Where to live in New Zealand? already asked this but in a different section...?

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Jimmy

Id check out Methven which is at the base of Mt Hutt Ski Field its a small town which grows with the ski season, closest major town is Ashburton 20mins drive or Christchurch city 90mins drive both in opp directions, Methven is mostly rural so no prob with horses an outdoor sports etc plus its in the South Island Mid Canterbury.
ps: Welcome to NZ

Brandon T

I would recommend Timaru.

dookie

Somewhere in the "Bay of Plenty" sounds like an ideal spot for you. Smaller cities with under 100,000 people close to ocean, lakes, mountains and Auckland which is our biggest city.

Tauranga / Mount Manganui - a city of around 100,000 on the east coast, beautiful beaches etc. Within a couple of hours driving from Auckland, or even closer is Hamilton.

Rotorua - a touristy/cultural town of around 60,000 in the central North Island, lots of lakes. Within 3 hours driving of Auckland, 1 1/2 hours from Hamilton. About 2 hour drive to Mountains, an hour to the ocean.

Taupo - another tourist town, even smaller than Rotorua. Central North Island, closer to Mountains, huge lake, 2 hours to the ocean.

Hope this might help. This is just a small part of New Zealand, there would be plenty more options to explore. But its where i live!

R0ad2Zion

I am also interested in moving to New Zealand i was looking into Katikati its on the water has kiwifruit orchards.

chris

Greymouth is best, its small town, can get to work within 30munites, and lots of water ,horse farms, i hope it will help u

*Kim [PoSsibLe]*

Timaru is a great place (I used to live there). It sounds like what you're looking for:

1) Skiing is handy because Mt. Cook is near Timaru, plus there is other mountain ranges close-by, at least one well-known one - I forgot what it's called though sorry..

2) Timaru is a *smallish town*, and definitely has a close community. It's like one of those towns that isn't too big but isn't too small either, if you know what I mean. Plus it's about an hour's drive from Christchurch in the South Island. I'm sure you will have heard of Christchurch, it's a very big city, very popular.

3) Timaru isn't landlocked either. It's open to the Pacific Ocean, and it has beautiful Caroline Bay, which has a great beach with a playground opposite for children, and a festival is held there, I think it's annually, with lots of rides and exciting things to do. Great for families too.

4) What you've have been waiting for .... the horse farm: you may have heard that New Zealand is famous for it's scenic land and country (as in outdoors). NZ's a country where there's plenty of space between each major city and/or town, so there's plenty of room for a horse farm. I know several people who are also avid horseback riders, and a couple who live on farms as well.

Timaru is a really great place to live, with many attractions (such as the Plaza and Rose Garden nearby, etc) and things to do. Population = 27, 200. For more info you could Google Timaru.

Hope this helps.
Good luck to you and your husband with your big move. :)

Incognito

I have to speak up for the North Island because most people will say the south. How about Taupo? It is in the middle of the North Island, is close to the Whakapapa & Turoa skifields, not too distant from NZ's largest city (Auckland) & also the warm north. It gives you easy access to the beautiful Bay of Plenty & is chock full with outdoor activities. Real estate prices aren't outrageous either.

New Zealand doesn't really have big ski resorts the way that Americans & Europeans think of them - and the work tends to be seasonal. Having said that, the South Island is clearly the biggest ski destination & Queenstown is the hub (if you want to live in a resort town - with all the good and bad that goes with it).

Taupo is large enough to have all the amenities, but still pretty cozy. One interesting geological fact about Taupo is that the lake was actually the scene of the world's largest volcanic eruption (a few thousand years ago). It was so big that Chinese astronomers made notes about it!

Smaller? Okay. Try Ohakune, Taumaranui or Te Kuiti?

Chris H

Arrow town would be great ! Very close to the main ski feilds of the south island. also would be a great place to set up a horse ranch. arow town is a sall town but just big enought to be self religant.

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