Woo Hoo! Moving to New Zealand for a year :) - Page 2

MAGPIE · 25-10-2011, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseyVics

had some ladies on the NZ CouchSurfing forums answer that perfume is no go... flammable liquid/dangerous/hazardous goods... FedEx wants $115 to ship it to Malaysia and $95 to Singapore... I'm sure for that much I can buy a flight there and deliver it myself, lol Plus visit friends in Asia, so I'l do that instead.

Now gotta research on best banking option for the 1 year in NZ. Is ANZ good or are there better choices? I've seen ANZ all over Australia and Singapore (as well as Fiji if I'm not mistaken) but I guess it doesn't really matter as I don't use a debit card internationally anyway.

Also... need to buy a SIM card... what's the best pre-paid plan? I'll only be making a few calls with most of them being inbound international calls.

Any opportunities to earn frequent flyer miles? always helps when wanting to travel.

Who do you bank with in AU, most of them will be in NZ anyway...

ANZ, ASB (Commonwealth Bank) etc

If your going prepaid go for 2degrees http://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/home

Airpoints... don't bother (domestically) just sign up to the main players (Air NZ, Jetstar) email service so you get advised of specials.

and bookmark this http://grabaseat.co.nz/

JerseyVics · 27-10-2011, 03:37 AM

I'm banking with NAB in AU... problem is when I was in Christchurch I didn't see any of their branches. While ANZ was right across the street from BNZ, lol

Thanks for the SIM card recommendation.

Already signed up for grabaseat, but all those deals are basically standard fare.

The frequent flyer miles i'm talking about are bonuses like for credit card sign-up or spending... for example I signed up for a British Airways Visa two years ago with 100,000 BA miels, 50k of which I used for a round trip NYC-Singapore and the other 50k to fly NYC-South America-New Zealand. That deal was amazing!

--Russ

NZ_xr6-tickford · 27-10-2011, 08:40 PM

deffs check out chch again after the quakes man you wont believe it, gotta check out the Darfield Bakery (its about half hour sw of chch) Darfield aint much but it is the gateway to the canterbury ski fields and the west coast. take the train from christchurch to greymouth in winter looks mean with the snow on the ground and if u get the right day can go across on a old steam engine

JerseyVics · 28-10-2011, 06:51 AM

Christchurch is my backup plan to Auckland if I can't find work there.

Christchurch is significantly cheaper to fly in and out of it seems too, so it may be a better option anyway, but I will give Auckland a try first.

NZ_xr6-tickford · 28-10-2011, 05:57 PM

christchurch should be first choice mate easy as to get a job down here now that we have started rebuilding

**ebxr8240** · 28-10-2011, 11:40 PM

May get a job repairing gas pipes ???

JerseyVics · 29-10-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NZ_xr6-tickford

christchurch should be first choice mate easy as to get a job down here now that we have started rebuilding

well as I know i'm not likely to get and start a job in Auckland right away I will probably come to Christchurch for a week and see how things are.

if it makes more sense to live and work there, I certainly won't pass the opportunity up!

Tonz · 29-10-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NZ_xr6-tickford

deffs check out chch again after the quakes man you wont believe it, gotta check out the Darfield Bakery (its about half hour sw of chch)

Damn how could you do that. I was just thinking about lunch and you mention that bakery. bugga Id rather go hungry, theres nothing in the fridge as good as that place. Even considerd eating the staff

NZ_xr6-tickford · 30-10-2011, 10:55 AM

haha its one of the best bakery's in NZ aswell

nstg8a · 30-10-2011, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Who do you bank with in AU, most of them will be in NZ anyway...

ANZ, ASB (Commonwealth Bank) etc

when we moved from nz to aus we looked at the banking side, and even though they may be the same banks you still have to start over as a new customer.

**ebxr8240** · 30-10-2011, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nstg8a

when we moved from nz to aus we looked at the banking side, and even though they may be the same banks you still have to start over as a new customer.

YEP !!!!

JerseyVics · 31-10-2011, 01:17 PM

Was gonna buy some gloves for the Australin GP... price is right at $10 apiece, but can't seem to find them in orange.

If anyone needs some: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...7CGRP2086_____ seem quite cheap! These were $25+ in Singapore

JerseyVics · 12-11-2011, 05:15 AM

should have asked the weather question before... but what should I bring in terms of clothing? I didn't use about 40% of the stuff I brought down to Singapore because it was so damn hot there, but I don't know what to expect in Auckland.

**ebxr8240** · 12-11-2011, 12:30 PM

Colder as you go south.. Auckland should be fine 18 to 24*...
Pays to have good windbreaker for the cold southerlies..

NZ_xr6-tickford · 13-11-2011, 06:05 PM

and a rain jacket its generally a bit more MOIST up north than down south

JerseyVics · 15-11-2011, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Colder as you go south.. Auckland should be fine 18 to 24*...
Pays to have good windbreaker for the cold southerlies..

that sounds really comfortable

JerseyVics · 20-11-2011, 07:20 AM

Got really lucky upon arrival... a friend of mine that I first met in Australia came to fetch me at the airport, spend some great time hanging out. But the best part, got SIM card, opened a bank account and found a place to stay near CBD all within the first few hours on the ground in Auckland. Got incredibly lucky for sure.

Can't wait to Monday... apparently I can get a NZ driver's license just by asking for it and showing my US one. Would be a great souvenir to have!

Oh yeah... also spotted a brand new Shelby GT500 in Newton still sporting left-hand drive. Very nice to see one here!

JerseyVics · 26-12-2011, 07:00 PM

update on the trip...

so far this move to NZ has seen its ups and downs... definite up: volunteering at Motorsport Auckland events at Pukekohe Raceway... great fun and am getting lots of flag time which is good education for the future.

downs: the damn holidays are too freaking long... bored out of my mind now! No racing until next year and forget about getting a job... this must have been the worst time to come to New Zealand as none of the businesses are hiring over the past month and possibly next one too. Go figure!

up again: thanks to the holiday promotions have been able to book like a gazillion flights on Air New Zealand for a few bux apiece... so my travel for March will be ridiculously busy... I have day trips booked to Whakatane, Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo, Hamilton, Kerikeri, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Napier/Hastings and Wellington (twice!) almost all trips will be day-trips with morning departure and evening return... but at $5 apiece, who cares... at least I'll get to see the whole of North Island from the air before I take more leisurely trips exploring the area in more detail (if I like it)

So happy holidays to everyone, hope to meet up with some more Ford owners in the new year! Especially if I visit someone's town on the list above... PM me and we can meet up for lunch or something...

Cheers,
--Russ

sgt_doofey · 27-12-2011, 12:56 AM

Perhaps look in to working in a winery for vintage for the upcoming one early next year. The Marlborough region just south of Picton on the south island might be a good place to look. My wife was working there last year and it's a pretty place. I was working from home from there myself.

kevino · 27-12-2011, 11:21 AM

Try fruit picking in Hawkes bay, poverty bay or Nelson, bit of work there.

Sloth · 02-01-2012, 04:04 PM

Keen to meet up when you're in Tauranga mate... Hope you're enjoying your stay too btw

JerseyVics · 06-01-2012, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sloth

Keen to meet up when you're in Tauranga mate... Hope you're enjoying your stay too btw

I was just in Tauranga a few days ago, went to Napier for NYE... good road trip though the weather was crap.

Will be making two more trips to Tauranga via bus (it was free) on February 2nd and 29th.

Looking forward to meeting you if you're free.

Cheers!
--Russ