Global Goose – Digital Nomad Travel Resource Travel and Work Anywhere In the World
Back in 2009, I had the travel itch and I had it bad. I wanted to live in another country for a long time, long enough to get to know the people, the geography and the culture. I knew I didn’t have the funds to travel long term, so the perfect solution was a working holiday visa.
With a working holiday visa I could spend longer abroad, taking short-term jobs to fund my travels. I looked at everywhere which had a working holiday visa scheme with Canada and out of a fondness for the Lord of the Rings films I chose New Zealand. I didn’t realize at the time what an excellent choice I had made.
Rotarua, North Island, New Zealand
After nine months of traveling and working in the Land of the Long White Cloud, I believe that New Zealand is one of the best places in the world to take a working holiday. Here’s why:
An Abundance of Backpacker Jobs
When it comes to finding temporary jobs as a backpacker, New Zealand is ideal. A huge component of the Kiwi economy is agriculture, as this lush and green island is teeming with fruit orchards, vineyards and sheep farms. Seasonal labor jobs are everywhere in New Zealand and any backpacker can make their way around the country picking fruit, pruning vines or harvesting vegetables.
Another large industry in New Zealand is tourism and many hostels, hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes are looking for outgoing travelers with customer service experience and the right attitude to join their staff. They also used to dealing with people on a working holiday visa.
Lake Taupo, North Island, New Zealand
Cheap and Plentiful Accommodation
Of all the countries I have traveled in the world, New Zealand is one of the best when it comes to selection of cheap places to stay. From hostels, to budget motels to holiday parks with self contained accommodation, you will never be stuck looking for a room for the night. My recommendation: stay in a funky backpacker hostel as they are always filled with interesting travel-types who are up for spontaneous adventures and great conversation.
A Network of Other Travelers
Speaking of interesting travel-types, this is one of the other reasons working holidays in New Zealand are so much fun. Perhaps they are influenced by the laid back kiwi attitude, but travelers here seem to be so friendly and when you are new someone will always be happy to give you tips on what to do and where to go. You will come home with offers to visit 10 different countries to stay with all of the travelers you met along the way.
Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand. A place that you should definitely visit while in New Zealand on A Working Holiday Visa
Amazing Locals
As well as the friendly travelers, you will love the welcoming New Zealander attitude as well. Down here everything is “Sweet As Bro” and nobody seems to worry about much. In my experience, Kiwis love their beautiful country and enjoy showing it off to tourists. During your working holiday you are sure to connect with a few locals who will do their best to make your experience as great as possible.
These are just a few of the reasons why New Zealand is an ideal setting for a working holiday. If you have the travel itch, what are you waiting for? Apply for a working holiday visa today!
©Global Goose
What a beautiful blog post! I have always wanted to visit New Zealand, but always found reasons to put it off. This encourages me to make room for my dreams. I think it is especially helpful that you including a link to apply for a working holiday visa. I am serious about getting one of those for my home business. And it’s funny that you said “Lord of the Rings” made your interested in the typography and geography of New Zealand. For me, it was “Chronicles of Narnia.” The cinematography made me realize that there is no other place like New Zealand on earth!
Oh I am so jealous of you! Lol – my brother and my SIL along with my nieces visited New Zealand a few years ago and guess what? They chose the location because of LOTR! Even though it was just the area (minus the props and such) that they visited, my brother was totally floored by the view and how green the area was.
I would certainly love to visit New Zealand and Fiji. In fact, my partner and I have been thinking about retiring in Fiji in a few year’s time. Gotta wait for the two kids to grow up first!
Any chance you have been to Fiji and written a blog on it? Would love to know some views on Fiji.
New Zealand to me was a land of hobbits, and ornery Pacific Islanders who are prone to fighting. You can thank this opinion to watching movies such as “Once Were Warriors”. But after viewing this article, I have to realize that New Zealand is much more than that. Living in Hawaii, I can tell that New Zealand is very much similar in history and lifestyle. If I have the money, I will definitely visit one day!
As a kiwi I recognize where all the photos were taken. The Rotorua one seems to be shot from on top of the museum. There are stairs that you can climb and it’s well worth it, even for those who have vertigo. You can also put on a hardhat and go underneath the museum too.
To anyone reading this, it’s all true. Come see New Zealand and experience our friendly hospitality. Most of the accomodation/backpackers are world class and are ideally located in exceptional locations in the middle of cities.
Oh, wow… I will definitely keep this in mind when I travel abroad. From the pictures, the place looks lovely and I had no idea that there was such thing as “backpacker jobs;” That makes things easier!!! On the other hand, after watching that movie Hostel (I know….horrible to be freaked out by a *movie*), the idea of staying at a hostel freaks me out…what was it like?
Funny you should mention that, as I just wrote a post recently about the movie Hostel making people afraid to travel. As I said in that post, there is really nothing to worry about. It’s a horror movie and it is designed to scare people, not be realistic.
Hostels are not dangerous at all and I have stayed at tons of them around the world. They are actually really fun places to stay because they allow you to meet other travelers and make friends. Check our guide for what to look for in a hostel.
That sounds like a great way to travel! I know I have always wanted to go here, but I cannot afford it right now. Hopefully in the future when my kids are all grown I can afford to do more, but right now all of my extra money is going to my kids.
Yesterday, I watched a surf documentary on a group of free-surfers traveling along NZ’s coast. Seems to be a country teeming with new adventure and fun wildlife. I’m definitely interested in traveling with a working holiday visa. Thanks for the insightful guide!