[victoria24]

has anyone spent the month of august checking out NZ? Would you recommend a full itinery or booking return flights into auckland then sorting out internal travel whilst there?
we are thinking of checking out auckland, wellington and christchurch. are there any other places we should see while there for a month?
if you have a month, would you recommend spending a week or so in Oz while there?
cheers
neil

[JandM]

We had all of August and the first week of September in NZ last year. To start with, it wasn't a recce trip in our minds - we were going to have a holiday while staying withing reach of the family. Accordingly, we rented a house quite near to them, with the idea that we'd do things together when they had some time free, and otherwise do our own choices.

The point of telling you all this is that we had AMPLE things to do for the five weeks, even based in one place (with just a couple of trips away, 2 and 3 days), and even not doing any research about work or schools (as we'll be retired when we go over). So if you're thinking of going to Australia as a fill-in, I can't imagine you'll need one. And about internal travel, yes, I'd sort that out once you're there - there are special offers (and I expect those already over there will be along later to tell you where best to look).

As for places apart from those you've suggested, what are you interested in? - places to live and work, or tourist sites? And if the latter, what do you like to do?

[Nick88]

As above, you'll easily fill a month here. Only bother visiting Aus if you are considering going there instead.

Recommending places to visit is difficult without more info on what you want from life and work when you are here. There are too many choices, really.

[victoria24]

thanks guys.. i work in financial services and my wife is training to be a hairdresser. our kids are girl 10 and boy 6 so we want to firstly find the best place for primarily my work opportunities with an eye on the hairderssing side. once we've established that then it'll be a case of moving on to housing areas, schools etc. we met up with Jayney yesterday who has just come back from wellington and loved it and we had already thought we'd prefer wellington also but think that as we have the time we should keep an open mind and mooch about whilst there. the reason for aus is that i have family there on the gold coast so thought it'd be nice to go see them while "in the area"!

[StevieD]

In the area, that like going to Greece or Turkey to visit a long lost cousin! :laugh

I agree that trying to squeeze all of these areas in will be a bit hectic. What has to be remembered about a reccie is that you are in "holiday mode" and not actually living mode.. if that makes sense. You still have pound sterling, but it gives you an insight in to the place more than just taking that leap of faith.

Good luck and have a great time.

[victoria24]

cheers stevie d