Q.
Answer
As an American who immigrated to NZ I think my choice is obvious. NZ has many advantages over America but also some disadvantages that have to be weighed against the good stuff.
Many Americans I know who moved here have decided it was a mistake and have moved on to Australia or back to the States. The biggest problem they faced was the lower standard of living in NZ, incomes are lower and goods cost more, houses are smaller and not as well built, internet is slower and petrol far more expensive. The lack of central heating, insulation or double-glazed windows in houses can prove a real shock to North American immigrants as well.
Yet NZ offers so much that the US lacks. In NZ there are no 24 hour new networks scaring the heck out of us every day, people feel safe letting their kids walk or bike to school at a young age, even letting 8 year olds go to the shops on their own with no fear they'll get snatched by someone, it just doesn't happen. The whole way of life is so much more laid-back and since there are no personal injury lawsuits allowed, no one worries about getting sued for the slightest thing. There is much less traffic even in Auckland than in most US cities, the scenery is unbelievable and easy to get to.
Add to this ACC coverage of all accident costs, universal healthcare and a minimum wage that is a living wage and the choice is easy. There isn't the kind of wealth in NZ that there is in the US, not even close. But there also isn't anywhere near the level of poverty or violent crime that exists in the US.
As an American who immigrated to NZ I think my choice is obvious. NZ has many advantages over America but also some disadvantages that have to be weighed against the good stuff.
Many Americans I know who moved here have decided it was a mistake and have moved on to Australia or back to the States. The biggest problem they faced was the lower standard of living in NZ, incomes are lower and goods cost more, houses are smaller and not as well built, internet is slower and petrol far more expensive. The lack of central heating, insulation or double-glazed windows in houses can prove a real shock to North American immigrants as well.
Yet NZ offers so much that the US lacks. In NZ there are no 24 hour new networks scaring the heck out of us every day, people feel safe letting their kids walk or bike to school at a young age, even letting 8 year olds go to the shops on their own with no fear they'll get snatched by someone, it just doesn't happen. The whole way of life is so much more laid-back and since there are no personal injury lawsuits allowed, no one worries about getting sued for the slightest thing. There is much less traffic even in Auckland than in most US cities, the scenery is unbelievable and easy to get to.
Add to this ACC coverage of all accident costs, universal healthcare and a minimum wage that is a living wage and the choice is easy. There isn't the kind of wealth in NZ that there is in the US, not even close. But there also isn't anywhere near the level of poverty or violent crime that exists in the US.
What is a good length of time to go to New Zealand for? ?
Q. We have between 2 to 3 weeks to spend there and we want to visit the North and South Island. What is a good length of time to do all that?
Answer
I would spend 3 weeks there, 2 will not be enough!
Although New Zealand is a small country, there is so much to do!
I would spent about 11 days on the North Island and 10 on the South Island.
I have actually never been to the South Island but I hear it's really nice :)
I'll give you some things to do on the North Island to start with.
1. If your going in summer, you have to visit the bay of islands which is located above Auckland. It has some really really nice beaches and you can go swimming with dolphins!
http://www.bay-of-islands.co.nz/
2. Auckland, nz's largest city! This city is surrownded by water! NICE.
- Go to the Auckland museum
- Go to MOTAT (kind of like a museum but more interesting)
- Visit the many volcanos that surrownd Auckland
- If you're going in summer get down to the beach! The best beaches are Mission Bay, Takapuna Beach and Piha.
- If you have kids, go to Rainbow's End (a theme park).
- Go out to dinner at the many award-winning restaurants around the city.
- Go shopping at the many shopping centres located around Auckland.
- You MUST go to the Auckland skytower. It's really cool and you can do like a bunjy jump of it!
- Do a bunjy jump off the Auckland Harbour Bridge
- Go to the Auckland botanic gardens
- Get out on the harbour and do some boating!
http://www.aucklandnz.com/
Next on the list in NZ is Rotorua. I loved this town! Heaps to see and do.
1. You have to go to the bubbling mud pools and do all the volcanic things.
2. Do the Luge! I LOVED THIS YOU HAVE TO DO IT!. It's kind of like a hill powered go-cart that ride down a hill.
3. Experiance Maori culture and go to a maori village.
4. The zorb (http://www.zorb.com/
http://www.rotoruanz.com/
Go to Taupo and check out the massive lake that is there. It's beautiful. There are snow capped mountains in the background!
The Hawkes Bay region is great if you're into wine and cheese etc.
Great vineyards. Check out Napier, it's a really nice city.
http://www.napier.govt.nz/
If you go in winter, go skiing on Mount Ruaphehu, a volcao!
You also must visit Wellington (although you really have no choice in order to get to the south island! mwaaa you thought you could escape Wellington, you thought wrong!)
1. Go to Te Papa museum, that's really neat
2. Go and grab a coffe on Oriental Bay. I just went there 2 weeks ago and it was really nice! Heaps of people out walking and cycling along the water on 4 wheel bikes haha.
3. Go to Mount Victoria lookout and get some good shots (with a camera, not a gun!).
On the South Island, go to Christchurch.
My step brother just returned from there and they went to the Antartica Centre which they said was really cool.
http://www.christchurch.org.nz/
Go skiing in Queenstown in winter or if its summer go to Queenstown anyway.
It has a luge like in Rotorua and the shotover jetboat.
http://www.shotoverjet.com/
In Dunedin, go to the Cadbury Chocolate factory.
So yeah, 3 weeks should be long enough, you should have a great time!
Thanks very much for the question, hope I've helped :)
Email me if you have anymore questions.
I would spend 3 weeks there, 2 will not be enough!
Although New Zealand is a small country, there is so much to do!
I would spent about 11 days on the North Island and 10 on the South Island.
I have actually never been to the South Island but I hear it's really nice :)
I'll give you some things to do on the North Island to start with.
1. If your going in summer, you have to visit the bay of islands which is located above Auckland. It has some really really nice beaches and you can go swimming with dolphins!
http://www.bay-of-islands.co.nz/
2. Auckland, nz's largest city! This city is surrownded by water! NICE.
- Go to the Auckland museum
- Go to MOTAT (kind of like a museum but more interesting)
- Visit the many volcanos that surrownd Auckland
- If you're going in summer get down to the beach! The best beaches are Mission Bay, Takapuna Beach and Piha.
- If you have kids, go to Rainbow's End (a theme park).
- Go out to dinner at the many award-winning restaurants around the city.
- Go shopping at the many shopping centres located around Auckland.
- You MUST go to the Auckland skytower. It's really cool and you can do like a bunjy jump of it!
- Do a bunjy jump off the Auckland Harbour Bridge
- Go to the Auckland botanic gardens
- Get out on the harbour and do some boating!
http://www.aucklandnz.com/
Next on the list in NZ is Rotorua. I loved this town! Heaps to see and do.
1. You have to go to the bubbling mud pools and do all the volcanic things.
2. Do the Luge! I LOVED THIS YOU HAVE TO DO IT!. It's kind of like a hill powered go-cart that ride down a hill.
3. Experiance Maori culture and go to a maori village.
4. The zorb (http://www.zorb.com/
http://www.rotoruanz.com/
Go to Taupo and check out the massive lake that is there. It's beautiful. There are snow capped mountains in the background!
The Hawkes Bay region is great if you're into wine and cheese etc.
Great vineyards. Check out Napier, it's a really nice city.
http://www.napier.govt.nz/
If you go in winter, go skiing on Mount Ruaphehu, a volcao!
You also must visit Wellington (although you really have no choice in order to get to the south island! mwaaa you thought you could escape Wellington, you thought wrong!)
1. Go to Te Papa museum, that's really neat
2. Go and grab a coffe on Oriental Bay. I just went there 2 weeks ago and it was really nice! Heaps of people out walking and cycling along the water on 4 wheel bikes haha.
3. Go to Mount Victoria lookout and get some good shots (with a camera, not a gun!).
On the South Island, go to Christchurch.
My step brother just returned from there and they went to the Antartica Centre which they said was really cool.
http://www.christchurch.org.nz/
Go skiing in Queenstown in winter or if its summer go to Queenstown anyway.
It has a luge like in Rotorua and the shotover jetboat.
http://www.shotoverjet.com/
In Dunedin, go to the Cadbury Chocolate factory.
So yeah, 3 weeks should be long enough, you should have a great time!
Thanks very much for the question, hope I've helped :)
Email me if you have anymore questions.
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