[adrnln_adikt]

Hi,
Well, I got in via the work holiday visa and hope to go get a job offer once down there. But here is my situation:
I am 20yrs old, I have $6kUSD, a flight leaving sep. 21 2004, ~120lbs worth of baggage and absolutely no plans (except find my way to Denedin and rent a house.

unorganized... Yeah, extremely. But it will be one crazy adventure.
So i fly into Christchurch but I want to get to Dunedin.
How would one go about getting there the cheapest way possible? with all my baggage?

Once in ChCh, are there places to store large heavy bags (also filled with thousands of dollars in clothing and computer equipment) for a couple days near the airport or in the airport?

I am looking to rent a house that accepts dogs... Not available on the internet. What are the best ways for finding places that accept dogs (a big dog, over 100lbs, no fufu dogs) in Denedin?

What are the proceedures I need to go through to get a car and drive it? Is leasing an option once i get a job?

What are the best places to live in Denedin for not too much money?

I know this all sounds absolutely crazy and I know I am completely unprepared for this but that is what will make it an experience of a life time. Any suggestions that anyone has would be greatly appreciated...

Thank you for your help!

Nick

[veronica]

I can't answer lots of your questions but it would probably pay you to buy a car pretty much as soon as you get here and drive christchurch to dunedin. Getting a car here is easy and sorting out the insurance is too. once you have your car reg docs just go into somewhere like the state ins. and get it.

REgarding accomodation. There are plenty of motels or backpackers to stay in in chch and they are inexpensive. this would give you time to get your jetlag sorted out before driving to Dunedin.

Dogs and renting, If you are only coming in on a WHV you may find you can't bring the dog in, worth checking that out as you may have to wait to get a normal work permit. there are sure to be places to rent but even if your allowed to bring the dog in its going to take a bit to get your dog ready to fly out, either tests for an import licence or quarantine type of things. Dunedin is a big University town so there will be a lot of rental places, there will be places that take dogs but they are probably going to be the older tattier places. (thats what we have found in chch anyway) but if the dog is following you out that gives you time to sort when you get there. Try phoneing a few agents before you come out. Don't know if any of that helps. cheers Veronica

For storing your stuff for a few days try emailing the airport and asking. most airports do a left luggage tye of thing

[Moorf]

There is a backpackers car market in Christchurch - can't be sure what day it's held but I am sure someone on here can tell you... might be worth getting a cheapo runaround there once you arrive ... just a thought!

[adrnln_adikt]

thanks for the help. It has eleviated some of my concerns. I didn't know about the dog thing, might end up leaving him here till I get that normal visa, if ever.

Nick

[jesselyn]

wow! :clap wtg! :nice1 umm i wish i can be like you... im planning to move to NZ too however i dont think i can imitate what youre gonna do... i wish you the best tho... :D btw, why dunedin?

[adrnln_adikt]

dunedin has really nice seasons, great architecture, cheap living, gorgous enviroment,its colder down there (i love cold snowy weather),and they sent me this little info packet that was really nice.

Oh yeah, I changed my flight to the 14th!! 2 Weeks! Yeah!

[jesselyn]

dunedin has really nice seasons, great architecture, cheap living, gorgous enviroment,its colder down there (i love cold snowy weather),and they sent me this little info packet that was really nice.


i think i know the info pack you are talking about, i was able to get one too... actually, before thats where i wanna go however my officemates want to go to a place where we know (kinda) umm at least one person (our client's sibling who lives in Chch) :yes.

i told my family tho that when we are established already i still want to go to Dunedin for all the reasons you enumerated :nice1. not to mention the cadbury chocolate factory :oops:

Oh yeah, I changed my flight to the 14th!! 2 Weeks! Yeah!

woohoo! thats great! :clap i hope we will still see you here tho... gimme updates, ok? good luck lil bro ;) ...


jes :angel

[Dave & Sandra]

Hi Nick

What do the rules say now about how long you are allowed to work for one employer on WHV - would be interested to know. Read something recently that it may be changing.

[drumminj]

Nick -

if brining a dog from the US, it will need to be quarantined for 30 days. Canterbury Quarantine (in Chch, I believe) needs several months notice to book a spot. Just FYI, the cost will be about $1k USD to do so. Transporting the dog is expensive as well, and requires a 6 month lead time for the rabies titre (can be reduced to 4 months if you have a detailed rabies vaccination history).

Be careful with your computer equipment - it may not work well with the 50Hz outlets there.

[adrnln_adikt]

Hello,
Thank you, I will be keeping up with the forum and will probably have TONS of questions when I get down there.
I gave my dog to my sister. Very sad to see him go :(
The power supplies are interchangable between the two types of electricity :mrgreen:

Nick

[adrnln_adikt]

sorry, forgot...
I can have the same job for a max of 3 months. I highly doubt that will be enforced though. But I will see.

[goldwheels]

Hi
We drove down from Christchurch to Dunedin when we arrived. I managed to arrange car hire from the UK. It was National car hire of Christchurch and what they did was give us a relocation car. I had a small Suzuki estate and had 4 of us in the car plus about 180 kg of luggage in it, so you shouldn't have any problem. This was at no charge if the journey was under 450k's and had to be back at the Dunedin branch with in 24hrs. It takes about 5hrs to get to Dunedin and be aware of your speed as the police are very keen here, every police car has a speed sensor in it and there are a lot of plain police cars as well.

[Tara Sage]

Good Luck adrnln_adikt

You must be so excited now with only 13 days to go!!!

Keep us informed of your progress

[adrnln_adikt]

I am extremely excited and very nervous. still have so much to get rid of.

Will they allow a 20yr old to rent a car like that? I thought you had to be 21 in NZ...


Nick