[smitjo]

Well we are now back from our fantastic two week trip travelling around the North Island. We were so impressed with the country and it confirmed everything for us – we really do still want to live there! On the flight over we both said that although we have already got our PR, if the Country wasn’t for us we wouldn’t be scared to admit we had made the wrong decision and would stay in the UK. However, we found that it was exactly how we had imagined – the good, the bad and the ugly! Warts and all we decided that NZ would be our home in the next 12-18 months! I think the forum helped us a great deal in terms of what to expect when we got there – including the hoons.

The flight – Air NZ via LA – YIKES!
So after reading all the negative aspects of flying via LA I knew what to expect and to be perfectly honest………I was dreading it! Air NZ were fab and we managed to keep ourselves entertained most of the flight through the great in-flight entertainment – loads of really good chick flicks! LA wasn’t bad at all, we had to queue for about 15 mins (good to stretch the old limbs), had a photo taken (wish I could see a copy – must have looked a right picture) and they took our fingerprints. The transit lounge was pretty basic but after having a packet of crisps and cup of tea I slept most of it – so not that bothered! All in all it was a perfectly adequate trip, Air NZ were great and I didn’t suffer too badly from jetlag – phew! :raebanana

NZ Drivers
Now this was something that concerned me (I work in road safety in the UK) as I have read that driving in NZ is a nightmare - the thought of travelling in a campervan surrounded by mad drivers really didn’t appeal! Anyway I was pleasantly surprised, for the 15 days that we travelled around the North Island I didn’t come across any lunatic drivers – OK you get the odd idiot who tries to overtake on a blind corner but hand on heart the Lincolnshire drivers are FAR worse. People seemed to be far more patient and not as willing to take the risks as people are over here. Speed is an issue but it also seems far worse in the UK – or Lincolnshire in particular. So I felt completely safe and happy to drive our little campervan- apart from the wind blowing us around! :(

Food Shopping
I found food shopping in NZ very similar to South Africa – it is fairly basic and expensive (in relation to what you earn). Everything I cook is from scratch so I don’t really have a problem with basic – most things we needed were there! I found some sausages that were OK – think I could manage with them but all in all I could survive on the NZ food! Although my husband was NOT impressed with Watties baked beans – he is a baked bean connoisseur may I add! I enjoyed the fruit, fish and fresh orange juice in particular – also fell in love with Mallow Puffs (yummy). :o

We found a few areas that we liked the feel of but wanted to come back and scout for house prices and job opportunities before we make any decisions. I think Napier was the area that came out top for us – I lived in the wine region in SA and Napier reminded me of that. We prefer the quieter way of life and if we could get jobs and find a place with land outside of Napier then I believe I can call that heaven! We intended to move to Wellington originally and I have to say that we loved it there too so we won’t rule out anywhere just yet!

I am aware that we were on holiday and things are different when you live there but we just felt that NZ will be right for us one day. We were both really sad to leave even though the weather left much to be desired – but a little rain won’t put us off, well not yet anyway!! :laugh

[Trigirl]

so glad you both enjoyed it. do you have a timescale in mind now for heading over?

[Debbie P.]

Thanks for the update, glad to hear you had such a good time.

We also liked Napier and Welly, but I think we felt that Napier was a bit too far away from the bigger cities. Also, it was very quiet in the evenings, although admittedly this was August so not exactly the high season! But the countryside around was very lush and pretty, and I loved the open air swimming pool at the front.

We're with your husband on the Watties - nowhere near as good as Heinz!

We found some amazing caramel and banana bars in New World, but sadly I can't remember what they were called - anyway, we did a 1 day hike in Abel Tasman NP and it rained all day :( Well, there were times when I just didn't want to carry on, everything I wore was wet (and I MEAN everything ;)) and we kept slipping up on the muddy paths, but those caramel and banana bars were life savers - we got through 8 bars between us in that one walk. So if anyone can identify them from my unhelpful description and/or tell me of anything similar in the UK, I would be eternally grateful!

I didn't find the driving too bad during 3 weeks on both islands, but we may have been lucky. Didn't stop my OH getting a speeding ticket though :D It's his mission in life to get them wherever he goes; we were pulled over in Canada this summer, but the nice cop obviously realised he was dealing with a couple of dippy limeys and let us off!

[jeff kozlowski]

I'm fairly new to the forum but wanted to thank you for your feelings on Air NZ and also on NZ in general. We are heading over on 9 Dec 06 out of LA on Air NZ so for me the information was much needed.

We are doing a bit of scouting ourselves (EOI selected 2 Aug 06 still awaiting ITA) and will be going on to the South Island as well. I'm very excited but also trying to be realistic in terms of affordability and cost of living. I want to see the reality before pushing forward with the dream. :) But, that said, we live a very simple life here in CA and want to slow our lives down even more in order to spend time together outdoors and as a family. Seems life is flying by without much notice on some days and the kids are growing up so quickly!

Wellington looks adorable! We are interested in the Northland area and Bay of Plenty but that could all change once we arrive and do our visiting.

Congratulations on your PR and I hope everything works out just as planned for you. :)

Best,

Kari

[Ana&Steve]

I'm fairly new to the forum but wanted to thank you for your feelings on Air NZ and also on NZ in general. We are heading over on 9 Dec 06 out of LA on Air NZ so for me the information was much needed.
Kari

It's not at all bad flying on Air NZ from LA, if you are starting the journey from CA. (except LA traffic :uhoh) I think the stopover in LAX is a potential nightmare if you are flying from Europe, as I think it ends up being close to a 24 hour journey, with extra security measures and waiting. Air NZ is a nice company, IMO. They try to accommodate you as much as possible, whenever possible. Ask if the flight is full when you check in, if it's not, request to have empty seats next to you, or that whole row of 4 in the center aisle, so you can stretch out and snooze! (don't eat the chicken mousse, though. :eek:
Hope that helps!
Ana

[StevieD]

Good report smitjo, one thing that bothers me about the LA route is the basic abuse of human rights with the fingerprinting. I thought you only had your fingerprints taken when you had committed a crime?? But USA is building a huge database of people's prints, for what purpose I wonder hmmm....

Anyway, good post.

[jess]

Nice thorough post! Glad you had a good trip over. :)

[sizzlingbadger]

Great to hear you had a good trip and are still really positive in wanting to emigrate.

Hope you guys make it back here soon :cheers

[Hannah]

Great post, really useful stuff for those who have not yet been to NZ.
As for LA, if you don't go direct with the same air line (e.g. you take virgin to LA and then Air NZ to New Zealand) you have to check out your baggage and put it back through customs/immigration. Cheapest flights for us to go back in January were virgin/Air NZ via LA and when i heard that i'd have to check out and check back in baggage during a 2 hour stop i was concerned - not only would 2 hours be a struggle (allowing for queuing, reboarding etc.) but who wants to be checking out luggage when you feel like crap after a 12 hour flight???? I paid £300 more and booked a Cathay flight direct via Hong Kong with a 1 1/2 hour stop.
Just thought i'd mention the checking out baggage thing as its a fairly new rule apparently and only applied to flights through the US as far as i'm aware. All that photo and fingerprint stuff sounds like nonsense too. What's that all about????

[scotia]

Just to say that you don't have to fly out via LAX and put up with the hazzle of a large and busy airport. We're flying out of San Francisco - Auckland with Air NZ in January - they fly out of San Fran a few days a week for the same price as flying out of LAX.
Scotia

[marcia]

Great post - glad you like it - we did the same last january to make sure it was for us!

Jeff - know exactly what you mean about busy lives - we have 3 kids and I oftern wish we had more time here to go out and do things all together as a family - intending to do much more ofthat in NZ - heck I'm even bringing a bike I've inherited from my MIL, I've never had a bike ever in my life - hired one in Spain and was a danger on the roads!!!!!! :D So watch out in palmerston a nutter on a bike is about to hit the streets!1

BTW does anyone know if you can buy those seats for kids that go on the back of an adult bike in NZ - Don't panic, it will be going on the back of Kev's bike for Emerson, not mine!!!!! :laugh

[Smiler]

BTW does anyone know if you can buy those seats for kids that go on the back of an adult bike in NZ - Don't panic, it will be going on the back of Kev's bike for Emerson, not mine!!!!! :laugh

This kinda thing Marcia? Not sure if it's Emerson's size though. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Cycling/Parts-accessories/Seats/auction-74842678.htm

There are also cycle shops over here that sell them, I think it's Avanti cycles or similar. Anyway you shouldn't have any trouble picking one up. :D

[andreamatt]

Interesting post smitjo - very reassuring to hear that driving in NZ is fine (personally I think all the boy racers are here in my part of Devon - narrow lanes, blind bends etc - nightmare). Any positive / negative (realistic) views of Wellington are always great to read - hope to be there next July / August.

Best wishes,

Andrea Matt William and Martha