south island
#1
south island
Hi All,
I haven't written for a while been really busy with the house, moving out in 3 weeks, still no job offer since last one fell through. Although our agency has been on the phone and want to know if we are willing to move to the South Island
I know I shouldn't say I don't want to go as I have never been to NZ before, but I had my heart set on the Bay of Plenty or Auckland on the North Island.
Isn't it a lot cooler on the South Island? Silly questions I know, but my husband just wants to get there and I am being really awkward. I know if he gets offered a job he only has to stay for 3 months and then we could move, but we have two small children and I don't want to get to the South Island just to get in NZ and then have to move schools etc and move over to the North Island.
Any info on the South Island greatly appreciated.
J x
I haven't written for a while been really busy with the house, moving out in 3 weeks, still no job offer since last one fell through. Although our agency has been on the phone and want to know if we are willing to move to the South Island
I know I shouldn't say I don't want to go as I have never been to NZ before, but I had my heart set on the Bay of Plenty or Auckland on the North Island.
Isn't it a lot cooler on the South Island? Silly questions I know, but my husband just wants to get there and I am being really awkward. I know if he gets offered a job he only has to stay for 3 months and then we could move, but we have two small children and I don't want to get to the South Island just to get in NZ and then have to move schools etc and move over to the North Island.
Any info on the South Island greatly appreciated.
J x
#2
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,813
Re: south island
Winter can be a bit chillier in some places here on the South Island, true. However, there are parts of the North Island that would freeze the balls off a brass monkey. Waiouru, anyone?
Summer time temperatures in Central Otago or inland on the Canterbury plains can get quite warm. The point is that there are a lot of variables and micro-climates in most places. Auckland can seem be cool, wet and miserable in the winter if you live in an shaded uninsulated house. The Bay of Plenty does sometimes get some southerlies blasting through that will definitely have you grabbing your scarf and wool cap. Having said all this, most of the North Island is reasonably mild for the most part, but it certainly isn't tropical.
Silly questions I know, but my husband just wants to get there and I am being really awkward. I know if he gets offered a job he only has to stay for 3 months and then we could move, but we have two small children and I don't want to get to the South Island just to get in NZ and then have to move schools etc and move over to the North Island.
Listen, where you are likely to live in the South Island isn't going to be like Siberia or something. Chill out.
You sound like you got a good case of the immigration jitters. Good luck.
#3
Re: south island
Why the thumbs down?
Expand your horizons.
Winter can be a bit chillier in some places here on the South Island, true. However, there are parts of the North Island that would freeze the balls off a brass monkey. Waiouru, anyone?
Summer time temperatures in Central Otago or inland on the Canterbury plains can get quite warm. The point is that there are a lot of variables and micro-climates in most places. Auckland can seem be cool, wet and miserable in the winter if you live in an shaded uninsulated house. The Bay of Plenty does sometimes get some southerlies blasting through that will definitely have you grabbing your scarf and wool cap. Having said all this, most of the North Island is reasonably mild for the most part, but it certainly isn't tropical.
I think you are over-reacting. Settle down and take a deep breath. You say you haven't been here to New Zealand. Check it out before you go and have a good old fashioned freak-out.
Listen, where you are likely to live in the South Island isn't going to be like Siberia or something. Chill out.
You sound like you got a good case of the immigration jitters. Good luck.
Expand your horizons.
Winter can be a bit chillier in some places here on the South Island, true. However, there are parts of the North Island that would freeze the balls off a brass monkey. Waiouru, anyone?
Summer time temperatures in Central Otago or inland on the Canterbury plains can get quite warm. The point is that there are a lot of variables and micro-climates in most places. Auckland can seem be cool, wet and miserable in the winter if you live in an shaded uninsulated house. The Bay of Plenty does sometimes get some southerlies blasting through that will definitely have you grabbing your scarf and wool cap. Having said all this, most of the North Island is reasonably mild for the most part, but it certainly isn't tropical.
I think you are over-reacting. Settle down and take a deep breath. You say you haven't been here to New Zealand. Check it out before you go and have a good old fashioned freak-out.
Listen, where you are likely to live in the South Island isn't going to be like Siberia or something. Chill out.
You sound like you got a good case of the immigration jitters. Good luck.
Many thanks for the reply happynz, you are soooo right. I do need to take a deep breath. You're diagnosis is completely correct I'm defo having the immigration jitters, didn't think I'd be this bad, its like walking on bloody egg shells around me some days. I think everyone will be glad when we've finally gone they must be bored stupid of our NZ talk.
I feel much better now, just going through a bit of a fretting stage.
#4
Re: south island
We live on South Island, Marlborough.
We have just come through our first 'winter' which according to Marlburians has been awful, but in our opinion was no worse than a cold autumn in the UK.
We have just come through our first 'winter' which according to Marlburians has been awful, but in our opinion was no worse than a cold autumn in the UK.
#5
Re: south island
Hiya
We too were hoping to move to the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga. We even put in a conditional offer on a house (log cabin) in the hills when we were on our 6 day recce in March!! But likewise, job offer there didn't come off, but were offered one in Christchurch. I too thought I'd prefer the 'tropical' north. But I am so glad we didn't go there! I love Christchurch and within 2 weeks of getting here in May, we bought a house in Rangiora, just 25 mins north of the city. It is beautiful here. 10 mins from some great deserted beaches, 1 hour from Mt Hutt ski fields, 1 1/2 hrs from Hanmer thermal springs. The town has everything you could need, great schools, safe, quietish, community feel with great shopping malls like Northlands, The Palms, Northwood and Westfield just a short drive away.
We were expected a really cold winter but haven't once had to don hats, scarves, gloves or even coats. There is usually a blue sky and sunshine and we've had some cracking hot days already. In fact I've been gardening most of the winter and we've been out to the beaches most weekends and fishing, etc.
The kids love it here (12 and 11). If you want to know more, please read our blog.
Don't be disheartened, it's a bit of a myth that the north island is more tropical and warmer - like HappyNZ said, there are micro climates all over the place and we are certainly very pleased and settled. We couldn't be happier.
We too were hoping to move to the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga. We even put in a conditional offer on a house (log cabin) in the hills when we were on our 6 day recce in March!! But likewise, job offer there didn't come off, but were offered one in Christchurch. I too thought I'd prefer the 'tropical' north. But I am so glad we didn't go there! I love Christchurch and within 2 weeks of getting here in May, we bought a house in Rangiora, just 25 mins north of the city. It is beautiful here. 10 mins from some great deserted beaches, 1 hour from Mt Hutt ski fields, 1 1/2 hrs from Hanmer thermal springs. The town has everything you could need, great schools, safe, quietish, community feel with great shopping malls like Northlands, The Palms, Northwood and Westfield just a short drive away.
We were expected a really cold winter but haven't once had to don hats, scarves, gloves or even coats. There is usually a blue sky and sunshine and we've had some cracking hot days already. In fact I've been gardening most of the winter and we've been out to the beaches most weekends and fishing, etc.
The kids love it here (12 and 11). If you want to know more, please read our blog.
Don't be disheartened, it's a bit of a myth that the north island is more tropical and warmer - like HappyNZ said, there are micro climates all over the place and we are certainly very pleased and settled. We couldn't be happier.
#6
Re: south island
Actually it is not a myth. Some parts of the North island are quite a lot milder than the South.
IMHO it is about the climate that gives you the lifestyle you prefer, the south and north islands are not so much better or worse than each other, they are different.
IMHO it is about the climate that gives you the lifestyle you prefer, the south and north islands are not so much better or worse than each other, they are different.
#7
Re: south island
The coldest I've been in the 5 years of living here was in May when I was in Queenstown. It was lovely though.
Yesterday there were a few swimmers in the sea, and on Saturday I spent a few hours on the beach with my daughter who ended up quite happily sitting in a rock pool playing with shells.
Yesterday there were a few swimmers in the sea, and on Saturday I spent a few hours on the beach with my daughter who ended up quite happily sitting in a rock pool playing with shells.
#8
Re: south island
I liked South Island better but it has been easier to find a job in North Island for me. What does your husband do?
Alison
Alison
#9
Re: south island
Thanks for replying
He does roadworks, mainly asphalt, block paving, kerbing (reinstatement) if that makes any sense to you at all.
Juliex
#10
Re: south island
Try http://www.bfound.net/list.aspx?CoId=137&rq=2. The jobs are mainly in Christchurch but Christchurch is lovely.
Alison
#11
Re: south island
Hi All,
I haven't written for a while been really busy with the house, moving out in 3 weeks, still no job offer since last one fell through. Although our agency has been on the phone and want to know if we are willing to move to the South Island
I know I shouldn't say I don't want to go as I have never been to NZ before, but I had my heart set on the Bay of Plenty or Auckland on the North Island.
Isn't it a lot cooler on the South Island? Silly questions I know, but my husband just wants to get there and I am being really awkward. I know if he gets offered a job he only has to stay for 3 months and then we could move, but we have two small children and I don't want to get to the South Island just to get in NZ and then have to move schools etc and move over to the North Island.
on the South Island greatly appreciated.
J x
I haven't written for a while been really busy with the house, moving out in 3 weeks, still no job offer since last one fell through. Although our agency has been on the phone and want to know if we are willing to move to the South Island
I know I shouldn't say I don't want to go as I have never been to NZ before, but I had my heart set on the Bay of Plenty or Auckland on the North Island.
Isn't it a lot cooler on the South Island? Silly questions I know, but my husband just wants to get there and I am being really awkward. I know if he gets offered a job he only has to stay for 3 months and then we could move, but we have two small children and I don't want to get to the South Island just to get in NZ and then have to move schools etc and move over to the North Island.
on the South Island greatly appreciated.
J x
Best of luck
Darren
#12
Re: south island
Have a look at my pictures on Flickr on the South Island. Beautiful place.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7726323...7600761124167/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7726323...7600761124167/
#13
Re: south island
"Milder weather" just means less extreme, and is subjective. I guess what you say is right, if you are comparing many parts of the North Island to somewhere like Alexandra (with both the hottest and coldest temps in NZ).
Then again, the most settled weather is probably in parts of the south island, like Nelson.
For example, I struggle with the humidity of the far north in the summer, and I know others who would think the cold snaps in the south are terrible.
Its also dangerous to generalise the weather within an island. Auckland has very different weather compared to Hawkes Bay, and Wellington's is very different again. And the same could be said of Westland vs Christchurch vs Nelson vs Central Otago.
#14
Re: south island
Did you mean warmer?
"Milder weather" just means less extreme, and is subjective. I guess what you say is right, if you are comparing many parts of the North Island to somewhere like Alexandra (with both the hottest and coldest temps in NZ).
Then again, the most settled weather is probably in parts of the south island, like Nelson.
I agree!
For example, I struggle with the humidity of the far north in the summer, and I know others who would think the cold snaps in the south are terrible.
Its also dangerous to generalise the weather within an island. Auckland has very different weather compared to Hawkes Bay, and Wellington's is very different again. And the same could be said of Westland vs Christchurch vs Nelson vs Central Otago.
"Milder weather" just means less extreme, and is subjective. I guess what you say is right, if you are comparing many parts of the North Island to somewhere like Alexandra (with both the hottest and coldest temps in NZ).
Then again, the most settled weather is probably in parts of the south island, like Nelson.
I agree!
For example, I struggle with the humidity of the far north in the summer, and I know others who would think the cold snaps in the south are terrible.
Its also dangerous to generalise the weather within an island. Auckland has very different weather compared to Hawkes Bay, and Wellington's is very different again. And the same could be said of Westland vs Christchurch vs Nelson vs Central Otago.
#15
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 548
Re: south island
I think it's warmer but rains more in Auckland. Nelson is the best place though...