NZ so far...

So what have i sorted to date...


Well i guess the biggest of my list i have got through is managing to obtain a visa to permit me to travel to New Zealand in the first place. I have a working holiday visa which is valid for 12months. My 12 months will start on the day i enter NZ and i can leave and return as many times in that period as i wish. My conditions of the visa are that i do not undertake permanent work, and must now keep a job/study/training period longer than 3months. Other than that i am pretty much free to roam as i see fit in the country.



I have also booked my flight now. I elected to book a one way ticket to allow maximum flexibility of my trip as i may be able to extend my visa once in the county, or i may decide to head somewhere else before returning to the UK. It might cost me more in the long run, but i;m paying for the freedom in my opinion and that is what i want this year to be about.



I leave the UK on the afternoon of the 4th November and will arirve in Auckland after a connecting flight in Los Angeles on the 6th November. One of my old work colleagues lives in Auckland so i shall be spending my first week with Clare and Tony, with their little boy Charlie too. Clare is also pregnant and expecting their second in January. It will be great to see them again as it has been about 3 years since i last saw them, but also to have a local contact who can help me out in my first weeks in the country.



So far that is as far as my plans go once i am in the country, i've a few ideas of where to go and what to do which currently involves getting into a hostel in Auckland to meet some like minded folk and see who is up for a trip somewhere. From there i'm trying to sort a work placement at the national outdoor education centre on the North island which can be as short or long as i want, then make my way to the South Island for some adventures! My current feeling is gravitating me to Christchurch region, not sure why but just seems to be where my gut is saying to go. From there i'm hopfully score a place to live, find some work and then get out to the mountains for some trekking, climbing, alpining and skiing when the winter season hits. All in, i'm so psyched for it all but i know i've got more to sort here with wrapping up my life in UK before i leave, but more on that later...