Hello everybody,

I’m going to Auckland in February with a Working Holiday Visa for one year. Could anyone tell me good parts of Auckland, where the living is cheap but good? Mostly the University parts of Cities are great for living, going out and having a beer. Is that the same in Auckland? And where are the nearest kitesurfing spots?

Thank you

Florian

Hey man I'm gonna warn you now before you come here.. you ain't gonna find it easy. As for kiting after work (you did mention a working holiday) I doubt you will get out much.. the traffic will destroy your soul and the public transport will devour the remains... and the wind is allways changing from day to day... no guantueed wind pattern or direction either. All this hassle in a city that gets over 300 kiteable days per year. And don't worry... you won't see me around... i'm the beast and i live out east..... and rent here is THROUGH THE ROOF!!!!! you will never make it to the eastside as the buses traffic etc won't let you get out this way. you may think i'm sounding harsh... but once you are here and experiencing the hardships of visiting Auckland... you'll thank me for warning you so you can be prepared. I was gonna refer you to my website but you don't know the url i'm assuming.

Thrasher GIVE IT REST!!!!!!! PLEASE please please enough!
NZ, including Auckland has some great riding.
Mark if you lived in London, LA, Sydney, any big city you would see that Auckland is not that bad. If you really hate it that much, just move.
NZ is paradise compared to a lot of the rest of the world.
Everytime someone asks about New Zealand you come on with all the negatives, Buy a round the world ticket and see what you are comparing it too.
Thanks Adrian

Hey,

Take most of what Thrasher said with a huge pile of salt. February/March has long days and lots of sun light allowing for good long sessions after work. If you have a mode of reliable transport you should be able to find a sweet spot suitable for the conditions. There are beaches within 45 mins from the city centre that cater for all directions. Post on this forum when you arrive and you should be able to get some directions to locations from those who use this website.

Around Auckland Uni there are a number of good bars etc (good places for a beer) and some accommodation. However moving outwards of the city centre the rent becomes a little more affordable. Look at websites such as:

www.nzflatmates.co.nz

www.flatfinder.co.nz

www.finda.co.nz/findaflatmate/index.php

for a good deal.

Thank you for the messages and specially for the links. I live now in Hamburg (Germany) and this is also a big city. I think it is a little bit bigger than Auckland. And because of this, i will handle the traffic or is it really that much? Like cities in Asia (Bombay, Manila). I hope not

Florian

Spent few days in Auckland, and it rocks!
As a Parisian, the traffic in Auckland is a joke!

Beautiful beaches not too far away from town. Muriwai 45 minutes, Takapuna , piha 35 minutes if you want to go surfing!

And on the WE your possibilities are event greater!!
You'll love it, no doubt - well that's if you like the rain

moin florian,

der verkehr in auckland ist nicht so schlimm wie alle sagen. du solltest nur probieren nicht gerade jeden tag im berufsverkehr mitten durch die stadt fahren zu wollen. aber das gleiche gilt ja auch fuer hamburg.

die gegend um auckland hat richtig viele straende und plaetze um kiten gehen zu koennen. spaetherbst und frueher winter ist die schlechteste zeit fuer guten wind aber immer noch ausreichend und ausserdem wirds nie richtig kalt.

du brachst auf jeden fall ein auto, aber sprit und versicherung/steuern ist echt guenstig hier.
hast du schon einen job in aussicht?

ich bin '97 nach neuseeland gezogen und war seit '00 nicht mehr in kiel, wo ich herkomme. mir gefaellt es hier einfach richtig gut.
das wetter ist klasse, die natur ist schoen und die menschen sind freundlich und aufgeschlossen.
ich wohne jetzt zwar in wellington aber ich habe auch fast vier jahre in auckland gewohnt.
schick mir doch 'ne PM falls du noch info oder kontakte in auckland brauchst.

mfg
boogie

Hi

ich komm auch aus hamburg und leb seit nem halben jahr in Auckland(stadtteil:remuera)Da ich noch 17 bin und kein auto haben darf muss ich leider immer den bus zu spots nehmen aber auckland hat soviele groartige strnde das das nichtmal ein groes problem ist.
Die locals sind super freundlich und die "gefrlichen" strnde knnen mit nen bischen ortskenntniss umgangen werden(ich musste hart lernen mein naish boxer wurde innerhalb 5 minuten vom strand weggeklaut)
Ich werde die nchsten 2-3 wochen (bis ende januar) weg sein aber du kannst mir jeder zeit fragen stellen und ich werde versuchen zu helfen so gut ich kann mein email addresse ist This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Man sieht sich am strand freu mich auch immer ber leute die mir ne mitfahrgelegenheit geben knnen;-)

Yannic

PS

aus welchem stadtteil kommst du in hamburg

H, c'est quoi ce bordel?
On peut pu caus anglais dans ce forum???

Ok taz p is right lets go back talking in english again.

As a translation:

4t lives in nz(wellington) since 97 is actually from germany and said he he could get flo contacts in auckland
I live in auckland since half a year and offered him just to write me an email if he has any questions
and we both said the traffic in auckland is not too bad

and there is always babelfish translations:
babelfish.altavista.com/

which came up with this translation of my post:

moin florian,

traffic in auckland is not as badly as all say. you should not want to drive to only try straight each day in the rush hour in the middle by the city however the same apply also to Hamburg.

the area over auckland has correctly many beaches and places over kiten to go to be able late autumn and in former times winter is however still sufficiently and in addition wirds never correctly cold the worst time for good wind.

you broke an in any case car, but sprit and insurance/steer are genuinly favorably here.
do you have already a job in prospect?

I pulled ' 97 to New Zealand and was not since ' 00 no more in Kiel, where I come myself please it here simply correctly well.
the weather is class, nature is beautiful and humans is friendly and unlocked.
I live now in wellington however I have also nearly four years in auckland used.
send to me nevertheless ' ne PM if you still info. or in auckland need contacts.

mfg
boogie

In summary (I'm from England btw):

Auckland is a superb place to live and kite. The roads aren't bad (Drivers are pretty bad though) and it's quite easy getting to your chosen kite spot (You will need a car).

It's generally cheap to live and eating out is stupidly cheap (almost $28 kiwi dollars for a pizza back home and its only $7 for the same thing here!)

People aren't generally that friendly when out drinking but head on over to the Globe bar for a good time (Backpackers bar).

The best thing is though is that you can drive to a beach and be the only one on it! A busy beach over here is nothing like in europe.

If it was as bad as thrasher said i would have moved to another country long ago.

Hello,

thank you all for the suggestions. I'm really excited to see New Zealand.

@4T: I know the spots around Kiel very well. Could you please compare Kiel with Auckland, that I can make me a better picture of Auckland?

Florian

Hi Flo,
Auckland kannst du nicht mit kiel vergleichen, ist ne andere welt.
Die west coast, Muriwai Beach und so sind von den bedingungen her vergleichbar mit Klitmoeller (DE) nur geiler!!!
Die city strnde sind nicht so prall aber um nach der arbeit abends nochmal kurz raus zugehen reicht es alle mal.
schick mir mal ne pm wenn du mehr infos brauchst, knnen wir dann ja bers tele. klren.
War letztes jahr 9 monate in Auckland, bin momentan aber leider wieder in Kiel.

gruss
uli

Babelfish translation... Dont think it's quite right hehe.

Does someone know a good and cheap hostal in Auckland where I can stay for some days while I'm looking for a share accomodation?