Albany

It's a thriving community within easy reach of the city, as CHARLOTTE COSSAR reports.

Albany has changed from a farming community with a quaint village to a thriving residential hub showcasing modern architecture and a new retail centre.

This rapid development has seen new schools, a university, light commercial industry and sports facilities appear on what was once lush farm land.

With the new motorway, Albany is no longer the thoroughfare to Northland and because of this the area has been able to further develop its own identity.

Attracting a mix of residents from all age groups and ethnicities, the community has grown with its new inhabitants and will benefit from the development of a hotel, hospital, cinemas, completion of the park and a shopping mall.

Although the area boasts a range of shops, especially at the Albany Mega Centre, it is also close to the Glenfield shopping centre and Wairau Park.

There are also great cafes, restaurants and shops at Rosedale Rd and the new shopping area off Oteha Valley Rd.

For those who enjoy sports, Albany can cater for your needs. You can play golf at the North Harbour Golf Course, tennis at the Tennis Centre, rugby and soccer at the North Harbour Stadium and there are various gyms to work out at.

The North Harbour Stadium is also used for other events - so far these have included the operas Carmen and La Traviata.

One reason Albany has grown so fast in recent years is Massey University has located a satellite campus here. This attracts a lot of students from other parts of the North Shore and international students who want to live close to campus. Unlike the campuses of other universities in Auckland, Massey's Albany campus has formed a community within walking distance of the institution and offers a learning environment away from the city centre.

For those who enjoy weekend markets, these happen weekly in a village, where there is also a small art gallery and other boutique shops.

Kells Park, which is the perfect destination to enjoy our sunny weekends (well, one, last weekend) is also popular with residents.

So what does it cost to live in Albany? Apartments sell for between $139,000 and $245,000 and townhouses from $180,000 to $300,000. A three-to-four-bedroom home will set you back between $290,000 and $750,000 - more in Oakhaven - and properties with attractive views or near the waterfront even more. Sections are also in high demand in this area, especially in the new subdivisions. And if you're in the market for an apartment, especially one with a tennis court, swimming pool, gym and on-site manager, you have to act smartly - they don't last long on the market.

Once considered an outer Auckland suburb, Albany has a life of its own but is still very much a part of the city. Commuters love living here because of the easy access to the motorway and the advantage of being close to the countryside. It's well worth a look.