American in Christchurch here. I can't say what's best for you but you could spend years in the south island and not experience everything. Take your time, slow down and appreciate this paradise. We are very lucky to live here.
Definitely head up to the top of the South Island before you leave! Abel Tasman national park is incredible, and the little town of Marahau is the sweetest place, such a chilled vibe up there
Glenorchy is my favourite place in the entire world! Looking forward to going back and visiting the animals at the farm and visiting Paradise. Great video. ❤
So my brother-in-law is a Canadian from Alberta who married a Kiwi Girl, very patriotic on Canada - Day, making his young NZ family don the RED MAPLE LEAF colours... He too doesn't miss Canadian winters and when he goes home to visit it's usually in the summer. The difference I would say that separates the North from the South living up here is the Beaches, warmer climate and thermal activity. we do have mountains but nowhere compared to the Alps. If you plan to live up on the North Island I would suggest somewhere central so you can explore the Island on all sides for weekend trips or overnighters. Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo. The central North Island is mostly geothermal. Rotorua is more the Queenstown of the South Island...
The north island is infinitely easier to live full time put of your 4wd simply because there is just wayyyyy more in terms of easily accessible amenities, so you wouldn't necessarily have to go to full on van life there. That being said having a 4wd makes some absolutely amazing places available to you, like Pureora forest, which has campsites and a little obelisk at the geographic centre of NZ, or in the coromandel with all the dirt roads and port Jackson, summer is obviously always more ideal for travel, but in the north island winter is way more tolerable than in the south if you want to be on the road a lot, so long as you aren't worried about rain!
Ahhh such a stunning town, amazing views.. ok I think my heart is either with BC or NZ ❤ I need to see these amazing places 😢 ON is so grey right now and honestly I need mountains in my lifeee
You guys didn't say why you wanted to leave? QT comes alive in winter! SO many fun things to do! Heaps of gigs. Luma festival. NIght skiing at Coronet. Mountain Film festival. Matariki celebrations. Snow Machine winter festival. There are so many reasons to stay.
Oh we are REALLY not winter people!!! Hahaha our whole last 6 years of travelling have been about avoiding winter at all costs - we’re Canadian and we are so tired of it
Hey guys. Yeah iv been watching your content. It's awesome. I live in the north island. Masterton. In the wairarapa region. You 2 would love the wairarapa. Especially the coast. Cape palliser. Nagwai. Lakeferry. Ocean Beach. And also wellington is a premo city. So yeah come on over. Chur.
Live in Kapiti - NI - by the beach - Paraparaumu - there's jobs - Wellington about 30-40 mins drive - PS. South Island is waaaay better BUT probably easier to get jobs in NI - the main NZ cities are crumbling in the NI - getting very rough - provincial cities and towns a little bit better - the NI has some beautiful areas too. Re work you might like Tauranga??
If you're in Taupo the North Island there's a lot of hot pool's where you can park up and sleep in vans with toilets available. One place called 'Butcher Pools' town called Reporoa 😊
Hello Raychel. You asked for ideas for when you come to the North Island. It is a difficult ask without knowing what you are going to do. The idea of a camper van is good if you are just on the move from place to place, and there are many places to stay around the North Island. Make sure before you agree to purchase a vehicle, that you get a garage to do a pre-purchase inspection, as camper vans tend to sit for long periods and can protest if suddenly used on a regular basis. If you are going to base yourselves somewhere and go to work, I would not suggest a camper van, as you will need to upend your 'house' every time you go to work. A good sized tent would be a cheap alternative, if you are moving around, that would allow you to keep some change in your bank account. Except for the Central Plateau, most of the North Island would be mild enough for tenting. If you are able to stay on a power site, you could use a fan heater, micathermic heater, or an oil filled heater to keep you cosy. You just need a residual current device (RCD). Many camps will let you stay for just over a month. Some will let you stay long term. Another alternative would be a caravan. For this you would need to fit a towbar to your car. There are some nice caravans on TradeMe but what you get would be decided by your budget. After coming home from work, the caravan is already set up for you to relax, unlike a camper van. Different again. Do either of you have boating experience. There are lots of places where a boat will open up many places to go that normal tourists never get to see. Lakes Taupo and Rotorua can be explored and, with a permit, fished for trout. Bay of Plenty, Auckland and the Bay of Islands all have beautiful places to go in a boat. Again, the type of boat you get will be determined as to what you are going to be doing. If touring around, something like a trailer sailer, would give you portable accomodation, similar to a caravan, with the option of launching the boat and exploring the coast and islands and lakes. Something like the one in the following link could be in your budget. www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/yachts/trailer-sailer/listing/4554013040?bof=qSm3yGdP If you are going to work in the Bay of Plenty, Auckland or the Bay of Islands, I could suggest you try a slightly larger boat that is either in a marina that lets you live aboard, or on a swing mooring which is cheaper. You do not need to go anywhere if you are not a boatie, but a live aboard boat can be a lot cheaper than staying on the land. If you are staying in a marina, they usually have toilet, shower and laundry facilities available. See the links below for some inspiration www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/yachts/other-yachts/listing/4541231240?bof=qSm3yGdP www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/yachts/keeler/listing/4516807938?bof=qSm3yGdP www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/yachts/keeler/listing/4556510580?bof=qSm3yGdP Yet another option is to try woofing the same a Glen and Mado did. There will also be fruit picking and other orchard work available ,if you want to do that sort of work.Some places offer accommodation as part of the remuneration. Sorry this is so long. There is so much to do and so many options when you are here for a while.You just need to be flexible and I hope you continue to enjoy your journey Leslie
The NI is underrated by visitors imo (as someone who lives here) - more diversity! Agree to stay somewhere central like Tauranga or Rotorua/Taupō where you can pop over to Gisborne, Raglan, Coromandel.. And make a trip of going to Northland and the Bay of Islands - historically a very significant and spiritual place and stunning as well :)
Enjoyed this video. Try and see as much if NZ as you can. I lived in NZ for 55 years and in the North Island there's heaps to see and do. Central North Island there's skiing like Queenstown and also Lord of the Rings locations. There's thermal stuff to see. I'm from Hawkes Bay originally but even there you can do stuff. I think for scenery the South Island is best. One thing as you've gathered already is that every type of scenery in the world you'll see in NZ. Yes it's expensive to live there but you guys seem pretty resourceful. If I can help let me know. There'll be plenty of Kiwi's watching your video who'll help as well. I live in the UK now and miss NZ a lot but cannot move back as much as I'd like. Take care and keep the videos coming! Really appreciate it. 😀
The north island will definitely be warmer but I'm from the south island I have traveled around the north,lifestyle issues much more fast pace there but if you go above auckland it is alot more peaceful, taupo is definitely touristy rotorua is another one in the middle of the north island so you can go anywhere from there pretty much, hope this helped, whatever you choose will be great
The further north you go the warmer it will be in winter. Maybe at the cost of more rain, I don't know, but then again I don't know of any part of Aotearoa that's dry in winter.
The objection to more direct road to Milford Sound is to do with it having to go through a national park, while the people of Glenorchy may have objections their’s are not the main ones.
Great video. The main reason is there is no road from Glenorchy to Milford sound is the cost of it and who is going to pay for it. Remembering that most new Zealand roads where originally old animal tracks that created the paths though the mountains. Tunneling isn't an option because of the cost and that it's on one of the main alpine fault lines.
If the weather is a big factor for you, then def go to the North Island for the winter months. Its not as cold, very few frosts if any. In the south, we get a lot of frosts, which is the worst part of winter. But being from Canada, that doesnt sound right lol
I would say to see more of the top of the South Island like Nelson and Abel Tasman before going to the north island. It’s a beautiful part of NZ and isn’t as cold as the Deep South.
Hi Team, I am a NEW ZEALANDER and I'm 57 years of age. ( I live in Wellington) We went to Queenstown for my birthday in August 2023 last year and we drove up to Glenorchy with a number of stops on the way way, as my wife likes to take photo's (This was my first time going to the top of lake Wakatipu). The gravel road into Glenorchy is just yet another NZ gravel road which I have grown up with all my life and when we got there, it's nothing that you cannot see in any rural dirt road in NZ. There is nothing there, apart from some domestic buildings and a cafe that wasn't even open. Not one of my 'go to re-visits!' Other than the entrance to the walk further up the valley, I wouldn't rate going to Glenorchy at all. It's typical rural NZ.
Love Glen and Mado! :)
They are great!
Awesome work guys!
So glad to have met y'all!
American in Christchurch here. I can't say what's best for you but you could spend years in the south island and not experience everything. Take your time, slow down and appreciate this paradise. We are very lucky to live here.
Yes we just don’t want to be here for winter ❤️
Definitely head up to the top of the South Island before you leave! Abel Tasman national park is incredible, and the little town of Marahau is the sweetest place, such a chilled vibe up there
Was lucky enough to be here last week. Mind-blowingly beautiful.
It really is!
Glenorchy is my favourite place in the entire world! Looking forward to going back and visiting the animals at the farm and visiting Paradise. Great video. ❤
It really is such a beautiful place
Glenorchy looks really wonderful
Yes please come to north island there is just as many but different places to visit you'll love it
We are really considering it!
Beautiful video.
Good deer stalking around that area
So my brother-in-law is a Canadian from Alberta who married a Kiwi Girl, very patriotic on Canada - Day, making his young NZ family don the RED MAPLE LEAF colours... He too doesn't miss Canadian winters and when he goes home to visit it's usually in the summer. The difference I would say that separates the North from the South living up here is the Beaches, warmer climate and thermal activity. we do have mountains but nowhere compared to the Alps. If you plan to live up on the North Island I would suggest somewhere central so you can explore the Island on all sides for weekend trips or overnighters. Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo. The central North Island is mostly geothermal. Rotorua is more the Queenstown of the South Island...
The South Island is where I love to be. Glenorchy is gorgeous and nearby Lake Rere has the best hike!
Glenorchy really is stunning!
The north island is infinitely easier to live full time put of your 4wd simply because there is just wayyyyy more in terms of easily accessible amenities, so you wouldn't necessarily have to go to full on van life there. That being said having a 4wd makes some absolutely amazing places available to you, like Pureora forest, which has campsites and a little obelisk at the geographic centre of NZ, or in the coromandel with all the dirt roads and port Jackson, summer is obviously always more ideal for travel, but in the north island winter is way more tolerable than in the south if you want to be on the road a lot, so long as you aren't worried about rain!
Right okay that is really helpful thank you!
Lol love the Paradise sign! So cool ❤
So fun ❤️
Ahhh such a stunning town, amazing views.. ok I think my heart is either with BC or NZ ❤ I need to see these amazing places 😢 ON is so grey right now and honestly I need mountains in my lifeee
You guys didn't say why you wanted to leave? QT comes alive in winter! SO many fun things to do! Heaps of gigs. Luma festival. NIght skiing at Coronet. Mountain Film festival. Matariki celebrations. Snow Machine winter festival. There are so many reasons to stay.
Oh we are REALLY not winter people!!! Hahaha our whole last 6 years of travelling have been about avoiding winter at all costs - we’re Canadian and we are so tired of it
5:08 "I just thought he was making noise" 😭😭😭
LOLLLL
Great watch as per 👊🏿💥🫡
❤️❤️❤️
getting to milford is beautiful... but coming back to queenstown is exhausting... yea be awesome if that road is built,,,
Totally would be a game changer
Hey guys. Yeah iv been watching your content. It's awesome. I live in the north island. Masterton. In the wairarapa region. You 2 would love the wairarapa. Especially the coast. Cape palliser. Nagwai. Lakeferry. Ocean Beach. And also wellington is a premo city. So yeah come on over. Chur.
Sounds amazing!
The animals that you fed, sooo cute 🫶🥹
Soooo cute dude!!!
Live in Kapiti - NI - by the beach - Paraparaumu - there's jobs - Wellington about 30-40 mins drive - PS. South Island is waaaay better BUT probably easier to get jobs in NI - the main NZ cities are crumbling in the NI - getting very rough - provincial cities and towns a little bit better - the NI has some beautiful areas too. Re work you might like Tauranga??
We were thinking Tauranga!
If you're in Taupo the North Island there's a lot of hot pool's where you can park up and sleep in vans with toilets available. One place called 'Butcher Pools' town called Reporoa 😊
That’s awesome! Thank you!
You need to do the overnight voyage in Doubtful Sound. Stewart Island worth it too
Definetly gotta see Milford Sound😮😮😮😮😮
Yes we did back in December!
Hello Raychel. You asked for ideas for when you come to the North Island.
It is a difficult ask without knowing what you are going to do.
The idea of a camper van is good if you are just on the move from place to place, and there are many places to stay around the North Island. Make sure before you agree to purchase a vehicle, that you get a garage to do a pre-purchase inspection, as camper vans tend to sit for long periods and can protest if suddenly used on a regular basis. If you are going to base yourselves somewhere and go to work, I would not suggest a camper van, as you will need to upend your 'house' every time you go to work.
A good sized tent would be a cheap alternative, if you are moving around, that would allow you to keep some change in your bank account. Except for the Central Plateau, most of the North Island would be mild enough for tenting. If you are able to stay on a power site, you could use a fan heater, micathermic heater, or an oil filled heater to keep you cosy. You just need a residual current device (RCD). Many camps will let you stay for just over a month. Some will let you stay long term.
Another alternative would be a caravan. For this you would need to fit a towbar to your car. There are some nice caravans on TradeMe but what you get would be decided by your budget. After coming home from work, the caravan is already set up for you to relax, unlike a camper van.
Different again. Do either of you have boating experience. There are lots of places where a boat will open up many places to go that normal tourists never get to see. Lakes Taupo and Rotorua can be explored and, with a permit, fished for trout. Bay of Plenty, Auckland and the Bay of Islands all have beautiful places to go in a boat. Again, the type of boat you get will be determined as to what you are going to be doing.
If touring around, something like a trailer sailer, would give you portable accomodation, similar to a caravan, with the option of launching the boat and exploring the coast and islands and lakes. Something like the one in the following link could be in your budget.
www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/yachts/trailer-sailer/listing/4554013040?bof=qSm3yGdP
If you are going to work in the Bay of Plenty, Auckland or the Bay of Islands, I could suggest you try a slightly larger boat that is either in a marina that lets you live aboard, or on a swing mooring which is cheaper. You do not need to go anywhere if you are not a boatie, but a live aboard boat can be a lot cheaper than staying on the land. If you are staying in a marina, they usually have toilet, shower and laundry facilities available. See the links below for some inspiration
www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/yachts/other-yachts/listing/4541231240?bof=qSm3yGdP
www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/yachts/keeler/listing/4516807938?bof=qSm3yGdP
www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/yachts/keeler/listing/4556510580?bof=qSm3yGdP
Yet another option is to try woofing the same a Glen and Mado did. There will also be fruit picking and other orchard work available ,if you want to do that sort of work.Some places offer accommodation as part of the remuneration.
Sorry this is so long. There is so much to do and so many options when you are here for a while.You just need to be flexible and I hope you continue to enjoy your journey
Leslie
Thank you so much for the thoughtful recommendations ❤️
The NI is underrated by visitors imo (as someone who lives here) - more diversity! Agree to stay somewhere central like Tauranga or Rotorua/Taupō where you can pop over to Gisborne, Raglan, Coromandel.. And make a trip of going to Northland and the Bay of Islands - historically a very significant and spiritual place and stunning as well :)
All seems so cool!
Enjoyed this video. Try and see as much if NZ as you can. I lived in NZ for 55 years and in the North Island there's heaps to see and do. Central North Island there's skiing like Queenstown and also Lord of the Rings locations. There's thermal stuff to see. I'm from Hawkes Bay originally but even there you can do stuff. I think for scenery the South Island is best. One thing as you've gathered already is that every type of scenery in the world you'll see in NZ. Yes it's expensive to live there but you guys seem pretty resourceful. If I can help let me know. There'll be plenty of Kiwi's watching your video who'll help as well. I live in the UK now and miss NZ a lot but cannot move back as much as I'd like. Take care and keep the videos coming! Really appreciate it. 😀
The north island will definitely be warmer but I'm from the south island I have traveled around the north,lifestyle issues much more fast pace there but if you go above auckland it is alot more peaceful, taupo is definitely touristy rotorua is another one in the middle of the north island so you can go anywhere from there pretty much, hope this helped, whatever you choose will be great
Thank you so much!
The further north you go the warmer it will be in winter. Maybe at the cost of more rain, I don't know, but then again I don't know of any part of Aotearoa that's dry in winter.
That’s fair! We’re from Vancouver, we’re okay with rain 🌧️
The objection to more direct road to Milford Sound is to do with it having to go through a national park, while the people of Glenorchy may have objections their’s are not the main ones.
Interesting!
Great video. The main reason is there is no road from Glenorchy to Milford sound is the cost of it and who is going to pay for it. Remembering that most new Zealand roads where originally old animal tracks that created the paths though the mountains. Tunneling isn't an option because of the cost and that it's on one of the main alpine fault lines.
Right that is fair
If the weather is a big factor for you, then def go to the North Island for the winter months. Its not as cold, very few frosts if any. In the south, we get a lot of frosts, which is the worst part of winter. But being from Canada, that doesnt sound right lol
Yes we aren’t fans of snowy winters so that’s why we want to escape before it gets too cold!
@nickandraychel Then definitely head to the north island. They complain if it drops below 15c lol
Hahahah sounds like my people... and I'm Canadian. Don't know what's wrong with me lol
I think Wellington is probs more your vibe but rent it expensive af, Tauranga is good being close to Rotorua, the Coromandel and Auckland.
Okay good tips!
I would recommend you stay in the South Island. You still have lots to see and life is safer there.
We love it here but will definitely be escaping the winter!
I would say to see more of the top of the South Island like Nelson and Abel Tasman before going to the north island. It’s a beautiful part of NZ and isn’t as cold as the Deep South.
Okay good tip!!
Top of the sound island is paradise
We are dying to get there!
Everyone please give them a like 👍🏽 ❤ 🌎 ☮️
All foreigners say "on the South Island". It's "in the South Island".
Hm that’s interesting - that sounds like slang! Typically you’d say “on” when referring to an island.
Can confirm! :)
It's us messing the language up again.
I love the way you all talk!
I'm here as part of the parenthetical capitalisation preservation society, mate. Help save G, N and Z!
Baked beans for brekkie - you are picking up the NZ diet ;-)
Haha we do this in Canada too! I think it’s a commonwealth thing 😅
You guys never made it up to paradise. You stopped before it.😅 It was just up a hill further along the road.
Haha we just wanted a photo with the sign! But we will be back
We have a room for rent in Auckland and if your looking for work dad's pies likes to hire tourists and it's very close to ower place
Please don’t come. Tourists are choking Queenstown. Noise, litter, pollution. Leave us alone.
Hi Team, I am a NEW ZEALANDER and I'm 57 years of age. ( I live in Wellington) We went to Queenstown for my birthday in August 2023 last year and we drove up to Glenorchy with a number of stops on the way way, as my wife likes to take photo's (This was my first time going to the top of lake Wakatipu). The gravel road into Glenorchy is just yet another NZ gravel road which I have grown up with all my life and when we got there, it's nothing that you cannot see in any rural dirt road in NZ. There is nothing there, apart from some domestic buildings and a cafe that wasn't even open. Not one of my 'go to re-visits!' Other than the entrance to the walk further up the valley, I wouldn't rate going to Glenorchy at all. It's typical rural NZ.