Best Places To Live In New Zealand?
According to a 2001 census, New Zealanders are keenest to move to Canterbury (in Christchurch) and the Bay of Plenty (in Tauranga). If we’re talking South Island, my personal vote would be Nelson (warm) or Wanaka (beautiful). From the article,
“New Zealanders have been moving out of Auckland Region than moving in, particularly people aged 30 years and over. Canterbury and Bay Of Plenty seem to be the regions where New Zealanders prefer to relocate to in New Zealand. Between 1996 and 2001, Canterbury and Bay of Plenty each gained more than 8,000 people from relocation within New Zealand. At the same time, Auckland lost about 2,500 people to other New Zealand regions.”
Personally, if you’re moving to New Zealand to escape the urban life, I wouldn’t consider Auckland your top choice. Sure, it’s not as large as most cities, but you’ll definitely feel the familiar stress of traffic, lights, and noise. Look around a little, take a risk on a location or setting you might not be used to. Believe me, it’s worth it.
Cruise through the town of Alexandra on your way to Queenstown or Wanaka, and you might end up missing one of the South Island’s best kept B&B secrets. Perched on top of a hill and surrounded by wild thyme, the Rocky Range Bed and Breakfast is a luxury worth stopping for. I stopped in a couple years ago and was treated to hot tubs, large king size beds, amazing food, and in-house spa treatments. The Qualmark Five-star rated accommodation had this to say on 