[sherman]

Hey all, We're heading to NZ in January after five long years in DC. Can't wait to be close to beaches, hiking, biking, camping, and all things outdoors. We're not exactly sure where we want to live so any suggestions are welcome! We're just finishing up our ITA.

Looking forward to talking with everyone. This is a really great forum.

Sherman & Becca

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Hello and welcome. Good luck with your adventure.

[Hagabel]

Welcome to the forum!!!
I will be very sad to leave as I will miss Cheney, Bush, Condaleeza, McCain, Palin and all the other special people who give our country such a fine reputation overseas...................
:laugh

[dilanium]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

It's a wonderful feeling being so blissfully separated from the lovely things going on over there. But then I'm happy to be far away from Americans in general (and midwesterners specifically--- (Read: most people where I used to live)).

What are your careers in? Also do you prefer city or rural? If city- how big and what about them?

[slider]

Hello, and welcome to the forum :)

[CJ22]

Hi Sherman & Becca, and welcome to the forum.

Can't blame you for wanting to dissasociate yourself from President Gump, just like I'm happy to be getting away from the legacy of Reverend Blair and Comrade Broon.

[Kiwi-In-Texas]

Hello and welcome. Good luck with your plans.

[Mrs Pony]

welcome! Good luck with the move!

If you're looking for loads of outdoor things to do.... Might want to try Queenstown...It's small, beautiful, but loads of things to do... Stayed at a B&B, Pencarrow, there and didn't want to leave! If you take a trip out there I would strongly recommend Pencarrow, the owners are American and just really great people! We're heading for Wellington since OH lived there before.

[JandM]

Hello and welcome.:)

[dusk]

hello and welcome :)

[mgf]

Hello and welcome! If you like living near the beaches check out the Tauranga area

[sherman]

Thanks everyone for such a warm welcome.

Hey 'dilanium', we're both from the midwest (Cleveland and Detroit). So, don't knock those midwesterners!:cheers

We're thinking something on the smaller side. Perhaps Gisborne, Dunedin, New Plymouth. Must be coastal though. Any thoughts?

We've actually never been to NZ and are hoping to have some time to travel around before settling.

[dilanium]

I'm very very sorry that you're from that area. (I'm a native clevelander too, but it doesn't mean I liked the way the majority of people acted to one another).

[sweetpea]

Hiya fellow Americans! Except for Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, every town is going to be on the smaller side, so you have a wide variety to choose from! A lot of points on a map are basically a gas station and a fish and chips shop. Gizzy - lovely; economy?; seems far, far away from everything; twisty road connections. Dunedin - feels more historic than most of NZ but cold, cold, cold. New Plymouth - never been there. Definitely travel around and see how you feel about different towns before making any decisions. Depending on what your jobs are, it may be harder to find work outside the major cities. Also, keep in mind that you may find much less progressive attitudes outside Auckland and Wellington.

[timeanzbound]

Hello and Welcome! Congrats on your decision. I live in Austin, TX and next month we are off to NZ. You may want to look into Queenstown, heard its super gorgeous! But then again I am biased since I am heading over there. Wish you the best!