Papakura

Where town meets country, it offers a variety of homes and has a soul of its own, writes CHARLOTTE COSSAR.

Situated between Manukau Harbour and the Hunua Ranges, Papakura is 25 minutes south of central Auckland by car and offers a great lifestyle with hints of town and country living - the rolling farmland and native forest are a backdrop to the vibrant town with great eateries and shopping.

With its own bustling city life, yet close enough to the CBD to commute daily, the area, with its parks and reserves boasting fine examples of some of New Zealand's famous native plant and tree species, Papakura is an exciting place to live for young and old.

Being near rural and farming communities - for example Clevedon to the east, Karaka to the west and Drury and Runciman to the south - the area offers a variety of residential and rural property, including rural lifestyle blocks at Clevedon, Karaka and the Drury foothills.

Papakura attracts city folk escaping the busy life closer to Auckland's heart that want to live where town meets country, as described by one resident.

The area was settled in the 1850s and a school and small chapel were established on the site of the present crossroads. In 1872, a larger school was required and the Education Board made a grant of 175 pounds for the school with the condition that a further 75 pounds was contributed by the community towards the costs.

The school, Papakura Central School, was completed in October 1876 and for 82 years was the only school in the area. Now, Papakura has a good selection of schools, with one of the newest being the Strathallan School and College at Karaka.

What new developments are there?

Karaka Bloodstock is a new development and the largest of its kind in New Zealand. Horse sales are held throughout the year and attract buyers from all over the world.

There are also large blocks of land that have been re-zoned residential in nearby Takanini and Karaka. These areas are projected to house more than 30,000 people.

What is there to do?

For the active resident, Papakura has Bruce Pulman Park - a large sporting/recreation centre with netball courts, sport grounds for soccer, cricket, rugby etc, and a gym - Massey Park Swimming Complex with its heated indoor pool, wave pool and 50m outdoor pool, a BMX track and many other sports grounds and clubs.

After all this exertion, you can enjoy the shows at the Hawkins Entertainment Centre, stroll around local parks, including McLennans Park, South Park, King Edward Park and Kirks Bush, or clear out your wallet shopping.

Also, there are flights over Auckland in biplanes or a meticulously maintained World War Two Dakota DC3, which departs from Ardmore.

What does it cost to live here?

First-home buyers can buy a two-bedroom house from $125,000. Three-bedroom homes sell for between $135,000 and the high $200,000s, and four-bedroom homes from the low to high $200,000s.

Types of properties available in the suburb include one-bedroom apartments, two- and three-bedroom townhouses and units, three- and four-bedroom houses, bare land and lifestyle blocks.