Tips For Travelling, House Pet Sitting New Zealand (Pt 2)

Amazing Sunsets House & Pet Sitting Nelson

This is part two of our tips for travelling, house and pet sitting New Zealand where we explore:

• House & Pet Sitting and Getting Around
  
• Things to Do and See
  
• What & What NOT to expect
  

In part 1 we explored:

• Finding a House and Pet Sitting Opportunity In NZ 
• What Time of Year to Visit
• Comparative Costs
  
• You can read part 1 here

House & Pet Sitting and Getting Around
One thing we noticed about the house sits in New Zealand is the requirement for a vehicle. All the sits we did and a large majority of what we saw advertised required the use of a vehicle to get to the shops, transport the animals etc. We were fortunate to have access to owners’ vehicles in all but one sit and even though we were selected for a few others we could not accept due to the lack of suitable transport.

Additionally we found quite a difference between the Islands in the way we traveled and house sat as explained here:

South Island
We found that seeing this Island by using a House & Pet Sitting Assignment as a base and doing day trips was never going to work. For starters opportunities on this island are limited, and the ones that are available are usually not within day trip distance of the best places to see. Our suggestion is to hire a campervan between sits, leaving yourself a minimum of 25 days to really experience and explore the island. Additionally the whole island is an attraction so moving on each, or every few, days is a must to see it.

North Island
This island is different. The best to see are clustered into areas and within easy day tripping distance. Additionally there are many more sits available, which are usually close to a cluster of things to see. Our suggestion here is to use the bus system to go between sits, which for the most part is very good, and do sits where a vehicle is available to do day trips.

French Pass Surrounds South Island

Things to Do and See
On the South Island for us it was all about the natural beauty and there is something new to see around every corner, and on that Island there are plenty of corners! Some of the must go and do’s are:

South Island

• Walks in Oparara Basin Karamea
  
• Hokitika Gorge Scenic Reserve
  
• Queenstown – Lake Cruise & Drive to Glenorchy
  
• Natures Wonders Tour Otago Peninsula
  
• Fiordland Doubtful Sound Tour, Drive to Milford Sound
  
• Mt Cook Hooker Track
  
• Lake Tekapo
  
• Christchurch Botanical Gardens
  
• Chocolate Factory & Bubbly Grape Wine Tour Blenheim
  
• Kaiteriteri Beach
  
• Nelson and French Pass

On the north it is all about the movies, beaches, geothermal and culture. This Island is quite different from the South in that you travel long distances not seeing much between point A and B. Some of the must go and do’s are:

North Island

• Workshop Tour Weta Cave Wellington
  
• Mount Maunganui and Beach
  
• Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest
  
• Volcanic Valley Waimangu
  
• White Island Volcano Whakatane
  
• Lake Taupo
  
• Tamaki Maori Village Rotorua
  
• Bay Of Islands

What and What NOT to expect
There are a few things in New Zealand that if to come expecting you are going to be sadly disappointed. Yep this is the forewarned section:

Internet – The internet sucks. Yep sorry folks if you come here expecting that access and speed you have in other first world countries it’s not going to happen. In the cities it’s passable and the further you get out the worse it is. Yes you can make do, but if you rely on steady connections and speed do your research.

TV – Don’t get me started, even pay TV. Our suggestion BYO it! Make sure you have plenty to watch before you come. A hard drive of movies and TV shows has been a valuable source of entertainment.

Road Works – Our experience is make time for them. It seems that the roads on both the South and North Islands are in a perpetual state of repair and you can bet on being delayed.

Travel Well

Gavin


Note:- If you have any comments, questions or additional tips please share below. 


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