New Zealand

New Zealand

Introduction

That's right. You heard me. I'm going to spend a year working and travelling in the awesome internationally recognised as 'New Zealand'

To Do

	Make a to-do list
	Get work/holiday visa
	Book Flight
	Get Travel Insurance
	Book initial accommodation in Auckland
	Set up NZ Bank Account
	Transfer money to that bank account
	Buy a giant backpack + sleeping bag
	Buy a netbook for travelling computations
	Buy Matt-leg tour ticket
	Buy Mum-leg tour ticket

Flights

I can only book one flight at a time (because airlines only let you book up to 11 months in advance). I'll be travelling by AirNewZealand.

OUTBOUND

• Outbound Flight Status: Unbooked

Outbound Flight

From	To	Date and Time	Flight No	Class	Carrier
London - LHR	? Hong Kong ?	Tuesday 10th August 2010 (time) - (time)	Flight ID	Class: Economy	AirNewZealand
? Hong Kong ?	Auckland - AUK	Tuesday 11th August 2010 (time) - (time)	Flight ID	Class: Economy	AirNewZealand

---

RETURN

• Return Flight Status: Unbooked

Return flight

From	To	Date and Time	Flight No	Class	Carrier
Auckland - AUK	? Hong Kong ?	? 10th August 2011 (time) - (time)	Flight ID	Class: Economy	AirNewZealand
? Hong Kong ?	London - LHR	? 11th August 2011 (time) - (time)	Flight ID	Class: Economy	AirNewZealand

.

Auckland Accommodation

Two Main options:

Oaklands Lodge in Mt. Eden, short (cheap and regular) bus ride to centre, pleasant and quiet location.

Oaklands Lodge- Trip Advisor

Auckland International YHA - excellent cooking facilities, nearer centre and probably have better travel centre.

Might win on convenience- can always book for 6 days then switch to Oaklands if it's no good.

Price-wise I think they are exactly the same - £10.45 a night for an 8-bed dorm.

Because of location and reviews Auckland International YHA wins...this round... also airbus from airport goes straight there which is handy. Important not to confuse with Auckland City YHA which is apparently crappola.

Travel Insurance

• GlobeLink
• World Nomads

Travel Insurance Comparison

Policy	GlobeLinks	World Nomad
Cover 1	GL Thing	WN Thing
Cover 2	GL Thing 2	WN Thing 2
Cost	GL quote	WN quote

Rough Plan

• Arrive in Auckland, get over jet lag, deal with bank stuff and other stuff.
• Stay in Auckland for 2 weeks- try to get in Cape Reinga, the little islands, and Auckland itself.
• Homestay/farmstay your way round: First to Coromandel across to Rotorua, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay, Napier region then down to Wellington.
• Stay in Wellington for a week, then home/farmstay across to New Plymouth region, Taranaki and Waikato back up to Auckland, via Te Awamutu.
• Enter Matt stage left (Auckland -> Christchurch)
• Do same sort of thing for South Island as north - stop off in the key places for a week or so (Christchurch, Queenstown, Dunedin), Go north, round, south home/farmstaying along the way, back to Christchurch
• Enter Mum stage right (Christchurch -> Auckland)
• Get a job for 3 months or revisit highlights, hang out doing whatever. If some people were awesome at the beginning, go see them again.
• Come home with a slightly Kiwi accent, and a set of charming anecdotes where money used to be.

Mandatory activities

• Pilgrimage to Te Awamutu
• Waitomo Caves
• Sandboarding
• Visiting:
  • Napier
  • New Plymouth
  • Dunedin
  • Stewart Island
  • the Catlins
  • Fox Glacier
  • Milford Sound
  • Auckland,
  • Christchurch
  • Greymouth
  • etc.
• Maybe a trip to Samoa.

Work and homestay Options

Farm and Homestay options - HelpExchange

Couch Surfing.org

Anywork Anywhere

Seasonal Jobs

Horticulture NZ

Seek NZ job hunting

Backpackerboard NZ

Gapyear.com Jobs

Small trips and tours

Fullers Rangitoto Island Stray Go East tour Stray Cape Reina Patch Pass