I dont know much about renting as we have owned for 5 years now. I do recommend the eastern suburbs, Howick, Bucklands Beach, Pakuranga. The schools are really good and it is only about 20min, maybe 30 in traffic to Mangere.

You would not want to live in Mangere or the surrounding suburbs. In saying that I do live in Otahuhu but we intend on moving before DD starts school and go to most of my activites in Howick/Pakuranga anyway.

We lived in Howick and from one road to the next the rent can differ by quite a bit. We paid $380 for a real nice 3 bedroom house with an actual bath, double garage and totally fenced in. However our friend also in howick had a 2 bedroom house, small garden, not completely fenced in for the same amount. So start looking around. Pakuranga is not too bad to live in. Get nicer areas than some. But you should be able to find something for $400 but might be easier at the $450 mark.

I live in Howick / Pakuranga area and have done for 20 odd years. Have one child who has been through schools in Howick (now in year 12 at college) and have been very happy with them.
We have a little one now and will be staying in this area because of things like schooling.
We rent and pay $400 per wk for an "average" condition large 3 bedroom home fully fenced double garage with large section - but we have been there for 4 years.
You would be looking at 400 upwards for a nice place Pakuranga Howick - $450 upwards in the Bucklands beach/ half moon bay / botany areas. All are good and close together.

When I used to work in Otahuhu we rented in Ellerslie which was good too but we had to pay $410 a week for a 2 bedroom so you might have to pay a bit more to live around there. St Johns/Mount Wellington/Sylvia Park also have good parts

30/40 minutes from Mangere gives you a lot of options, from the Eastern Suburbs to Hillsborough/Onehunga which is more central. The new airport motorway is reasonably swift.

We live on the North Shore, and there are quite good schools on the Shore. Now this is a fair bit away from Mangere, but I work in Mangere and live in Torbay (pretty much the top of the Shore.)

The drive to and from work is doable.

I live in Mangere Bridge which is 5 mins from Mangere and is really lovely. We have an awesome village community with playgroups, mainly music and library events for little ones. There are 2 good primary schools within walking distance. We are right by the water, a mountain and a Regional Park if you like the outdoors and walking/running etc. Lots of good bike trails as well.

$400 for 3 bedroom is prob pushing it a bit, but $450 you might get something.

We live in Onehunga, and I think it is very family friendly! The community centre always has stuff going on, there is a playcentre (with a horrendously long waiting list), kindy, plunket, park. It's a lovely suburb to live in!

Hi Lisa, I live in Bucklands Beach and there is great schools in the area. I would recommend living in botany/howick area. We currently rent a 3 bedroom, av condition for 430 a week.
Hope you find this helpful