New Zealand can join the Commonwealth of Australia any time, as another Australian State. Australia’s Constitution was written with the hope that NZ would join and that provision remains in place but unfortunately it never happened. Australian here.
I’m from the Uk and 23 years ago I was doing exactly what you guys are doing. Moved to Queenstown and about fifteen years ago moved over the hill to Wānaka love the lakes district and have been having a wonderful life in New Zealand all the best of luck with your journey.
The seller of the car also does their own change of ownership form online, or at the post shop. When both forms are processed the change of ownership is official. Before then it's in an intermediate state, Any speeding tickets go to the new owner, etc.. The system seems to work well. I've never had any issues with it, and it is super convenient. Its important to sort out your car insurance before you drive it, just in case you have an accident you want to be covered. But it's technically not required, car insurance is optional you can drive uninsured if you really want to. Whenever I buy a car privately I arrange the exchange of the car in a location with a car insurance retail office nearby.
as a Canadian i went for 3 months spent xmas and New years in queenstown...I loved everything about the country..the sights the people the friendliness outside the tourist areas. I would give my right arm to live there.
As a kiwi ( who randomly saw this video and read your message ) just apply for a Visa - currently we seem to be letting in anybody - highest rate of immigrants ever and this window will close shortly …
Thank you for watching this video and OMG we are soooo excited to be here (and have already secured our next overlanding vehicle!) - see ya next week xx
Loved this little sneak peek at what the next year will look like. NZ looks beautiful, can’t wait to see what adventures you’ll get up to during your time there! Also sick new rig 😎
@@nickandraychel I know you've already said you'll stay on top of it but I just want to second this as it's very often overlooked - NZ/East Australia has a very thin ozone layer and you can burn in the sun in less than 10 minutes. Even on overcast days you can slowly get sunburnt - to full enjoy your summer DEFINITELY use an SPF 50+ sunblock, it looks costly but it's worth it I hope you enjoy your time here :)
I'm glad you're loving NZ. It's pretty cool here, and there's a lot more to see. NZ is quite a small country, and the population is very small too, there's only 5M people living in NZ. Queenstown has less than 30k people so don't expect freeways haha. (we call it motorway here). Get ready for the weather here, sometimes it's unpredictable, "four seasons in a day" lol. NZ weather is less harsh or extreme. Summers here are like spring in Canada, and winters are like autumn in Canada. You're right, outdoors here is awesome as you don't have to think or worry of any dangerous animals. There's no snakes, bears, tigers, wolves, etc anywhere in NZ. I can live in a tent in the middle of the forest forever.lol. Some parts of NZ have sandflies, they go out during the summer and are so annoying when you got bitten, must have insect repellant. I love NZ. Kiwis are so nice and friendly. The nature is so beautiful and safe. So laid back and peaceful. I live in Wellington
Queenstown is experiencing a population surge it's infrastructure can no longer keep pace with . Stats NZ puts it's growth at 8 % and it's current resident population at 52,000 . Accomodation is stretched way past overload ( people living in garages, sleeping four to a room , living in cars/vans ... not homeless folks , people with good paying jobs , the housing just isn't there ) and the local water supply has been compromised . The local council just keep letting them in with no idea of how to cope . Avoid .
Its actually a criminal offence not to go to Fergbugers when in Queenstown. I live in Christchurch ( 6hr drive north of Queenstown ) and i absolutely love going down there. Im an adrenalin junkie, and get down there whenever i can. Love it!
@joanarc7963 I'd far rather live in Hastings or Havelock than Christchurch. We were there beginning of December and I know my wife has been looking at the real-estate pages. We live in the Manawatu - which is about as exciting as watching sheep eat grass.
Queenstown local here. Welcome to my hometown! Also…we’re also known as Hockeytown, the rink is closed at the moment for a private event but re-opens for summer, check out the hockey in town especially over the winter season. Lots of hockey mad Canadians in town!
I'm a New Zealander & my biggest advice would be....... = Please be aware of What Side Of The ROAD You're DRIVING On, at all times, cheers! *[Happy Travelling]
Hope you have a great time in Queenstown but as it is a full tourist town it is very different to the rest of NZ in particular it is generally more expensive. Also being an alpine town in the south it is often colder than the rest of the country but can turn and be very hot as well but being alpine it can still have winter blasts all year round. Other parts of the country are summery already with consistent temperatures above 20 degrees so do get out and experience the rest of NZ as well.
Welcome! Just know that while we are a "small island in the pacific" and it sometimes it feels like that, many of our larger cities have big town vibes (other than Auckland or Wellington) geographically we are a large island and id encourage you to explore as much as you can! If you placed New Zealand over a map of Canada with Vancouver in the same place as Queenstown, Wellington would be the equivalent of travelling to Edmonton (except you would have to also take a ferry across to Wellington) And going to the tip of the North Island (Cape Reinga) would be like going to Kakisa in the Northwest Territories.
Oh yes we can’t wait to explore it all!! When we said small, we meant in comparison to Canada ☺️ every country feels small when you’re from the second biggest country in the world hahaha! Thanks for the comment and can’t wait to see more. 🇳🇿
hi nick and raychel;; just found your channel and am loving following your first day in new zealand: you both look so happy there, and i have subscribed, so will be following your journey: best of luck in your new home, julie in france x
Expect food, fuel and rent to be fairly high, its just how it is, rent especially in Queenstown is pretty rough, but theres definitely a positive trade off with the views, lifestyle and quality of life. After coming home from overseas travel, I felt NZ is always moving at a slower pace with I quite like.
I totally understand about the driving 'culture shock' - I was freaking out in Canada when my partner was driving, and I was in the passenger seat and kept trying to break with nothing there 😅 And the freeways *terrified* me. Welcome to NZ! Hope you're popping over to Dunedin at some point (my hometown) ❤
Sweet vid, good to get the Canadian perspective. As a Canuck myself I'm going to AU on a WHV but making a stop in NZ for a month or so. Gonna be in Queenstown for about a week in February. Hope to catch you guys there! Cheers 🤙
It would be prudent before parting your $ is to check from NZTA and carjam to make sure that the vehicle is actually the seller's or whether ownership with finance company (still paying off) Car jam gives details of the vehicle's history etc Also a good idea to have the vehicle checked out by AA or mechanic. If not, at least do the basics like checking tyres okay brakes, lights etc Always go for a drive including up and down hill. If vehicle pretty good, you may consider negotiating for discounts or they replace e.g.tyres etc, few extra mths of registration and warrant of fitness(wof) etc say if expiring soon etc
Crazy that you drive on the left and control the car on the right! We are thinking of moving there in a year and half when I graduate with my construction management degree. How hard was it to achieve residency?
Get ready for an epic summer! Have you guys thought about getting mtbs? The riding here is really great. Riding, bbqs, beers and lake swims. The best 👌. Make sure you do some hikes and head into some DOC huts also. Welcome 🎉.
Interested in a visit to the south island of New Zealand for some road cycling. 2 things I've been wondering about. Is there much in the way of bike lanes or bike paths and can a bike be carried on the back of a bus?
It really varies so much! In towns and cities there are SOME cycle lanes on the road. Its getting better, but still a long way to go to match some European cities. In the countryside there are almost none, and the roads can be narrow and windy. A hybrid gravel/road bike would be an amazing way to explore the south island, for guidance here google "Great Rides NZ". You could link together some very cool rides using these rides as a framework. Even with our windy narrow roads, road cycling is super popular and drivers are (generally speaking) respectful and safe. Bikes on buses can be done, but I'm not sure of the ins and outs of it. I have always had a private vehicle, propping up our extremely high vehicle ownership statistics 😂 @@tompatton2086
So jealous that you're living in Queenstown. I live in Auckland, and Queenstown is our favorite place to visit. Being from Canada, you're probably used to stunning scenery. Winter is probably the prettiest time, but honestly, that part of the world down South any season, is so stunning. North Island is pretty, too, just different. More beaches and rolling hills. I hope you have a great time.
We’ve lived all over the world and moved back to NZ three years ago after 30 years away. I didn’t want to . I wanted to stay in Asia or move to the EU. Now, I’m glad we did. It’s an awesome place. Some stuff is expensive, but the more adept you are, the cheaper life is. We live in a small town in the middle of the North Island - fuel is way cheaper than Q’town as is food, rent, etc. But, there’s little culture and definitely nothing like cinemas, theatres, restaurants, clubs, libraries - you make your own fun. We have a big garden grow a lot of our own food, listen to the birds, go down to the bush and the river, ride our bikes - life’s good
I’m from NZ and I just visited Queenstown recently and it’s far different from Wellington. Air is so fresh and clean. Scenery is so beautiful. Yous seem adventurous so going to nearby towns is a must. Ps Canada has a pretty decent rugby team too lol
Had exactly the same problem when we were in Hawaii with driving. Took a couple of days to get "climatized" to driving on the opposite side. Natural instincts are to look the wrong way first. Have friends from Canada who settled in Tauranga and would tell us about stories of 6 mths of snow during some winters. Moving to Tauranga, where there is no snow and the ocean on the doorstep during summer was a total game changer for them.
Interesting seeing the prices, basically the same as Australia. However their salaries are a lot lower than ours, which explains the mass exodus from NZ to Oz. Enjoy your time with our cousins, it's a beautiful country.
When you guys are talking about the currency in this video are you talking US dollars or Canadian dollars. Like you said your gas is 11 something a gallon is that Canadian or US
There’s a fully Whole Foods vegan restaurant here in Nashville (nothing processed) and it’s like $19 for just a burger. They charge a 10% gratuity on takeout orders 💀
The first couple of weeks I lived in Canada, every time I went to cross the road or came up to an intersection in a car, I'd quietly chant to myself "Look left, look left, look left". Gotta rewire the brain!
@@Zootalaws If it is a gen 1 disco it is fine, gen 2 onwards are the ones that get expensive if things break as they're where all the electronic things got added, gen 1s were still mechanical
What have you got against consuming beef?A good steer Rib Eye steak provides energy and contentment like no other meal.Same for a beef burger.Stay Safe.
I have to make a humorous observation. I too am an Immigrant. I work is sales and drive all over New Zealand. The worst traffic is Queenstown. Lol. Even though its a ski resort, the traffic is madness. Neither's Auckland nor Wellington get jammed up like Queenstown. So you waiting on a side road to join traffic may only be a problem in Queenstown as it doesn't happen anywhere. I come from a big traffic city and i much prefer the single lane roundabout highways of NZ. it works beautifully.
Just subscribed. The only "predators" over there are sand flies, make sure you pack bug spray. Kiwi living in Brizzy. Looking foward to your adventure...🤙
You forgot the Keas (alpine parrots) in the South Island mountains. You need to keep stuff securely locked away or they will try to break in to find food.
The Beecard can be used in most major towns and cities in New Zealand except in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. In 2024 a national 'tap & travel' payment/ticketing system is being rolled out across the country that will have mobile and smart device, credit/debt card capability. New Zealand a national regional, inter-regional and long distance bus/coach network that allows you travel from the Kaitaia at the top of the North Island to Invercargill at the bottom of the South Island and 500 communities inbetween. Despite the concept is New Zealand is a small country it is not hence the national State Highway (Freeway) network is predominantly a 2 lane network.
Of course! Vehicle was $5,500 and insurance is about $10/week. We’ll include that next time! We’re building out the vehicle now (into a camper) so we’ll add costs in the next edit. Thanks for the suggestion! ❤️
I picked apples in Mapua NZ. Just outside of Nelson, top of the South. The money was fair, they provided a place to live for a low cost, so if you feel like doing that you could put away some cash, the picking season only lasts 10 weeks, the more you pick, the more you make.
Those "palm" trees aren't palms they are called cabbage trees, not sure why. They are lilies that have secondary growth (wood) very strange for this group of plants and they'll survive in snow.
Welcome to NZ. The only animal you have to worry about are wild boar if you camp in certain areas, you'll also see a few deer around as well. Technically there are a few birds you have worry about, Kias are the birds we have that will tear your car apart and up north I think has a bird that has a talon on its wing, mate had one chase him on his bike.
Have a good time! NZ is long and skinny semi tropical island. Where South Island looks and has a very different climate to the north. At top of North Island it's semi tropical and grows bananas etc and never gets lower than about 10degC 😂. Public transport is horrendous and food is expensive... but it's a very relaxed and trusting country!! Also the fishing is unreal and low license requirements if you're into that 🤙
Awesome video guys and cool wagon . Check out the similarities between NZ maori and the Haiida gwaii natives in british columbia . Kia ora from Kaitaia in the far north .
Yeah considering buying that burger in the rest of New Zealand is around $11 dollars. I just bought the same in Te Puke New Zealand. Queenstown is all about location, Location, Location. Waste of Money.
In talking about the cost of things (like food, gas), yeah, things do cost more because NZ is a few islands in the remote South Pacific, but you're forgetting that the New Zealand dollar is worth less than the Canadian dollar. Like, today (23.11.14) $1CAD is worth $1.23NZ. I had the opposite kind of sticker shock when I moved to Canada from NZ in the late 1980s; everything seemed so cheap! Then I found about about tax being added on at the cash register, and the dollar difference. At least you won't do what I did, and end up going wild with spending.
Congratulations on your move to NZ. Though I must say from an Australian point of view, once you choose to ‘holiday’ in Australia you might want to move again! Lol
As a well travelled New Zealander the thing that pleases me most about this country is the fact that my small grand children can grow up and be anything they want and play any sport they want without getting lost in the crowd. A downside is the fact that it is no where near as good now as it was in the 50's and 60's but then again no where is! Thank you for choosing N Z !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
New Zealand has been so high up on our bucket list so we're thrilled to finally be doing it. The Vancouver winters can be rough but hopefully next year you can take a vacation!
@@nickandraychel yeah I hope to get my PR soon-ish so I can start traveling again. Enjoy your stay in NZ. I’m sure it’s a wonderful place. Can’t wait for more NZ videos from you :)
subscribed ,Welcome i truly had to subscribe due to the fact that you guys went to the All Blacks shop ,i hope NZ is all that it can be for you. Nau Mai Haere Mai (Welcome )
Mm maybe we use the word differently? We have a rental but it’s shared with others / we have housemates. Prices are basically the same as when we lived in aus. $350/week for a couples room. Pay is similar as aus too.
I audibly groaned when he said "I think it's the one" then the camrea cut to a beat up land rover lol. Reliability and parts availability for these here in NZ aren't great.
Welcome to Kiwiland, When you visit the Waikato in Hobiton, save it for the trip to watch the Sunrise on Mount Te Aroha, look up that meaning, then visit Hobbit country, then the caves, n watch the sun set on the top of Mount Pirongia, Its the Sunrise - Suntset 24 hour Waikato , on Summers first day,
"there was no line. We had 2 wait behind 2 people" made me laugh because i realized i get frustrated geting my groceries if i have to wait for 2 people which is rare in my small town nz.
How awesome! I'm a New Zealander living in Australia! You're making me homesick!! Welcome to your new home, New Zealand ❤
Thank you so much!!
Isn't New Zealand IN Australia
@@unSTEVOEDactually, Australia is considered the West Island of NZ :P
@@unSTEVOED we wish it was Australia is a much better country thats why 45,000 professionals left for Aussie in the last year
New Zealand can join the Commonwealth of Australia any time, as another Australian State. Australia’s Constitution was written with the hope that NZ would join and that provision remains in place but unfortunately it never happened. Australian here.
I’m from the Uk and 23 years ago I was doing exactly what you guys are doing.
Moved to Queenstown and about fifteen years ago moved over the hill to Wānaka love the lakes district and have been having a wonderful life in New Zealand all the best of luck with your journey.
One of the true beauties of New Zealand is you don't got to worry about running into wild animals like bears or snakes while hiking or camping
The seller of the car also does their own change of ownership form online, or at the post shop. When both forms are processed the change of ownership is official.
Before then it's in an intermediate state, Any speeding tickets go to the new owner, etc.. The system seems to work well. I've never had any issues with it, and it is super convenient.
Its important to sort out your car insurance before you drive it, just in case you have an accident you want to be covered. But it's technically not required, car insurance is optional you can drive uninsured if you really want to. Whenever I buy a car privately I arrange the exchange of the car in a location with a car insurance retail office nearby.
as a Canadian i went for 3 months spent xmas and New years in queenstown...I loved everything about the country..the sights the people the friendliness outside the tourist areas. I would give my right arm to live there.
As a kiwi ( who randomly saw this video and read your message ) just apply for a Visa - currently we seem to be letting in anybody - highest rate of immigrants ever and this window will close shortly …
@@vsksfI applied for a job a few days ago in New Zealand 🇳🇿 ❤
@@Nicknine72 Awesome. Good luck . I hope it goes well. Kia kaha ..
@@vsksf I hope it does as well. Thank you 🙏
Thank you for watching this video and OMG we are soooo excited to be here (and have already secured our next overlanding vehicle!) - see ya next week xx
Loved this little sneak peek at what the next year will look like. NZ looks beautiful, can’t wait to see what adventures you’ll get up to during your time there! Also sick new rig 😎
Can’t wait for this adventure!
There are 3 cities with a number of freeways
-Auckland
-Wellington
-Christchurch
Don't forget to slip, slop, slap!
The sun can get pretty intense when/if summer arrives
We will definitely stay on top of it - thank you!!
@@nickandraychel I know you've already said you'll stay on top of it but I just want to second this as it's very often overlooked - NZ/East Australia has a very thin ozone layer and you can burn in the sun in less than 10 minutes. Even on overcast days you can slowly get sunburnt - to full enjoy your summer DEFINITELY use an SPF 50+ sunblock, it looks costly but it's worth it
I hope you enjoy your time here :)
Thank you! We previously lived in Cambodia for a year, then Australia for a year, so we’re used to it :) now we even do the same in Canada.
even winter time you can be at high risk of serious sun burn!
That tree you saw isn't actually a palm tree but a cabbage tree, which are giant tree lillies.
They have palm trees in Oz the big arse bats eat the fruit off them .
I'm glad you're loving NZ. It's pretty cool here, and there's a lot more to see. NZ is quite a small country, and the population is very small too, there's only 5M people living in NZ. Queenstown has less than 30k people so don't expect freeways haha. (we call it motorway here). Get ready for the weather here, sometimes it's unpredictable, "four seasons in a day" lol. NZ weather is less harsh or extreme. Summers here are like spring in Canada, and winters are like autumn in Canada. You're right, outdoors here is awesome as you don't have to think or worry of any dangerous animals. There's no snakes, bears, tigers, wolves, etc anywhere in NZ. I can live in a tent in the middle of the forest forever.lol. Some parts of NZ have sandflies, they go out during the summer and are so annoying when you got bitten, must have insect repellant. I love NZ. Kiwis are so nice and friendly. The nature is so beautiful and safe. So laid back and peaceful. I live in Wellington
Queenstown is experiencing a population surge it's infrastructure can no longer keep pace with . Stats NZ puts it's growth at 8 % and it's current resident population at 52,000 . Accomodation is stretched way past overload ( people living in garages, sleeping four to a room , living in cars/vans ... not homeless folks , people with good paying jobs , the housing just isn't there ) and the local water supply has been compromised . The local council just keep letting them in with no idea of how to cope . Avoid .
Looks like an awesome time already and omg that food looked soo amazing! Can’t wait to continue to follow along with journey ❤
So good! Can’t wait to see more! 🇳🇿
3 hour Drive from central Otago to Haast; or Fiordland the change in climate is amazing, from desert dry to thick green bush in a couple hours drive
Welcome home!~ we are happy you've chosen our little country to call home!!
Its actually a criminal offence not to go to Fergbugers when in Queenstown. I live in Christchurch ( 6hr drive north of Queenstown ) and i absolutely love going down there. Im an adrenalin junkie, and get down there whenever i can. Love it!
I lived in Q’town for 6 years, never went there. What tourists do and what the locals do are worlds apart
@@Zootalaws and theres a warrant out for your arrest.
@joanarc7963 I'd far rather live in Hastings or Havelock than Christchurch. We were there beginning of December and I know my wife has been looking at the real-estate pages.
We live in the Manawatu - which is about as exciting as watching sheep eat grass.
Whatever you do dont ever leave stuff in your car when parked for any length of time if you dont want it stolen
That very much depends on where you're parked
Queenstown local here. Welcome to my hometown! Also…we’re also known as Hockeytown, the rink is closed at the moment for a private event but re-opens for summer, check out the hockey in town especially over the winter season. Lots of hockey mad Canadians in town!
Yay! Nick is a HUGE hockey fan - he's watching a game literally right now. That will be amazing!
Oh, and beautiful content and remarks. Thank you. You guys have nice energy.
Thank you so much!
I'm a New Zealander & my biggest advice would be.......
= Please be aware of What Side Of The ROAD You're DRIVING On, at all times, cheers!
*[Happy Travelling]
Hope you have a great time in Queenstown but as it is a full tourist town it is very different to the rest of NZ in particular it is generally more expensive. Also being an alpine town in the south it is often colder than the rest of the country but can turn and be very hot as well but being alpine it can still have winter blasts all year round. Other parts of the country are summery already with consistent temperatures above 20 degrees so do get out and experience the rest of NZ as well.
Welcome! Just know that while we are a "small island in the pacific" and it sometimes it feels like that, many of our larger cities have big town vibes (other than Auckland or Wellington) geographically we are a large island and id encourage you to explore as much as you can!
If you placed New Zealand over a map of Canada with Vancouver in the same place as Queenstown, Wellington would be the equivalent of travelling to Edmonton (except you would have to also take a ferry across to Wellington)
And going to the tip of the North Island (Cape Reinga) would be like going to Kakisa in the Northwest Territories.
Oh yes we can’t wait to explore it all!! When we said small, we meant in comparison to Canada ☺️ every country feels small when you’re from the second biggest country in the world hahaha! Thanks for the comment and can’t wait to see more. 🇳🇿
hi nick and raychel;; just found your channel and am loving following your first day in new zealand: you both look so happy there, and i have subscribed, so will be following your journey: best of luck in your new home, julie in france x
Thanks so much! 😊
camping is VERY chill here, I camped a lot as a little girl and the only thing I was scared of was... POSSUMS!! LOL!!
Expect food, fuel and rent to be fairly high, its just how it is, rent especially in Queenstown is pretty rough, but theres definitely a positive trade off with the views, lifestyle and quality of life. After coming home from overseas travel, I felt NZ is always moving at a slower pace with I quite like.
I totally understand about the driving 'culture shock' - I was freaking out in Canada when my partner was driving, and I was in the passenger seat and kept trying to break with nothing there 😅 And the freeways *terrified* me. Welcome to NZ! Hope you're popping over to Dunedin at some point (my hometown) ❤
Welcome to our lovely country.I’m a x Aussie and this has been home for 48 years,cheers Andy
Why are you welcoming people to NZ when you're an Aussie? Weirdo!
Sweet vid, good to get the Canadian perspective. As a Canuck myself I'm going to AU on a WHV but making a stop in NZ for a month or so. Gonna be in Queenstown for about a week in February. Hope to catch you guys there! Cheers 🤙
That's awesome! We did a WHV in Australia a few years ago and loved it!!
Great video guys. You have a great attitude to life so you should have a great time here. 😎 Hopefully we have a good summer this year 🤞
Thank you! We hope so too!
Canadians living up to their reputation of being super friendly 🥰🥰
It would be prudent before parting your $ is to check from NZTA and carjam to make sure that the vehicle is actually the seller's or whether ownership with finance company (still paying off) Car jam gives details of the vehicle's history etc
Also a good idea to have the vehicle checked out by AA or mechanic.
If not, at least do the basics like checking tyres okay brakes, lights etc Always go for a drive including up and down hill.
If vehicle pretty good, you may consider negotiating for discounts or they replace e.g.tyres etc, few extra mths of registration and warrant of fitness(wof) etc say if expiring soon etc
Im kiwi or more percise im maori. Welcome to ( Aotearoa ) New Zealand i hope you guys enjoy your stay...👍
Welcome to NZ. Hope you have a fun time living here. Happy trails!
thank you!
Crazy that you drive on the left and control the car on the right! We are thinking of moving there in a year and half when I graduate with my construction management degree. How hard was it to achieve residency?
The mountains and water!! 🥹💕 so cool. So excited for this video!
It looks so much like BC it’s kind of weird??!
@@nickandraychel it really does 😳😝 seeing palm trees + mountains is an odd combo as a Canadian but super cool
Get ready for an epic summer! Have you guys thought about getting mtbs? The riding here is really great. Riding, bbqs, beers and lake swims. The best 👌. Make sure you do some hikes and head into some DOC huts also. Welcome 🎉.
Sounds so great!! Thank you so much!
Interested in a visit to the south island of New Zealand for some road cycling. 2 things I've been wondering about. Is there much in the way of bike lanes or bike paths and can a bike be carried on the back of a bus?
It really varies so much! In towns and cities there are SOME cycle lanes on the road. Its getting better, but still a long way to go to match some European cities. In the countryside there are almost none, and the roads can be narrow and windy. A hybrid gravel/road bike would be an amazing way to explore the south island, for guidance here google "Great Rides NZ". You could link together some very cool rides using these rides as a framework. Even with our windy narrow roads, road cycling is super popular and drivers are (generally speaking) respectful and safe. Bikes on buses can be done, but I'm not sure of the ins and outs of it. I have always had a private vehicle, propping up our extremely high vehicle ownership statistics 😂 @@tompatton2086
🙏🏿👊🏿 should be very fun and scenic adventuring the outdoors in New Zealand
It’s gonna be sooooo fun
First video of yours I've watched after it appeared randomly!! Loved it so youve got a new kiwi subscriber!❤😊
Yay! Thank you! Glad to have you here ❤️🇳🇿
So jealous that you're living in Queenstown. I live in Auckland, and Queenstown is our favorite place to visit. Being from Canada, you're probably used to stunning scenery. Winter is probably the prettiest time, but honestly, that part of the world down South any season, is so stunning. North Island is pretty, too, just different. More beaches and rolling hills. I hope you have a great time.
thank you so much!
Leave Auckland as soon as you can. Best thing I ever did, the further south you go the better it gets
I've never ever seen a hill roll ever, never
@@robstrickland166you’re missing out😂😂😂
We’ve lived all over the world and moved back to NZ three years ago after 30 years away. I didn’t want to . I wanted to stay in Asia or move to the EU.
Now, I’m glad we did. It’s an awesome place.
Some stuff is expensive, but the more adept you are, the cheaper life is.
We live in a small town in the middle of the North Island - fuel is way cheaper than Q’town as is food, rent, etc. But, there’s little culture and definitely nothing like cinemas, theatres, restaurants, clubs, libraries - you make your own fun.
We have a big garden grow a lot of our own food, listen to the birds, go down to the bush and the river, ride our bikes - life’s good
Kia ora korua, nau mai whakatau mai ra. "Keep Left" and always "Look Right"
the WOF (regular inspection) system means that second-hand cars in NZ are lilkely to be pretty good and safe
Yes I really like it
I’m from NZ and I just visited Queenstown recently and it’s far different from Wellington. Air is so fresh and clean. Scenery is so beautiful. Yous seem adventurous so going to nearby towns is a must.
Ps Canada has a pretty decent rugby team too lol
That's cool to hear - can't wait to explore more of NZ. Now I guess we'll have to start following rugby lol!
Had exactly the same problem when we were in Hawaii with driving. Took a couple of days to get "climatized" to driving on the opposite side. Natural instincts are to look the wrong way first. Have friends from Canada who settled in Tauranga and would tell us about stories of 6 mths of snow during some winters. Moving to Tauranga, where there is no snow and the ocean on the doorstep during summer was a total game changer for them.
Good to hear! We’ll take this as a sign, because we’ve been talking about moving to Tauranga for the winter!
I went to NZ for a month. It was amazing. Plannimg on going next year again
Welcome to New Zealand, love your videos, safe travels
New Zealand has the best pies
Interesting seeing the prices, basically the same as Australia. However their salaries are a lot lower than ours, which explains the mass exodus from NZ to Oz. Enjoy your time with our cousins, it's a beautiful country.
We have an exodus every few years haha
Kool that U both embraced our quiet interest in " The Game they play in Heaven" and our Team as well.....smart move 😊
Enjoy your journey
Kia kaha❤
Yaaaaay glad you like it the people are really good and friendly overall in queenstown...love ya vid
When you guys are talking about the currency in this video are you talking US dollars or Canadian dollars. Like you said your gas is 11 something a gallon is that Canadian or US
Best of luck with your move. Welcome to New Zealand enjoy ❤
Thank you for the warm welcome!
There’s a fully Whole Foods vegan restaurant here in Nashville (nothing processed) and it’s like $19 for just a burger. They charge a 10% gratuity on takeout orders 💀
Omgggggg
The first couple of weeks I lived in Canada, every time I went to cross the road or came up to an intersection in a car, I'd quietly chant to myself "Look left, look left, look left". Gotta rewire the brain!
Haha it is almost weirder walking than it is driving sometimes!
Fuck yeaah , enjoy NZ! Lots of beautiful spot around ya. Perfect time to get into it 🎉
Thank you!!
Enjoy your stay, guys. Make sure you visit the milford sound. 🎉
Thank you! Will do!
Yeeeeeaaaahhhh
Big ups to the Landrover Disco, it'll get you anywhere you want to go in NZ no worries
As long as it keeps running. Maintaining it is hugely spendy.
@@Zootalaws If it is a gen 1 disco it is fine, gen 2 onwards are the ones that get expensive if things break as they're where all the electronic things got added, gen 1s were still mechanical
What have you got against consuming beef?A good steer Rib Eye steak provides energy and contentment like no other meal.Same for a beef burger.Stay Safe.
It’s just a preference
Good luck. !! Welcome to Aoteraroa. :)
Burger bar ? How exotic !
I'm so excited just watching .. thx 4 sharing yr trip .. I gotta get off my ass and look around
Thank you for being here!
I have to make a humorous observation. I too am an Immigrant. I work is sales and drive all over New Zealand. The worst traffic is Queenstown. Lol. Even though its a ski resort, the traffic is madness. Neither's Auckland nor Wellington get jammed up like Queenstown. So you waiting on a side road to join traffic may only be a problem in Queenstown as it doesn't happen anywhere. I come from a big traffic city and i much prefer the single lane roundabout highways of NZ. it works beautifully.
LOLL okay good to hear!!
glad you two like NZ South Island so far.
Enjoy.
Like and subscribe so exciting.
thank you!!
There will only be traffic lights in rural areas
Just subscribed. The only "predators" over there are sand flies, make sure you pack bug spray.
Kiwi living in Brizzy.
Looking foward to your adventure...🤙
Love that! Thank you ❤️
You forgot the Keas (alpine parrots) in the South Island mountains. You need to keep stuff securely locked away or they will try to break in to find food.
What a mess the gondola hill in Queenstown looks now with all those trees cut down ,it used to be one of the nicest features in the town.
The Beecard can be used in most major towns and cities in New Zealand except in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. In 2024 a national 'tap & travel' payment/ticketing system is being rolled out across the country that will have mobile and smart device, credit/debt card capability. New Zealand a national regional, inter-regional and long distance bus/coach network that allows you travel from the Kaitaia at the top of the North Island to Invercargill at the bottom of the South Island and 500 communities inbetween. Despite the concept is New Zealand is a small country it is not hence the national State Highway (Freeway) network is predominantly a 2 lane network.
👋 Hey guys, it looks like you have yourselves an amazing adventure ahead. Would you mind sharing costs along the way like vehicle and insurance ❤
Of course! Vehicle was $5,500 and insurance is about $10/week. We’ll include that next time! We’re building out the vehicle now (into a camper) so we’ll add costs in the next edit. Thanks for the suggestion! ❤️
I picked apples in Mapua NZ. Just outside of Nelson, top of the South. The money was fair, they provided a place to live for a low cost, so if you feel like doing that you could put away some cash, the picking season only lasts 10 weeks, the more you pick, the more you make.
Thanks for sharing :)
There are no palm trees in Qtown
We can always blame El Niño for the bad weather in summer 🤣 shit happens. Have fun guys
Hu i live in New Zealand too I hope you enjoy becasue it's a new country for you kamatie kamatie kora koara
Those "palm" trees aren't palms they are called cabbage trees, not sure why. They are lilies that have secondary growth (wood) very strange for this group of plants and they'll survive in snow.
It's because the center core of the cabbage tree can be eaten and apparently tastes like cabbage.
@@dennisfoster5910 Yes you can. Its very sweet though but maybe the leaves have that flavor. I know the leaf tips and roots can be eaten too.
Bay of islands you gotta see
I’m dyinggggg to see!!!!
Welcome to NZ.
The only animal you have to worry about are wild boar if you camp in certain areas, you'll also see a few deer around as well.
Technically there are a few birds you have worry about, Kias are the birds we have that will tear your car apart and up north I think has a bird that has a talon on its wing, mate had one chase him on his bike.
Spur winged plover and magpies are a bit mental during nesting season.
@@dansarmar1 That's the bugger. I hadn't heard about them until my mate was chased by them and he said the same thing about the nesting.
Have a good time! NZ is long and skinny semi tropical island. Where South Island looks and has a very different climate to the north. At top of North Island it's semi tropical and grows bananas etc and never gets lower than about 10degC 😂. Public transport is horrendous and food is expensive... but it's a very relaxed and trusting country!!
Also the fishing is unreal and low license requirements if you're into that 🤙
Welcome to new zealand guys enjoy
Thank you for the welcome!
If you're living in QT, you can make a phone order at Fergs, that way you don't have to wait in line, pick up at the window, saves standing in line
Good hack!
Hi! I’m also from Vancouver and will be there in mid December. Can I ask you a couple of questions?
Of course!
Awesome video guys and cool wagon . Check out the similarities between NZ maori and the Haiida gwaii natives in british columbia . Kia ora from Kaitaia in the far north .
Oh that's so interesting!! Will definitely look more into it. Thank you!
That vehicle isn't a car, it's actually a Land Rover Discovery, ha ha ha. 😊😊😊😊.
Yeah considering buying that burger in the rest of New Zealand is around $11 dollars. I just bought the same in Te Puke New Zealand. Queenstown is all about location, Location, Location. Waste of Money.
In talking about the cost of things (like food, gas), yeah, things do cost more because NZ is a few islands in the remote South Pacific, but you're forgetting that the New Zealand dollar is worth less than the Canadian dollar. Like, today (23.11.14) $1CAD is worth $1.23NZ. I had the opposite kind of sticker shock when I moved to Canada from NZ in the late 1980s; everything seemed so cheap! Then I found about about tax being added on at the cash register, and the dollar difference. At least you won't do what I did, and end up going wild with spending.
the prices are high here
Petrol is also expensive!! 😅
Congratulations on your move to NZ. Though I must say from an Australian point of view, once you choose to ‘holiday’ in Australia you might want to move again! Lol
Welcome to New Zealand :)
Te Waipounamu (proper name for the South Island)
Hope you have an amazing week
chur
Thank you!
As a well travelled New Zealander the thing that pleases me most about this country is the fact that my small grand children can grow up and be anything they want and play any sport they want without getting lost in the crowd. A downside is the fact that it is no where near as good now as it was in the 50's and 60's but then again no where is! Thank you for choosing N Z !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Yes, please extra extra look when crossing the street. And gas is $11-plus a gallon?!? Holy cow!!!
BP loves them a disco
Looks very nice. I really want to visit NZ. I am not looking forward to the Vancouver winter. Escpecially because I can't leave Canada currently.
New Zealand has been so high up on our bucket list so we're thrilled to finally be doing it. The Vancouver winters can be rough but hopefully next year you can take a vacation!
@@nickandraychel yeah I hope to get my PR soon-ish so I can start traveling again. Enjoy your stay in NZ. I’m sure it’s a wonderful place. Can’t wait for more NZ videos from you :)
Get the truck insured for at least 3rd party as soon as you can
subscribed ,Welcome i truly had to subscribe due to the fact that you guys went to the All Blacks shop ,i hope NZ is all that it can be for you. Nau Mai Haere Mai (Welcome )
Thank you so much ❤️
I was looking at rents in NZ recently and they are as expensive as Australia. Do you have a rental or will you be house sharing?
Mm maybe we use the word differently? We have a rental but it’s shared with others / we have housemates. Prices are basically the same as when we lived in aus. $350/week for a couples room. Pay is similar as aus too.
I just saw your next video. Conversion of your car to add sleeping.
I audibly groaned when he said "I think it's the one" then the camrea cut to a beat up land rover lol. Reliability and parts availability for these here in NZ aren't great.
It looks like South Island New Zealand is British Columbia’s home away from home!
it's so true
6:30 Bikes for the win.
Traffic sucks here in qt big time, and there’s a housing crisis so if you’re planning on living here for a bit….good luck guys
Welcome to Kiwiland, When you visit the Waikato in Hobiton, save it for the trip to watch the Sunrise on Mount Te Aroha, look up that meaning, then visit Hobbit country, then the caves, n watch the sun set on the top of Mount Pirongia, Its the Sunrise - Suntset 24 hour Waikato , on Summers first day,
Thank you!!! Love these tips.
"there was no line. We had 2 wait behind 2 people" made me laugh because i realized i get frustrated geting my groceries if i have to wait for 2 people which is rare in my small town nz.
welcome to kiwi land , beautiful and amazing, but man its expensive, with house prices being stupid.