I’ve come to the end of my year in New Zealand with a Working Holiday Visa, and boy, did it come with its fair share of surprises. This wasn’t my first time traveling long-term or even working abroad, so I thought I’d be in the clear. Goes to show that you never stop learning new things.
A working holiday is different to any other form of travel I’ve done before. I thought I was prepared, but turns out I had a big storm coming (am I allowed to make meme jokes? Ah, it’s my blog, who can stop me). To avoid being unprepared in some of the avoidable ways I was, here’s five things new arrivals should know.
Accommodation Availability is King
Before going, I heard a lot of chatter about how many jobs there are available to Working Holiday Visa holders now that the borders opened again and tourists were flooding in. What I didn’t hear anyone talk about was the next most important thing: accommodation.
From my experience, yes, if you’re open to a wide range of job opportunities, there’s a lot of openings out there for you. Especially in high traffic areas that need to replenish their worker supply in hospitality fields. But the reason these job positions remain open is simple: there’s nowhere to live.
Queenstown is the perfect example. Every restaurant you pass has server wanted ads on their windows. There are so many attractions, hotels, and travel centers that all rely on Working Holiday Visa holders. Finding accommodation that is available now and doesn’t bankrupt you? Less so.
My advice is to look for work that provides accommodation (sometimes free, sometimes at a discounted rate) or start by searching for accommodation instead of jobs. If you find a job, but end up having to live in a hostel dorm that eats over half your paycheck every week, you basically don’t have a job.
Job Offers Don’t Grow on Trees
As I mentioned above, there are a large number of job openings in certain locations and sectors. Depending on your own flexibility and past experience, that won’t always translate into an easy job search for Working Holiday Visa holders.
Unless you’ve managed to snag affordable accommodation somewhere desperate for workers (like Queenstown), brace for a long job hunt. Depending on the type of job you’re looking for, use sites like Seek, TradeMe, and Backpacker Board to see what’s out there and apply away. These are especially useful if you’re not tied to one location – go where the job opportunities are!
I haven’t done this, but I’ve met some people who posted on Facebook groups with some information about them and that they’re seeking work. I saw those posts all over the working Holiday Visa holder Facebook group and always wondered how successful they were. According to some people I talked to? Very.
Don’t expect immediate results though because it does depend on your work experience, location, and types of jobs you’re after. But nothing lost by giving in a try.
If you’re looking for work in a specific city, especially in the hospitality industry, print out copies of your cover letter and resume and go door to door. Even if they don’t have a workers wanted ad on their window, go in and ask if they’re accepting applications. My friend applied to over 60 restaurants this way and scored several interviews and had her pick of jobs to choose from.
Spend Your Money with NZD in Mind
Maybe this is obvious to some, but this was my first time traveling long term without a set income source from the get-go. Looking back at my spending, it’s obvious. When I arrived, I was spending from a USD perspective as that’s what all my money was in. New Zealand seemed really inexpensive when the exchange rate is NZ$1 to ~US$0.60.
But when you’re not concerned about money, what happens? You spend it all and you spend it fast. It’s easy to get complacent then realize you weren’t following any budget at all.
But that’s okay, because you can get a job and start making money again, right?
Sort of.
As I said above, finding a job in New Zealand can take some time, especially if you don’t have accommodation sorted in advance. That’s more time spending money that you’ve already whittled away. Then once you start earning, your money is in NZD. The money you’re earning is worth less than the money you started with.
It can feel like fighting an uphill battle to get a decent chunk of money saved up again, especially if you are paying for accommodation. That doesn’t even take into account going out with friends and experiencing the highlights of New Zealand.
So my advice? Start off with a firm budget in mind and stick to it, even if it feels like you have an abundance of money saved up. Then when you’re ready, don’t wait too long before starting your job search in case it takes some time.
The Snail’s Pace of Bureaucracy
I ran into issues getting my New Zealand driver’s license (spoiler alert: I never got one) so I messaged the NZ Transit office with a question. The website says to expect a response in 15 business days. Do you know how long it took for me to receive an answer?
Over 3 months.
And they didn’t even answer my question.
Every bureaucratic office you visit will take at least twice as long as it’s supposed to. Flexibility on the required documents will also depend on which employee you talk to. I heard every story about what was and wasn’t accepted at which bank from Working Holiday Visa holders trying to open an account.
I noticed it was faster and more effective to call with your inquiries rather than message or email. I’ve lived and worked in several countries at this point and truly, I don’t think any one has impressed me with its bureaucratic prowess. At least in New Zealand, you will probably get the answer you’re looking for in the end.
Eventually.
Seasonal Availability and Pricing
Before coming to New Zealand, I was aware of peak and off-peak seasons in traveling. I wasn’t aware of the impact lambing season and school holidays had on the experience you’d have in New Zealand.
Many public tracks go through private land and this complicates access to these tracks throughout the year. First, you need to make sure you leave all gates as you found them and don’t startle any livestock or animals that you end up sharing space with. This isn’t news to me, but lambing season was. Certain times of year, entire tracks will be shut due to lambing season. Including big name ones like Roy’s Peak!
Do your research before setting all of your hopes on doing a certain tramp at a certain time. Tracks can be closed due to lambing season, recent weather washouts, impaired bridge safety, or any other reason you can think of. The Department of Conservation (DOC) website keeps active warnings and updates on each track and campsite that operate.
For the activities that do cost money, the change between off-peak and peak pricing is no joke. It can start changing as early as September! If you have lots of time and little money, research off-peak dates and prices for your must-do activities to get the best deals.
Kiwis Take Holidays Seriously
I mentioned school holidays above and that is not something to take lightly! Typically you can wait for book accommodation or trips until a few days before, if not the day of. I admit, most of my travels were booked the same day.
But when there’s a school or bank holiday? Look out.
Kiwi families often book their holidays a full year in advance and that fills up campsites, holiday parks, and other accommodation quickly. It also inflates the price too. If you’re a housesitter, these are fantastic times to look into booking a housesit as more families will be away and you can avoid holiday prices.
Those are five things I wish I knew before starting my Working Holiday Visa year in New Zealand! As I reflect more on my time there, more of these posts may pop up in the future. Anything you wish you knew before your first working holiday? Share your advice in the comments below!
