After spending 19 months on the other side of the world, living and working in Aotearoa on a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa, I wanted to create a space for other travellers to share everything you need to know before you go.
Moving to another country can be daunting and you’ll feel a lot more at ease if you’re prepared. My main aim in writing this entire blog is to help others; I write the posts I wish I had read myself before embarking on my adventures.
I lived in Auckland and Wellington. I applied for jobs, had interviews, found work, rented a flat through an agency, found a flat-share and lived in a hostel. And I also travelled the entire country in my own campervan, I rented cars, I took the bus, I hiked and kayaked and saw some of the most beautiful sights ever.
On this page, you’ll find a collection of my posts about a Working Holiday in New Zealand. If you prefer, you can browse through these blog posts chronologically here. If you want to read all of my posts about New Zealand (which includes guides on specific sights and places etc.) click here. Enjoy!
A “how to” post covering all the practical advice you need in order to actually do your Working Holiday: here’s how to find a job, somewhere to live, how to open a bank account, take out a phone plan, etc. An in-depth guide on what to expect and how to make the most of your time in New Zealand. Read the full post here.
Here’s how to find well-paid short term jobs on a temporary visa – yes, you CAN enhance your career while on a working holiday! Read more here.
Budgeting in one of the most expensive countries in the world is surprisingly easy when you know how! Here are my tips on how to save as much as possible while working and travelling in New Zealand. Read the full post here.
An essential to ensure you’re taxed the right amount while working in NZ. Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do. Read the full post here.
To ensure you get the best opportunities available, make sure you recreate your CV the Kiwi way before sending it off to prospective employers. Here’s my full post.
Practical advice on the two most important parts of settling in New Zealand – here I recount exactly what I did to bag myself a well-paid job and room in a gorgeous house in the capital. Read more here.
Here’s why Welly is in my opinion the best place to live in New Zealand. Read the full post here.
Maximising your time in New Zealand is a must; here’s how to see the best parts of New Zealand in a month. Read the full post here.
A guide on what to look out for when you buy a campervan in NZ – there would be nothing worse than getting ripped off or buying a dud vehicle! Read more here.
I travelled the whole country for four months on an average of $40 NZD a day. Here is exactly how I did it, from accommodation costs, to transport costs, to food and activities. Read more here.
More than just how to cook on a camping stove… Read more here.
There are short walks and overnight treks in NZ, but you should always be prepared before donning your boots and backpack. Read more here.
Sometimes overlooked, the North Island has so many hidden spots and such beautiful scenery. Read the full post here.
My favourite hikes delve into native bush, across mountain tops and along sandy beaches. Here are 10 to put on your list!
When you decide you don’t want to leave New Zealand just yet. Brits and Canadians are able to extend their visas for a further 11 months – here’s what’s involved and how to do it.
Kiwis are the friendliest people on Earth but I had no idea what they were saying when I arrived in NZ! Here are some of my favourite kiwi phrases and what they mean.