Where to go in New Zealand?

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keithplya9

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ok so i have a bit of a weird question to ask you guys. So my VISA for Australia will be ending in October and I'm going to be going to NZ afterwards and Im wondering what cities you suggest moving to. Here is what I'm looking for

1.) Ill be on a working holiday visa, so somewhere with jobs as ill be able to work

2.) how do i get around? I know that NZ will not be like Melbourne with amazing trains and trams, so if any of you have gone to NZ does Wellington or Auckland have any kind of good transportation or does everyone drive? And if you've traveled there how have you gotten around?

3.) quality of life. I hear people praise and bash NZ. As fellow travelers, what are your thoughts on the country and its cities in general?
 
I have only been to AKL once. Used public transport to get around and had no problems. Found the transport to be efficient and clean. I was informed that there is no shortage of work in hospitality. Others may have a different view.
 
ok so i have a bit of a weird question to ask you guys. So my VISA for Australia will be ending in October and I'm going to be going to NZ afterwards and Im wondering what cities you suggest moving to. Here is what I'm looking for

1.) Ill be on a working holiday visa, so somewhere with jobs as ill be able to work

2.) how do i get around? I know that NZ will not be like Melbourne with amazing trains and trams, so if any of you have gone to NZ does Wellington or Auckland have any kind of good transportation or does everyone drive? And if you've traveled there how have you gotten around?

3.) quality of life. I hear people praise and bash NZ. As fellow travelers, what are your thoughts on the country and its cities in general?

The 4 main cities would be your best bet, there is fruit picking but not this time of year I think.

Bus services are good in most cities, I actually think Auckland is probably the worst but all very reasonable. There are also some trains but probably to places you won't want to live as a visitor.

Quality of life is good, but it depends what you are after really. Most people rank NZ fairly highly, great scenery, friendly people, good food/wine, outdoor lifestyle. But the cities aren't really big if you are after a big city lifestyle, many people like that, some don't!
 
I've been to AKL, WLG and CHC. Found all 3 to be very easy to get around on public transport + taxi's. I've found the NZ people to be cery friendly, and have quite enjoyed my numerous trips across the pond.
 
What type of work are you into and what are you trying to get from NZ?
I live in WLG and of course have experienced all the "larger cities" including Hamilton, Dunedin, Nelson but also the "cities/towns" like Tauranga, Rotorua, Queenstown, Whangarei, Wanganui, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Napier/Hastings, Timaru and Invercargill (well over 30 locations in NZ) as either a business vistor or tourist so have a good idea about public transport and activities at those places. So please PM me if you would like to know more.:)
 
For quality of life, I prefer the south island.
 
Ski resorts will be scaling down/closing so expect competition from laid off casual workers. Overall the place is amazing: the world in an oyster: Fiji at the top, Scotland in the middle, and the Norwegian fjords at the bottom. You'll love it.
 
Ski resorts will be scaling down/closing so expect competition from laid off casual workers.
This is true though many of those casual workers in fact follow the winters so will be in Europe/Japan/Canada.

In fact missed Queesntown off my list as a possibility, the town is in fact busier over Summer than Winter, plenty of casual jobs (but yes, plenty of competition for those jobs) and an amazingly beatiful place. I agree with juddles that the South Island has a lot going for it, unfortunately in general this does not include jobs, which is the main reason many more people live in the North Island (and it still has a great quality of life etc.). Wellington in particular is an amazing city if you can get past the wind, great culture (in the true sense), great nighlife & social culture, superb food/bars and less big cityish than Auckland, people are still fairly sports/outdoors mad. Should that be what you want!
 
This is true though many of those casual workers in fact follow the winters so will be in Europe/Japan/Canada.

In fact missed Queesntown off my list as a possibility, the town is in fact busier over Summer than Winter, plenty of casual jobs (but yes, plenty of competition for those jobs) and an amazingly beatiful place. I agree with juddles that the South Island has a lot going for it, unfortunately in general this does not include jobs, which is the main reason many more people live in the North Island (and it still has a great quality of life etc.). Wellington in particular is an amazing city if you can get past the wind, great culture (in the true sense), great nighlife & social culture, superb food/bars and less big cityish than Auckland, people are still fairly sports/outdoors mad. Should that be what you want!

Yeah I need causal employment as ill be on a working holiday visa, so like cafes and stuff like that and mass transit is important because I really don't want to have to get a car when I'm down there. and i assume Queenstown has no real mass transit, or maybe like 1 bus that comes every 40 minutes or something like that? Ill ned more reliable ways to get around. Ive been considering Wellington. I hear its nice and much better than Auckland, but because of its size I just don't know how reliable transportation would be there
 
Wellington is fine with public transport one of two cities that has a commuter rail system and the bus network is large.
There are many vacant apartments and flatting opportunities in Wellington city so you can easily walk to/from city, although some suburbs involve a very steep climb.
For casual employment there are still lots of work available as well, juding by the signs I have noticed at lunchtime.
Weather though is not as sunny as Auckland, but it is a lot more livable IMO.
 
Weather though is not as sunny as Auckland, but it is a lot more livable IMO.
Most Wellingtonians would say that! But having lived both places have to agree. Totally agree too that in Wellington there are plenty of places to live that are walkable, I used to live close enough to the city to walk a lot more than I caught buses. Hills can be a killer but it is great exercise.
 
Most Wellingtonians would say that! But having lived both places have to agree. Totally agree too that in Wellington there are plenty of places to live that are walkable, I used to live close enough to the city to walk a lot more than I caught buses. Hills can be a killer but it is great exercise.
I was a long term Sydneysider that moved to WLG and saw no attraction to AKL.
Hills are a killer especially late Friday nights or early Saturday/Sunday mornings when you are just wanting to stumble into bed rather than up a hill but there are plenty of places to live where you do not need to go up a steep hill.
 
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I was a long term Sydneysider that moved to WLG and saw no attraction to AKL.
Ah makes sense, I moved the opposite way and at the time AKL seemed a scaled down version of Sydney (and not quite as good at it), whereas WLG does have quite a different vibe to it - essentially it seems because the weather is unreliable people have fashioned quite a strong culture which is what many people come to love.

Auckland is I must say having lived there since is actually a very nice place to live, there is a really strong everyone else vs Auckland mentality in NZ (a bit like SYD - MEL rivalry) which is not actually based on facts.
 
Am here in NZ at present (until tomorrow) and love the place. I could live here but for the work I do. I would probably prefer a little less rain but that's why it's so green which is what I love after living in dry country for so long.

I reckon the north of the South Island is the best. Not sure of public transport in Blenheim or Marlborough though!

Queenstown would probably be the best for casual work in the warmer months.
 
Am here in NZ at present (until tomorrow) and love the place. I could live here but for the work I do. I would probably prefer a little less rain but that's why it's so green which is what I love after living in dry country for so long.

I reckon the north of the South Island is the best. Not sure of public transport in Blenheim or Marlborough though!

Queenstown would probably be the best for casual work in the warmer months.

Really Queenstown is good for summer jobs? I would have assumed that with it being such a ski-heavy town all the jobs would only be there during the winter
 
Really Queenstown is good for summer jobs? I would have assumed that with it being such a ski-heavy town all the jobs would only be there during the winter

Yes, hard to believe but Queenstown is busier in the height of summer that in winter! It more than just a ski town!
 
I think I prefer Wellington but maybe haven't given AKL enough of a go. Love the national museum in WLG. Also the Weta Workshop if you are into LOTR. Great gardens with the little funicular. Nice to wander. AKL is more of a big city though.
 
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