Anyone know New Plymouth well?

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TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#179215 31-Aug-2015 16:05

Mrs has a company interested in her down that way. Shes lived there before, I havnt.

What are some good safe suburbs?

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112 posts

Master Geek

#1377445 31-Aug-2015 22:36

depends what ya mean by safe..

if you want to avoid black power / mongrel mob type people, avoid marfell, spotswood certain areas of bell block, waitara.

other than that, new plymouth is safe, i lived in wellington for 20+ years and haven gotten into fights down there, but never once in nearly 10 years have i felt threatened here in new plymouth. You do get the occasional idiot but thats the norm for any place.

Only other thing to mention is the distinct lack of night life, one or two main bars in town and thats it. but lovely eating spots.

Amosnz

567 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1377467 31-Aug-2015 23:38

Marfell definitely has the worst rap, but there are certain parts of Merrilands, Frankleigh Park and others that you'd be best to stay away from. In general its all pretty safe though.

Speedtest

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#1377733 1-Sep-2015 13:03

didnt realise NP was that bad for trouble. I mean 20 years ago I thought that. But now it seems to be hip and trendy and has a good council and so much going for it. Just seems like normal people getting on with life and enjoying it. I guess every city has a bad spot.

if you were to invest there what would be a good suburb? I look Fitzroy because its close to surf and the golf course. Its probably double the price of most suburbs there though.

Something like Fitzroy but a little cheaper on the property prices.

wsnz

649 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1378050 2-Sep-2015 09:11

It's not bad at all really. Like anywhere, if you go looking for trouble you'll find it.

Are you buying or renting? What's your budget?

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#1378261 2-Sep-2015 14:03

looking to buy while we still have to live in big cities.

thinking budget up to $400k.

are there any nice little family lifestyle block towns surrounding the area, not sure what mokau is like?

first time i drove after clearing the mountains on that coast road it was a late summers afternoon with the sun shining on a windless swelly ocean, the surf was like a dream. that pretty much did it for me, that and staying in NP waiting to find bogans everywhere but couldnt find one. cafes, good coffee, great beer, did some surfing at a beach south (think starts with A) then did some hiking in Mt Taranki, was just the best time of my life.

hangon

397 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1378288 2-Sep-2015 14:29

heard some horrible stories (agent orange) around moturoa

could still find some bargains I suppose, and I came across many beautifully built/renovated houses for such a small city.

Amosnz

567 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1378301 2-Sep-2015 14:48

I might have oversold the danger in my previous post, but if you are looking to buy there are definite areas I'd stay away from (unless you have a much smaller house budget).

Mokau is a fair hike to New Plymouth by our standards, in the north direction most people wouldn't live past Urenui if they worked in NP, around the coast south people live in Opunake and drive up. You wouldn't have to go that far away to find a lifestyle block (unless maybe you wanted it on the coast). I grew up in Inglewood, moved to Melbourne for 7 years and moved back to NP when the first kid came along. Brought in 2010, <400k for a 4bedroom house on 936sq/m.

The agent orange was to do with Dow AgroSciences back in the 80s I think, there are still some manufacturing plants down by the port.

Speedtest

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TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#1378302 2-Sep-2015 14:52

What are the likely employers for Systems Analysis or PM type work down there? ive seen some jobs pop up now and then. Wouldnt move until we were well off financially, but the idea of being able to get a job eventually there is attractive.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#1378365 2-Sep-2015 15:26

Is spotswood in the moturoa area of concern?

TheMantis

142 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#1378398 2-Sep-2015 16:29

They are adjacent suburbs. Neither area is particularly bad, just minor localised areas really. For example: the area in Spotswood that backs directly against the industrial area by the port (right next to Dow AgroSciences) is nothing flash but still a long way from being a complete dump (that honour is reserved for most of Marfell, the next suburb over if you can imagine a triangle of suburbs). Being a small city New Plymouth doesn't really have too many suburbs that are complete gash, apart for Marfell of course (read: the majority of the state housing in the city).

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#1378409 2-Sep-2015 17:04

Is there a "Remuera" of New Plymouth?

A suburb that regardless of what is hip or in flavour for a particular decade has remained consistently well favored over the decades?

TheMantis

142 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#1378420 2-Sep-2015 17:25

TeaLeaf: Is there a "Remuera" of New Plymouth?

A suburb that regardless of what is hip or in flavour for a particular decade has remained consistently well favored over the decades?

The most exclusive area is the streets immediately surrounding Pukekura Park and flowing down to the edge of the CBD. This area is the colonial heart of the city and has a large number of period houses. Factor in the close proximity to the park, being within walking distance to everything in the CBD, and being elevated on a ridge above the CBD makes property in this area highly sought after on a continuous basis.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#1378484 2-Sep-2015 18:56

yep that makes sense. thats where i stayed when i was there but south.

any of those houses near the park have sea views?

we walked the "lights festival" at night, not sure what its called. but was cool.

TheMantis

142 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#1378492 2-Sep-2015 19:34

TeaLeaf: yep that makes sense. thats where i stayed when i was there but south.

any of those houses near the park have sea views?

we walked the "lights festival" at night, not sure what its called. but was cool.

Some of them will but you'd be quite far (at least 1Km) and you wont see the shore, only offshore towards the horizon. There are really only a couple of areas with direct (unobstructed) sea views. The first is between the northeastern edge of the CBD and the Te Henui river (Woolcombe Tce and Octavius Pl). The views from here are amazing as the land is elevated on a cliff with the sea breaking against the sea wall below (and also against and often over the coastal walkway). The downsides are that property is very, very expensive (1M plus is common) and the railway runs in a trench almost directly behind you. The second area is on the other side of the Te Henui river running northeast through Strandon and Fitzroy (Hamblyn St and Seaton St primarily). This area can be even more expensive and doesn't have the elevation of the previous area and the coastal walkway runs directly in front of the properties. Some people find this intrusive. Both areas suffer from extensive salt spray and require significant continuous maintenance to avoid your house rotting away.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#1378496 2-Sep-2015 19:57

awesome.

thanks all, gives me something to start on. will go stay for a holiday and check out the areas again. go for a fish and a surf.

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