Is it rad out West (Auck)?

I figure there has to be some Westies here right?

We are savingsavingsavingsavingsaving at the moment for enough for a deposit and were planning on looking out at Pukekohe. I've recently changed my mind and want to check out West as well/instead. I've got some friends who live wayyyyyy out West and I'm involved with a few places workwise that'd be way easier to get to from that side.

Where are the rad places to live out West? We don't have a gazillion dollars... and the Boy says he doesn't wanna live in a ghetto... but I want some diversity in the types of people my kidlet is exposed to! (At the moment she's at a very white, very middle-class school - not doing it for me!)

Any ideas? TIA

Edited by nikkitheknitter

I have lived out West my whole life and am currently in Te Atatu South. Definitely enjoy living here and will probably never move.. Pretty diverse around here I reckon.

Maybe somewhere around Titirangi might appeal to you as it seems to be the place for arty, crafty peeps? They have craft markets 'n stuff out there..

We are from Swanson LOVE it here! Its diverse in culture and has a lot to offer, plus housing is not overpriced in comparison to some other suburbs out west but not "ghetto". There are great little local shops with most of your necessities and the beach is close by, as well as bush walks and parks etc. and its only 20 minutes from the city when the traffic is good.

Titirangi is nice but damp and TBH IMO there are a lot of stuck up" we are so alternative & different" (yet all the same & not actually diverse) types from round that way.

Our house is right on the marina in West Harbour which is nice. There is a ferry direct to the city which is a huge bonus. Its also really quick drive to Albany shops which I think are nicer than Henderson. The Westgate mall is fine to grab a few things as there is a big Warehouse there and also a supermarket and some other shops, Dr etc.
The primary school in West Harbout seems cute too.

Lol I didn't think west akl had been 'rad' since the 1980's. hehe

I'm relocating out west in a months time and have had the same question. We're moving to Hobsonville which is almost North Shore.

My Dad lives at Piha which is awesome so wish I could afford to live out there.

Grr Kodysmum did you not see the Air Force signs when you moved to Whenuapai? Sorry Dh is Air Force and everyone complains about the planes despite the fact the air force has been there forever.

Agree with BeLoved, Titirangi isn't hippy anymore its full of out of work Shortland Street actors and Ponsonby wannabes.

BeLoved wrote: Titirangi is nice but damp and TBH IMO there are a lot of stuck up" we are so alternative & different" (yet all the same & not actually diverse) types from round that way.

I'd have to agree with you on this! When we were first looking to buy we were considering Titirangi, but then found our place in Green Bay, and I'm so glad we bought there instead! It's totally un-pretentious, sunny, dry, close enough to town (I can get to the CBD in 20 minutes offpeak) but we still have a BIG section with re-generating bush, heaps of lawn to play on & a stream at the bottom. Plus it's loads cheaper...

I'm a born and bred Southsider but I have extended family who are born and bred Westies. I spent alot of my teen years growing up there with my grandparents (Henderson) and cousins (Te Atatu) and now one of my best friends lives there (Glen Eden). It's pretty awesome out there and the only reason we bought in Manukau was because it's closer to work otherwise if we worked out west we would have bought out there. All the best to you and have fun house-hunting, you'll love it

I'm totally into the idea of West now... just gotta keep saaaaaaaaaaaaaaving.... and looking on trademe

P.S. MummyFreckle - thanks for the links. They were great!

I live on the shore but am directly in the flight path for Whenuapai.. no blarrdy warnings signs over here CJ!!!!! But having lived in London where every house I lived in was in the flight path for heathrow.. meh!

Gotta say there are very few white-dominated schools in Akl! I have friends who love New Lynn, TeAtatu Peninsula and Titirangi. As with anywhere there are good parts & not-so-good parts of each area. We are in Lynfield which is right on the boarder between central and West. We love the community here...so many families within walking distance of the kindy + the primary school is right beside it. Half of Lynfield is very expensive, the other half is not so much. I've also heard that Oratia is nice but I'm not up with prices there.