It's very friendly - make new friends

Lots of sporting, recreational and cultural activities - no excuse for boredom

Two national parks - Tongariro (mountains) and Whanganui (river)

Central - served by 4 regional airports (about the same time as driving from Browns Bay to Mangere in rush hour but more fun); on the best route from Auckland to Wellington

Clean - no parking hassles (walk); hear the birds in the morning, see the stars at night

Good facilities - you can get it locally or get it done locally in most cases - otherwise use the web

e-mail me - I love a chat so there's no obligation

• $471,090 Stratified Median House Price for Auckland June 2010 (source: www.reinz.co.nz)
• $298,662 Stratified Median House Price for 'Other North Island' June 2010. The median house price for the Ruapehu District over the last 12 months was $150,000 (average $161,753 with 110 sales)
• $291,000 Capital you can free up ($471,090 - $150,000 - $30,000 assumed costs)
• If you have no mortgage now you're around $12,000 better off after tax each year - that's a lot of holidays
• If you do have a mortgage now you'll be even better off
• Depending on your situation you can afford to eat away at the $291,000 as well
• Check out the numbers yourself at www.sorted.org.nz and seek independent financial advice

Sporting, Recreational and Cultural Activities,br>

• Skiing in the winter - check out the links page
• River activities like kayaking not in the winter - check out the links page
• Tramping, kayaking, fishing, cycling, hunting, ...
• Beautiful golf course in Taumarunui - outstanding views on a clear winter's day
• Local swimming pools, A&P Shows, Rodeos
• Choirs, theatrical societies, art societies and galleries, antiques (and good old fashioned junk)
• Marae (see Mana Ariki for the longest miniature railway in the southern hemisphere and a huge annual cultural festival)
• Take a peek at Ruapehu Links to see the scale of what's available here

Airports

• Taupo - 90 minutes from Taumarunui
• Hamilton - 2 hours from Taumarunui
• Rotorua - 2 hours from Taumarunui
• Palmerston North - 3 hours from Taumarunui
• I didn't count Wanganui as the schedule isn't that useful
• and several local airfields

Good facilities

• Hospital in Taumarunui, Health Centres/Clinics in some other townships
• Great places to eat
• Adequate shopping - there are other things in life
• Good range of businesses including light engineering - most things can be obtained locally
• Outstanding outdoors opportunities - sports, tramping, kayaking, fishing, cycling, hunting, ...
• Local Council - check out the links page