[Jo and Andy]

We are taking the leap of faith in moving and decided not to
do our visit, as felt we would have to leave our jobs anyway for
a long visit. or in 2 - 3 weeks what would we really find out about living there.

I know a lot of people have visited or not so thought it would be useful to see how usefull or realistic the visit had proved.

So looking forward to your replies

[Smiler]

Jo

We decided to visit and did not treat it as a holiday as such. Gary had a couple of contacts to meet, we wanted to look at the areas we were thinking of living in and wanted to get a feel for the place.

In our month there, we managed to rent an apartment for a bit, did the boring stuff like shopping, cooking and householdy things. We did travel a lot after that to look at other areas but so far have always felt like Hawkes Bay is for us. (eventually)

Gary has wanted to go to NZ for 20 years and I always had a hankering too. I don't think I could have moved without doing a reccy first although G would have.

I'm :oops: to say i cried all the way down the runway at AKL, I would have been happy to stay and get someone to ship for us.

I'm glad we did visit, we feel it has given us the push and I feel happier having learnt lots and being able to use that here whilst we are planning our move.

Looking forward to hearing other forum members stories. Thanks for starting this post :nice1
Deborah

[cagcagb]

Yes! I had a really fun time in new zealand. wanted to stay longer than a mere tourist that's why I decided to apply for residency.

[Timbo]

Deborah. Plaese dont feel :oops: about your feelings in not wanting to leave. I can safely say that getting on the plane for the return trip was a massive wrench on my emotions. I also feel sure that we are not alone on this one.

[Smiler]

Thanks Tim

It is nice to know I'm not the only one that had the wrenchies.

It was also a feeling of not knowing when we could/would get back and I guess that uncertain feeling won't change until we've got those tickets in our hot little mitts.

I'm glad you can understand that, thanks.

Deborah

[Miffy]

You really need a third option ..... didn't visit before moving here cos thats what we did.

Yep moved all thje way over here having never set foot on NZ soil beforehand :cool

[Glenda]

I think some people will want to visit just to make sure NZ is the place they want to be. Brilliant if you can just go on faith, but I think many 'need' to visit before leaving their job, home, family and familiar way of life ... even if it really does not get an accurate indication of what it is like to actually live here.

By the way, Deborah and Timbo, I cried a little when we left NZ after our reccy :oops: (embarrassed my daughter). In fact, it took a lot of willpower to get onto the plane ... I nearly did a runner! Hubby reluctantly went back to the UK on Monday and the trip has affected him differently ... he says he felt ill and nauseous, and did not want to eat (and what he did eat went through him). :(

[Jo and Andy]

Useful information everyone.

Miffy, I think I should have planned the poll a bit better, as that was what I was trying to get at,

I am moving over without having a visit and wanted to know from people if the visit had actually helped

[Iain]

We moved without visiting - it just made the whole thing more of an adventure. We did do a lot of research beforehand though, so we didn't come blind. No nasty suprises at all - everything was as expected or better.