[migratory birds]

Planning to move in Jan 08 but have an unexpected opportunity to travel to NZ in Nov (had planned on moving without having visited first). Would use the time (likely about 2 wks) to visit several communities and schools on both N/S Islands and make relocation decisions based on that visit.

I could be most efficient, and it would be easier, if I traveled on my own but also wonder if it might make the move in Jan easier for my nine yr old daughter (which ultimately means for BOTH of us!) if she were to also travel in Nov to visit communities and schools that she would ultimately be entering in Feb 08.

For those of you with slightly older kids - would you recommend bringing the kids on those "checking it out" kinds of trips?

I know I would move with more peace of mind having visited first...wonder if older kids would, too...

[Aussie Pom]

We are going on our recce trip on Friday. We are going to take our daughters who are 5 and 8. Up until now we haven't told them about our plan to move there but they do know about the holiday. We intend to tell them while we are there, once they are really impressed with it.:nice1 Hopefully.
I have organised for my older daughter to visit a cub scout group because she is a member over here (Perth, Australia). I also tried to tee up a school visit but I didn't get a reply from the Principal so I don't know what we will do about that, probably not bother.
We also only have 2 locations that we are seriously considering, Christchurch and Nelson (Nelson most seriously) as my husband and I have both visited before (individually) so we have an idea of what where we want of go.
So, yes we intend to involve our kids in the recce trip and hopefully they will be excited. I would find it hard to explain a place we were moving to without them seeing it, which is why we have waited until the trip to tell them. Of course if we go and have 2nd thoughts ourselves we won't bother telling them!
Gina