deedee

Well today is the start of a new challenge for me in NZ's south.As from today i'll be working and living on one of the main stations in Queenstown.Theres a nice perk too,i'm now living on the face of the Remarkables looking down onto Queenstown....which is nice.
Our own farm is in the process of transfering to organic so the best option was to leave it be and grow feed,not graze it.Have to do something to keep me amused for the next few years

jandjuk

man that sounds gorgeous. pity I'm a city boy.... don't think I'd last 5 seconds on a farm, no matter how appealing it sounds!

Surfer Boy

I have been considering moving to Queenstown from Sydney. The town and the mountains look amazing. What sort of town is like to live in? Are the locals friendly or do they treat all outsiders as seasonal workers?. I am going to have a look at Dunedin and Queenstown on the 23 Oct with a view to relocating in January.

deedee

well having been in Queenstown area for nearly a year now we have sort of a feel for the place.It is a little unkind towards workers as most people are either seasonal or tempory,passing through.I just found out today that they even charge locals less in the supermarket Those are really the only uncomfortable side effects of living here,however the plus side i feel is huge.....as anyone who's seen a picture of the place will know.Its quite a happening place really and has a feeling like Chamonix in France.Its that exact same alpine culture.One thing for sure is that Dunedin and Queenstown are very different places indeed.Dunedin has that large city feel where as Queenstown has that village/town feel(even if it is turning urban sprawl)As everyone here keeps telling me,the changes have only just begun and there is a village of 1200 houses going up on 1000 acres of this station next year alone....everyone else is having the same ideas too.Not good in my opinion.
I'd say come and have a look.I would be amazed if anyone did'nt find it a pretty place.Good luck.

cinderella

Hi there,

My cousin lives in Queenstown and my sister lived there 2 ears ago, they both said that locals get discounts in all the shops. And as the prices are more expensive in QT, I am sure you should get that sorted.

Always wanted to ask you this - Do you find QT claustrophobic?

Don

You're dead right about Chamonix...and Chamonix prices too!!! LOADS of modest properties with immodestly great views going for the million+ mark...and QT isn't exactly close/ convenient to anywhere else. NZ does have a seriously rich class after all...

Surfer Boy

I see your looking for a house on the North Island, are you living in QT at the moment? I am thinking of moving from Sydney to either QT or Wanaka. Born and bred in Sydney but fed up with the cost of living and the over development.

Don

No but we had a good nose around S Island the first 3 weeks we were here. Absolutely beautiful QT and Wanaka, I understand the desirability but can't understand the QT prices. Wanaka is just getting the treatment now, I understand it was only "discovered" in the last year! Also v beautiful. Probably still enough time to get on the housing wagon. You might not get Sydney concentration but there is tons of property development going on in both places.

Fair bit of motel/ hotel price competition in QT and we got a very good deal in a posh hotel there overlooking the lake from the top level.

deedee

Queenstown is rather claustrophobic,even more so if you live in town.I find it nice when you can go out and come back to quiet,which in QT life you will never get.We're not too bad as the station is 11kms from end to end and covers most of the Remarkables so theres no one but us living on this bit of the mountain.I could'nt live here full time as its just too full on,we need our weekends of utter silence back on our own farm.Yep,its claustrophobic.

cinderella

Thanks for your reply. When we were in QT in August last year we found what we thought would be the perfect business location (in the mall). Found out this year that it maybe for sale, but then had many second thoughts, which is why I asked you the question.

I love QT though, but just don't know if I could move my whole family there. As a child it was where we had our Christmas holiday every year and then go skiing in August. It is just a fab place.

deedee

well i dont know if this will work but i'll try it anyhow.......a pic of the housey on the remarkables!
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...95335437UCRiWS