Places we've been

[TheWaters]

These views are in terms of where we would like to live and what opportunities we would find for work, cost of living, houses, etc.

Whangarei: Northland too remote, small population, less work opportunites. Whangarei seems too industrial for us and not a nice ?feel? but we did only pass through.

Kerikeri: Same general comments regarding Northland but much nicer town. Like it very much but probably too far from a big centre. Feel like the climate may be too humid for us.

Tauranga/Mt Maunganui: Housing expensive. Lovely area, central, couple hours from Aucks, Hamilton, Rotorua, Taupo. Very agricultural. Rapidly expanding and lots of opportunities. Compact town with quick access to countryside, sea etc. Nice feel.

Rotorua: We didn?t expect it to smell so much, though it would be a general, light aroma, however after a while it?s true you don?t notice it so much. 1 million tourists a year, mainly short stay from what we could gather. Lots of attractions and tourist provisions. Compact town, god community feel involvement/feel. 40mins from coast. Housing almost half that of Tauranga. Lots of varied eateries. Lots of countryside. When a resident wood, water, attractions fee. Lots of opportunities for me as in Tourism.

Whakatane: Small, nice feel.

Gisborne: Nice, clean. Remote, car sales woman said can charge what they like as so far from anywhere. Coast north of Gisborne very impoverished. High Maori population. Good service town with all amenities. Small and not very affluent, low opportunites?

[MotherBear]

Brilliant post, Helen. Great to have a personal view of the various places.