Moving to Wellington - advice?

**rie** · 12th July 2010, 18:12

Hi just got a job in Wellington and making the move with two kitties and lots of bikes. Unfortunately finding a place with a covered garage and "pets ok" in central Wellington is proving very hard. It may be that I might have to live somewhere further out and commute in. Commuting will be preferred in this order: public transport, car then bike last (unfortunately).

So what are some of the areas I should be looking at that would meet my needs? How far out can I look, realistically? How long would it take to commute in from those areas?

Many thanks

**Gone Burger** · 12th July 2010, 18:21

Originally Posted by rie

Hi just got a job in Wellington and making the move with two kitties and lots of bikes. Unfortunately finding a place with a covered garage and "pets ok" in central Wellington is proving very hard. It may be that I might have to live somewhere further out and commute in. Commuting will be preferred in this order: public transport, car then bike last (unfortunately).

So what are some of the areas I should be looking at that would meet my needs? How far out can I look, realistically? How long would it take to commute in from those areas?

Many thanks

Hey Rie...

Good luck for your move to Wellington. It will be lovely to have to done here, and I would love to show you some our or local playground down here. Exceptional group of riders too!

There are plenty of places you can look to live, it just depends on how much commuting you could get used to. I myself drive an hour each way every day, and am well used to it!

If you look at Lower Hutt (please ignore any comments you may get about the Hutt that follow - there are some really lovely areas), the drive in from Lower Hutt CBD is about 10 minutes, perhaps 20 at the worst with peak hour traffic. I don't use the train much, but if I recall correctly, the train only takes about 15 minutes too, perhaps 20.

The trains do not head out the other way in Welly - towards Mirimar and the bays etc. But they are all a very easy drive from the city centre.

Out on the Kapiti coast is just lovely, and a few more pet freindly places to rent (I too have been looking but for dogs). This is a further commute and it depends how far up the coast you go. Good train timetable from out that way too.

Hope that may be of some help. When are you looking at coming down?

**Gone Burger** · 12th July 2010, 18:22

forgot to mention - you may have more luck finding a place with a garage out of the CBD anyway - much of Wellington seems to have parking on the road only.

**Quasi** · 12th July 2010, 18:23

Hi Rie,

You will be welcomed warmly by the Welly riders - we are a very friendly bunch. It depends how far out you want to live. I live in the Wairarapa, which is an hour by train from Welly, but has the most awesome riding roads for weekends and long summer evenings. Regardless - let me know when you arrive and I am happy to show you some of my roads

**Paul in NZ** · 12th July 2010, 18:23

There is currently an oversupply of appartments in wellie and deals are being done so sharpen up your negotiating skills ;-)

**Paul in NZ** · 12th July 2010, 18:24

Originally Posted by Quasi

we are a very friendly bunch.

Speak for yourself - I'm a horrible anti social nutcase....

**Str8 Jacket** · 12th July 2010, 18:25

Don't bother bringing an umbrella.....

**Quasi** · 12th July 2010, 18:27

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Speak for yourself - I'm a horrible anti social nutcase....

Thats ok - we make allowances for old timers

**Gubb** · 12th July 2010, 18:28

Johnsonville/Newlands are easily accessible via Bus & Trains.
Lower/Upper Hutt have the Bus and Train network also.
Most other suburbs that satellite Wellington recieve a pretty decent Bus service (compared to d'Auckland anyway).

Gotta get into the 'burbs if you want a Garage. Feel free to leave your toys in mine while your looking for a place. I'll look after them, I promise.

**rie** · 12th July 2010, 18:28

I am moving in October. The prices are really great in Welly compared to Akd (and even better further out) but it's been the parking + kitties that has proven to be the biggest challenge. I am definitely going to be looking at Lower Hutt, thanks Katiepie. And thanks to Quasi too. It sounds really lovely!

**Maha** · 12th July 2010, 18:29

Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket

Don't bother bringing an umbrella.....

Is that beacuse they all end up at Blenhiem sooner or later?

**Gone Burger** · 12th July 2010, 18:30

Originally Posted by rie

I am moving in October. The prices are really great in Welly compared to Akd (and even better further out) but it's been the parking + kitties that has proven to be the biggest challenge. I am definitely going to be looking at Lower Hutt, thanks Katiepie. And thanks to Quasi too. It sounds really lovely!

I can see a lot of fun to be had Carla (Quasi) with a new gal to hit the roads with! If you need a flat mate, let me know as I might be looking.

**JimO** · 12th July 2010, 18:32

most landlords dont like pets

**Milts** · 12th July 2010, 18:38

Rather than heading all the way out into the hutt, you could always look at a place in the suburbs in Wellington - I've been flat hunting several times in the last few years and you can find some absolute bargains.

Places like Brooklyn, Karori, Seatoun, Hataitai or Northland coudl be worth looking at. They are all less than five or ten minutes to the CBD by car, have good bus service, don't suffer so much in peak hour traffic compared to the hutt/johnsonville/tawa etc, and have the advantage that from a few of them you can walk to town in under an hour - which can be awesome in summer.

The main difficulty with finding a garage etc is that so much of wellington is built on hills, but you can always find the odd place which is a great deal. Karori in particular should have a lot of houses with plenty of space, and has the added advantage of having a relatively large local shopping area.

There are also a lot of places which are fine with you having cats - dogs are more of a problem though.

EDIT: Something else to take into account is that later on in the year (although possibly not until early november) a significant number more flats suddenly become available because all the students leave for the summer...