Hamilton: Better suburbs

[mmm]

Hi possible move to Hamilton next year,to those that live or have lived in Hamilton which suburbs are considered the better ones for a young family(kids under 5) or are there any suburbs to avoid?Schooling obviously important for the kids,reasonably close to shops a bonus,the houses in the new sub-divisions around Rototuna look ok looking on trademe??I know the roads are good so that's me sorted.Any advice most appreciated.

[slofox]

Used to live up that end of town myself - been out of there four and a half years now.

Rototuna is new and fresh and has a new school and another on the way. It is a little trendy still and you will see lots of major mortgage holders there....that said, there are plenty of good shops and the schools are good too. Traffic to and from city centre is thick morning and evening.
There are plenty of other areas that are also good - other side of the river - St Andrews, Pukete are also OK. Hamilton East is older but fine and closer to centre of town.
On the other hand, probably Melville and Nawton are lower decile areas but even there, there are pockets of pretty reasonable housing etc. If you go beyond Melville, into Glenview (where I live now) there is also some nice housing. Shops are fewer but traffic in and out of town is less than from the Northeast. And there's some choice riding out southwest of the city....Choice of schools is more limited, although I have taught at Hamilton West and really enjoyed that school.
To the west is Dinsdale which is mostly OK but you need to look more closely to find an area you like. Fraser High is out that way - the principal is something of a 'local focal point'......if you get my meaning.......
You really need to come have a look yourself to know where you feel comfortable.....please feel free to pm me if you want more detailed info......

[Hitcher]

Since when has the Tron had "suburbs"?

[wysper]

Not long after we got that new fangled 'lectricity all you fancy folks been jabbering about.

[mmm]

Thanks slofox,your info has given us a good starting point,will definitely pm you when we get serious about finding a home.Any general comments about living in the Waikato,good or bad,we would like to hear them.cheers

[MIXONE]

I hope you like fog!!!

[Kevnz]

Rototuna/Flagstaff is the newer part of town. There is a new primary school out this way called Te Totara primary. As your kids are young it would be best to get into this school zone. A new high school is being built in a couple or so years over here and a library, swimming pool and shopping centre. As for the traffic, ride your bike, to easy.If your down this way let me know and I'll give you a tour. May take a while we have traffic lights now, oh and the V8 Supercars for another 6 years

[Tank]

Best 'burb in Hamilton?

Simple - Cambridge!

[Kevnz]

Best 'burb in Hamilton?

Simple - Cambridge!

If your over 60

[RC1]

were out the back of gordonton, couple of good schools out this way not that close to the shops, but its only 20mins to rototuna 20mins to hunlty and 20mins from morrinsville, decided we didnt want to live in the neighbours pocket so got out of the city a bit and paid less out here for 1900sqm then you could get a 600sqm in any area, only downfall is shops not 5mins up road but partner works in te rapa and if anything is needed its not a hassle for her to get before heading home, you working down here or commuting to akld?

[DMNTD:Me]

I hope you like fog!!!

....and bogans

[wysper]

....and bogans

We are proud of our bogans down here.

We are out on the Hillcrest side of Hammy. Just a bit out of town. Good schools near by. Not too far from shops and the like. Out where we are, broadband is patchy to say the least. Even by NZ standards.

I like living in the Waikato. Not a bad pace of life. You can choose rat race or a little more laid back if you like. Hammy has got good cafes, resturants and the like. Attract the odd international performers.

V8's as mentioned, Crusty Demons, Symphony Orchestras even that damn oval ball game gets played round here. We have a lovely cricket ground (Seddon Park), if we didnt stink so much at it it would be a good day out, also you might very well be riding. Good days for cricket and good days for riding are remarkably similar.

[Mully]

Once we've discussed Hamilton's best suburbs, can we please discuss:
Best STDs &
Best Dictator

[vifferman]

I lived in Hamilton from 1977 till 1994. Yes, I know - shocking, but true. I lived firstly in Hillcrest, then Hamilton East, then fFrom '84 till '94, we lived in Pukete. It was pretty good living there, apart from the occasional whiff of the poo ponds when the weather conditions were right.
Asamatteroffact, all my mutant spawn are Hamiltronians by birth.

[PirateJafa]

Whatever that suburb is to the left just as you enter the hole. Quasi's zone.

No idea about the area, besides the fact that it has a metric fuckton of roundabouts and lovely sweepy corners.