Where in new Zealand?

Show all answers

mareeclara

well, I would say it depends on which type of climate you like or are prepared to put up with for the sake of some scenery..

I love Christchurch and have lived on and off for years...like most major cities and towns in NZ, most are near the sea.... and the Southern Alpss can be seen from most parts of Christchurch, especially from the Port Hills.
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island (around 400,000) and the second largest in Nz after Auckland, but I would say the cost of living was less in Chch compared to Auckland, altohugh house prices, like most places in Nz are pricey now.
Jobs are plentiful in Christchurch, but of course it depends on what jobs you want too!.
Weatherwise, Chch is pretty sunny and can get pretty hot in the summer (eg mid -30's), but it snows about once in the winter in the city and can be very nippy and crisp with clear nights and big frosts (eg to -5oC in the mornings, but this generally warms up on clear days)...Chch does get some winter storms from the south and can stuggle at times to make 5oC then.....just to point out, insulation in NZ in general (but less so in newer houses) is pretty bad...there is no central heating (we have heat pumps (duel heat/cooling) in a few places, but most have a fire...and in Christchuch you can't burn coal due to smog issues and they catually want to phase out fires completely!!!)...heaters for each room are the next thing for heat, either electric or gas.
Just pointing that out.....as a Kiwi born in the South Island I am used to this (and LOVED the central heating when I lived in the UK for a while), but I tihnk many people would find it a bit cold.

For warmer places you obviously have to go north, but you then usually miss out on the mountains (as there are more mountains in the south island)...and perhaps the sea in some places eg Hamilton, Palmeston North...and the cost of living goes up too...maybe somewhere like Whangerei is lovely temperature wise and is by the sea, and a few hills around...its about 3hrs to Auckland (which is close by NZ standards!!) Jobwise I have no idea what it would be like however.

As pointed out before, Tauranga is nice (although I have never been myself), and I know a lot of people like the Bay of Plenty region eg Napier/Hastings and Gisbourne as its nice weather and decent sized towns there and would proably have a few jobs there too.

I guess you have to weigh up what you REALLY want....
Some places in NZ would feel like the middle of nowhere compared to the UK even tho to us they are fine...there is not the same public transport links between places here (or they are not regular eg once a day not every 30mins) and there are less people in general to support some things in places, but I love NZ and missed it a lot while in the UK...I hope you come!

sandranz

Auckland Is the main city(though not the Caoitol which is Wellington. The cost of living in Auckland is high but there are plenty of jobs and wages are higher. Auckland has 3 harbours so plenty of beaches and yachts.. Wellington also has the harbour, jobs and is closer to the mountains for skiing etc. From Christchurch in the South Island you can see the Southern Alps on a clear day. Cheaper living also with beaches near-by. Christchurch also has the Avon River running through the city with many parks and gardens. If you want a more cosmopolitan lifestyle I'd pick Auckland. Hope this helps

H-man

Both Dunedin and Christchurch are decent sized cities in the South Island within a days drive to the Southern Alps and are on the East Coast.
Christchurch is known as the "Garden City and is predominantly flat.
Dunedin is known as the Edinburgh of the south, because our Scottish root and is quite hilly.
As I am a Dunedinite I will include one of the cities websites, and check out the web cams

feebee

I think if you like city life, somewhere just outside of Auckland would be good, but to me the South Island takes a lot of beating particularly the Nelson / Marlborough region. It has lakes, mountains, beaches, lots of vineyards. At the end of the day you might have to go where the work is and that will depend on what you do. I think houses are getting pricey as so many people want to move to this wonderful country. Good luck

â™¥jennyâ™¥

auckland. i think its pretty good here

helpful friend

Ha ha, what a question to ask to bring out the parochialism in current and ex-kiwis!
And to prove I'm no different, I'll put in a plug for Wellington.
You won't move there for the climate, but it is a beautiful and wonderfully easy city to live in. In NZ terms the public transport is excellent, it has the amenities and cafe society you'd expect in a larger city and yet Wellington is a compact and friendly place to live. If you want to work in the public sector, jobs should be plentiful.
And rather than being in the middle of nowhere its in the middle of the country - hop across the Strait and you've got the beaches, vineyards and sounds at the top of the South Island, and a few hours north and you've got the skiing and mountains of the central plateau.
Good luck with your choice.

fijibabie

I disagree with the answerer who said you would freel too isolate in the South Island. I have lived here all my life and travelled all over the world to big cities with loads of people and yet I have not once have I felt isolated living in the South Island.

Going from your discription of places you like I would recommend Christchurch or Dunedin in the South Island also. Both cities are coastal but yet have great access to the mountain areas. Both cities have great jobs available but of course this depends on what type of work you are looking for.

If you do prefer the warmer weather you could live in the more northern areas such as Auckland. This is a BIG city and does have good jobs. However, cost of living is much much higher there, so even if you do get better wages, it probably still evens out if you were getting a slighly less wage and living in the south island with lower costs of living.

Perhaps you should do a tour down here first and familiarise yourself with the country and then decide.....

Good luck.

IzzyB

Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are all lovely cities. Auckland is the most expensive to live. Tauranga is also a great place. Anywhere in New Zealand is beautiful, but opt for the north Island if you don't want to feel too isolated.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: