It is also one of the most expensive places to live in New Zealand. Seemy Disclosure Policyfor more information. Dont let Napiers picture-perfect weather fool you, though. A welcome mat composed of billions of tiny carbon tubes could one day suck water out of thin air, even in the driest places on Earth. Canterbury (Christchurch) Bay of Plenty (Tauranga) Many are surprised that Auckland does not feature as the main destination for relocating New Zealanders. By Ian Randall. NewZealands climate is diverse the north of the North Island can have warm subtropical weather in summer, while inland alpine areas of the South Island can have heavy snow and temperatures as low as -10C (14F) in winter. The cost of living in New Zealand can be expensive, depending on your lifestyle. Napier 5. Kiwi Guardians at Forest Hill Forest Hill is a great example of native bush surrounded by agricultural land. The advance . Gisborne is also known for its fabulous surfing, delicious chardonnay, and prominent Maori culture. Yet, Alexandras location in Central Otago (in the middle of the bottom half of the South Island) gives it the perfect recipe for hot summers. New Zealand climate and weather | 100% Pure New Zealand Given the variety of activities, Wanaka is also a popular place to live in New Zealand. The sun in NewZealand is much stronger than elsewhere and in warmer months you can get burnt quickly without sunscreen or other sun protection. Overall, Rotorua is a great place to live if you want to experience the true Kiwi lifestyle. Find the best local tours with this search engine (and the best deals)! The West Coast on the South Island of New Zealand receives the most rain in the entire country. What are the warmest months in New Zealand? Nestled in a valley between the Southern Alps, Wanaka on the South Island of New Zealand offers picturesque views and lots of outdoor activities! Calculating expenses for food, household items, clothes, and activities on top of this, you can expect the cost of living for a single person in Wanaka to go up to $1,500 to $2,000 NZD a month. As NewZealand observes Daylight Saving, daylight can last up until 9.30pm during summer months. The midday summer solar radiation index (UVI) is often very high in most places and can be extreme in northern New Zealand and in mountainous areas. Overview of New Zealand's climate | NIWA The National Hydrometric Database, EDENZ, with all data from mainland New Zealand stations included. Rotorua is a great place to live if you want to experience the true Kiwi lifestyle. There are also popular tourist spots like the Skytower, Mount Eden, surfing in Paihia, and drinking wine in Waiheke, nearby. Cyclone Gabrielle has caused widespread damage to the North Island, including severe flooding in the Coromandel region. Auckland 6. One pro of living in Auckland is that you can save money on your commute by taking the public transportation system. The country of New Zealand is actually made up of an estimated 600 islands in the south-western Pacific Ocean. Find out more about New Zealand's national parks. The region has a population of around 150,000 people, and the cost of living is relatively affordable. The town has a population of just over 5,000 people, making it one of the smaller places on this list. Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch are some of the best places to live in New Zealand for expats. The 15 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand - TripSavvy Its also one of the most expensive towns in the country to live in, due to the high rent demand is greater than supply so landlords here can charge a higher weekly rate. Photos / Warren Buckland. February tends to be the hottest and driest month of the year, with an average high of 22.6 C (72.7 F) and only 5.8 average rainy days. VPNs allow you to access more of the internet. Hamiltons weather can be humid during the summer months, giving long warm nights and is much warmer during the winter. Youll find NewZealands countryside full of bouncing lambs and spring blossoms, so it makes for great photos! Best places to live in New Zealand for expats, cost of living on Waiheke Island is similar to the cost of living in Auckland. Napier is often referred to as the art deco capital of the world, and its easy to see why. Rotorua 13. If we do get reasonable rain over the next month, that will carry farmers through thats the biggest thing.. New Zealand Browned by Drought - NASA You want to stay warm and dry during your vacation, right? Water from thin air. . While many ski fields open in June, the highest snowfall is usually throughout July and August. Within the city, youll find plentiful shopping and hip cafes to sample New Zealands food culture. McMurdo Dry Valleys - Wikipedia Where to go in New Zealand for sun minus rain - NZTI He said by mid-January, if there was not enough rain, it would be very difficult for farmers. What is the best country to live in as an expat? Take particular care from September to April, especially between 10am and 4pm, even on cloudy days. The climate of Christchurch is very temperate and can be compared to the south of the U.K, although with significantly less rainfall. Bush walks and hiking are great options now as the days are not as hot. You can expect to spend around $1,500 NZD on rent and $1,200 NZD on general expenses. Its not all sunshine, though. To find cheap hotels, I recommendBooking.com. From November through April, the average high is between 20 and 25 C (68 and 76 F), and with more beaches in the region than we could possibly name, you wont have to fight for your perfect spot on the golden sand. 11 terms. Its a really helpful and cheap thing to ensure your online activities arent restricted. Dont get thrown off by the cost of living, though: although the town is quite small, you can also find exciting job opportunities contributing to a healthy work-life balance! These are rarely severe but its best to be prepared with a basic emergency kit in the house. Fortunately, a lot of concern was alleviated by very high product prices at the moment, he said. Settlement and Movement. Hundreds of people turned out at the annual Warbirds On Parade at Ardmore Airport. It really depends where youre located and your type of lifestyle. Are you looking for a community of like-minded adventurers to share your experiences with? Wiki User. Share your stories, get inspired, and plan your next adventure with us. ForChristchurch, winter is the wettest season, and spring or summer is the best time to visit Christchurch to avoid a lot of rain. Spring in NewZealand is when the weather starts to warm up, although there is a high chance of rainfall around this time of year. A lot of the guys who would normally buy those lambs to grow them out further are not buying at this point of time because its dry and the crops arent quite ready.. Cost of living for a family in Hamilton is $4,000 per month, roughly based on the cost of the average family home ($500-700 per week) or an executive home ($700-800 per week), groceries ($250-350), and eating out once in a while (meals costing $25-35 per meal). Christchurch is a fantastic place to live, it gives you the energy and excitement of living in a city whilst being the perfect location to explore the rest of the South Island. Yes, it is relatively easy to immigrate to New Zealand. The city is small enough to get around on foot, but there is also a good public transport system. The small town sits on beautiful Lake Wanaka and is close to some major hiking spots and the gorgeous Mt. As a result of the significant reconstruction efforts ongoing, there are a large number of work opportunities in the construction sector. Even in the middle of winter, its not uncommon for Auckland to be one of the warmest places in New Zealand and enjoy temperatures above 15 C (60 F). As well as this, there is a strong manufacturing and engineering industry in Christchurch. Luckily, if the weather isnt fit for the beach, opt for a hike on a nearby extinct volcano instead. Nelson is quintessential New Zealand beauty. The most rain tends to fall during spring, andJuly is the month when the least amount of rain is expected to fall on the West Coast. Auckland's population is indeed growing . Arica is the driest city on the planet, though not quite . This is my favourite luggage set for long term travel. Being close to tourist attractions such as Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton, and the Hamilton Gardens will also give expats plenty to experience from their home base. Western Plateau Central Lowlands . The places that receive the most amount of sun in New Zealand depend largely on their latitude (southern locations have shorter days inwinter and longer days in summer) and how much cloud cover there is (the more clouds there are, the less sunnier a place is). Best for epic landscapes. What is the driest place in New Zealand? - 2022 Inspired by the Namib Desert beetle (inset), this forest of carbon nanotubes harvests moisture. Although its worth noting that snow rarely falls in the town itself. Alexandra 3. Its known for its geothermal activity, with hot springs and bubbling mud pools dotting the landscape. World Geography - Oceania, Australasia, and Antarctica Basic groceries cost $500 pp/month. Wairarapa is the driest place in New Zealand, with some parts bordering on drought conditions. Finding work in New Zealand can be difficult, especially if youre not a citizen or resident. Jeff Fitlow/Rice University; (inset) Hans Hillewaert. Napier is located on the east coast of the North Island, just over an hours drive from the capital, Wellington. Common wealth. In terms of employment, because Queenstown is a major tourist destination, most of the jobs here are in the tourism sector (think hotel and restaurant type jobs) and the pay is typically not much higher than minimum wage. Rotorua 8. Soil conditions along Wairarapas coast have been labelled extremely dry on the New Zealand Drought Index. The city has a population of around 60,000 people, and the cost of living is relatively affordable. Best places to visit in New Zealand - Lonely Planet New Zealand's national parks cover more than 30,000 square kilometres, full to the brim with beautiful, natural scenery ready to explore. **Cropp at Waterfall is a gauge sited near the waterfall on the Cropp River, which is a tributary of the Whitcombe River, itself a tributary of the Hokitika River. Best For: Adventurers, coffee lovers, and foodies. Look no further than these nine warmest places in New Zealand. Located at the very top of the South Island, Nelson is susceptible to strong storms charging off Tasman Bay. Wairarapa is the driest place in New Zealand, with some parts bordering on drought conditions. These New Zealand climate extremes were updated in April 2022. Weve had people praying, people dancing for the rain I might have to start myself.. Summer is boiling hot, which drives most people to Mission Beach to try and cool off. Type of Work: Educators and hospital workers. Highway 73 from the east via Arthurs Pass from, for example, Christchurch. To cool off, head to one of the 18 lakes in the region for a swim or paddleboard. The nearby Doubtful Sound is also spectacular but less accessible - travelers . From November through February, you can look forward to daily highs in the low to mid 20s C (low to mid-70s F), perfect for enjoying one of the many beaches in the area or wandering the esplanade lined with 1930s Art Deco architecture. Everything Ive written here is based on a combination of experience living and traveling in New Zealand, and research using scientific and non-scientific data and charts. However, you should keep in mind that rent prices are comparatively high, and affordable apartments can be tricky to find. Devastation from the February 2011 earthquake is a stark reminder of the citys past, whereas creative new builds showcase an enthusiastic and bright future. The landscape is so arid, that NASA 's astrobiologists travel to the Atacama Desert hoping it will lead them to clues about life on other planets. New research finds that the dark silicate glass strewn across a vast swath of the Atacama Desert was created by an exploding comet around 12,000 years ago. Therefore, it is advisable to earn at least $500 per week to have a good standard of living in Queenstown. The basic cost of living in Dunedin is roughly NZ$2,000 per month for a couple. . New Zealand is not known for its low living costs, as all products must be imported by sea or air. I dont think you can really go wrong when living in New Zealand. You can get to the West Coast by road by following three highways: If you want to visit the West Coast in winter, you may want to drive, for example, from Picton to Greymouth via State Highway 6 instead of from Christchurch. 13 Best Places to Live in New Zealand (and Where Not To!) Hawkes Bay Where not to live in New Zealand 1. a group made up of sovereign states that remain associated with Great Britain. This is good news for beachgoers who flock to beaches in summer. One thing to keep in mind is that there are limited public transportation options on the island, so you may need to factor in the cost of a car when budgeting. In addition, the city has a very high crime rate, and its not a particularly safe place to live. I developed this free quiz to help you figure out where is right for you! Its the perfect time to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, and there is often spring skiing available at some ski fields too. Christchurch 4. The cost of living in Devonport is similar to the cost of living in Auckland. I even include tips for prepping your family, and for how to handle family who arent supportive. Mountain chains extending the length of New Zealand provide a barrier for the prevailing westerly winds, dividing the country into dramatically different climate regions.