Start your day at a Les Mills RPM class with Olly the trainer! Phew, it’s a bit chilly only 5 degrees, bound to be a frost somewhere but not here on the North Shore, and it’s going to be a beautiful day. There are only 20 or so this morning as the other thing to do this morning is watch the final of the World Cup. Olly works us hard and despite a cold start, the sweat starts to drip off my nose 15 minutes in. I start to strip off and I am breathing hard.

This is a great start to a day, and I end up feeling euphoric as the endorphins flow and as soon as I am finished my tummy tells me it’s breakfast time. There are spin classes at most gyms on the North Shore but Les Mills is particularly well equipped, I think their training bikes are the best there are and the trainers, Olly, Frida, Pete Leo are fantastic. Highly recommended.

mmmmmmm……..Fresh Baked Bread

I have (like many people) a passion for good bread. I’m excited to have Wild Wheat on the Shore now (originally in Mt Eden) and visit a few times a week to buy my bread. This is the good stuff, mainly artisan and mainly sourdough (their apple based starter is reputedly 10 years old!). If you think sourdough bread is not to your liking, put your prejudices aside and go sample some of the Wild Wheat product. It’s wonderful! I’m slowly working my way through all the flavours, and standouts for me are the fruit bread, the baguette (ooh that deep crust!) and the kumara sourdough. The breadmaking process takes about 36 hours, which helps to develop the great flavour, as well as making the bread far more digestible. It also keeps really well – just wrap it in a clean tea towel and store in the pantry. This is bread the way it used to be made and the way bread should taste. Wild Wheat Bakery also has cakes and other sweet things, and you can pick up a great sandwich for lunch, then go eat it on Takapuna Beach. Wild Wheat is located at 1/69 Lake Road, Belmont (the Takapuna store has closed down but you can buy the whole range of breads everyday at Farro Fresh in Constellation Drive. You can check out the range of products and some background information on the Wild Wheat website.

Now over 5000 people live here, with a growing population of average New Zealanders, of every nationality, with Europeans making up about 50% of the population. You can find out more at Statistics New Zealand.

The area is a haven of average family homes, with the best streets on the crest of the hill, in Grenada Avenue, Catalina Crescent and Longwood Drive. you can find out  more on property prices and trends on  Zoodle. Many homes are being renovated as people add value and upgrade these solid, high quality homes built using traditional techniques and architecture. There are a few outstanding examples of 1970′s flair, so if you are looking for a little bit of different, this is your suburb!

Transport

Forrest Hill is well served by public transport, there are two Northern Busway Bus Stations nearby at Sunnynook and Smales Farm. Additioanlly there are great services along Sunnynook  Road, Forrest Hill road and other main roads. Check out the timetable here at Maxx. There is a motorway connection at Tristram Avenue and if you need a cab, try North Shore Taxis where you can order on line or call them on 09 488 8000.

North Shore City Council is establishing cycle routes on the North Shore and a cycle path is currently (2009) being established along East Coast Road and Forrest Hill Road, especially for students at Forrest Hill Primary and Westlake High Schools. So if you want to reduce your green house gas emissions and get healthy check out the Council’s cycle strategy here.

Schools

Forrest Hill has 4 high schools. Westlake Boys HIgh School was established in 1961, while just down the road is Westlake Girls High School, both schools have over 2000 students each. Nearby are Carmel College and Rosmini College, high schools teaching in the Catholic tradition. These four high schools are the only single sex schools on the North Shore and many families choose to live here so their teenagers can attend. These schools are Decile 9, reflecting the affluence of the surrounding suburbs.

Serving these schools in Forrest Hill are two primary schools. Forrest Hill Primary celebrated its 50th anniversary in May, 2009 and Sunnynook Primary has just celebrated 40 years, and the intermediate schools of Takapuna Normal, (so called as it was attached to a now closed teacher’s college), and Wairau Intermediate.

Clubs and Sport

Forrest Hill, typically for the North Shore,  has a wealth of sporting and recreational clubs. Heres a selection:

• Soccer: Forrest Hill AFC
• Tennis: Tennis Northern, a thriving tennis club in Bond Street
• Golf: The Pupuke Golf Club, this spectacular course overlooks the Hauraki Gulf
• Badminton: Badminton North Harbour, The centre for Badminton is in Bond Street stadium

Parklane Retirement Village

In Auckland, few retirement villages exist so close to a major shopping centre or are located within a high quality residential suburb. There are 99 villas situated on over 5 hectares. Parklane is sought after, due to it’s convenience and sense of community.

Shopping

Major shopping centres and supermarkets are nearby in Milford, Mairangi Bay, Sunnynook, and in Glenfield. Local Shopping is by way of 4 small neighbourhood shopping centres in Raines Avenue, at the top of Forrest Hill Road, in Grenada Avenue and also in William Souter Street.

Medical and Veterinary

There are a wealth of medical facilities including nearby North Shore Hospital, and these specialist centres:

Vein and Laser Group: Offers specialist treatment of varicose veins and other skin treatments, including botox and hair removal.
Forrest Hill Physiotherapy: comprehensive physio and rehabilitative treatments.
Hands On Rehabilitation: especially for hand and upper limb injuries.
Forrest Hill Family Medical Centre: This is a family GP at 1/1 Grenada Ave, Forrest Hill, call 09 410 5411.
North Shore Hearing are out to improve your hearing, affordably.
Pasifika Integrated Healthcare is about promoting and supporting people’s health and sustainable wellbeing.