New Zealand 4 Month Impressions (from a Canadian)

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  • Опубліковано 29 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 110

  • @nickandraychel
    @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому +7

    Thank you for watching this video! I can't believe it's been 4 months already - and we have just 2 more months in the South Island until we move up North! Where should we go next?

    • @rayjermyn4541
      @rayjermyn4541 10 місяців тому +1

      Before you head north, try the Catlins area. The North is very different and not as pretty. Suggest New Plymouth, try Coromandel and Opito Bay.

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому

      We did two videos on the Catlins! They’re on our channel :) absolutely LOVED it there

    • @MarkMcLT
      @MarkMcLT 10 місяців тому +2

      Winter is not the ideal time to experience the North Island imo, but I would say highlights are the Coromandel Peninsula (esp the eastern side), Tauranga/Mt Maunganui and the east coast of Northland. Also the west coast beaches of Auckland. If you're into trout fishing, the area around Turangi and Lake Taupo. And for skiing, Mt Ruapehu.

    • @mith60d
      @mith60d 10 місяців тому +2

      Head on over to the Coromandel Peninsula and take a ride on the Driving Creek Railway. You won't regret it...Hal

  • @thekiwinomad
    @thekiwinomad 10 місяців тому +38

    Great video. Although as a Kiwi its called kiwifruit not Kiwi. Saying you have eaten a Kiwi yet suggests that you have eaten someone from new Zealand or the endangered bird. Just an FYI

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому +4

      Haha yes I always forget to call it that here

    • @Leo29568
      @Leo29568 7 місяців тому

      😄😄😄

  • @michaelnolan6951
    @michaelnolan6951 10 місяців тому +11

    I am from Edinburgh originally but grew up in Christchurch and went to school, polytech and university there. I left in 2004 and have lived in the Northwest of England for nearly 20 years but NZ is still what I think of as "Home". I worked in hospitality and can confirm the basic friendliness and good nature of the people. I have never lived in the North Island but wish you well!

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому

      Yes sometimes a place is just “home” no matter how long you’ve been away. ❤️

  • @mikehabel2441
    @mikehabel2441 9 місяців тому +1

    Hey we just came back from two months in NZ , 5 weeks in the South Island. We loved it … thinking of making the move! You two are good fun and we are loving watching two from BC checking things out.
    A big thanks from Mike and Jen from Rossland. Feel free to drop by for a rip on Red mountain, we always have a floor for you … hell maybe even a bed!

  • @monicamestas7566
    @monicamestas7566 3 місяці тому

    I'm new to your channel and loving your style... also love the length of your videos. Usually, 20 min is tops for me; once in awhile, 30 min. So yours are perfect.

  • @alexandramcpherson4189
    @alexandramcpherson4189 10 місяців тому +2

    make sure you come to Taupo in the North Island :) love how complimentary you are of our country, I lived in Vancouver for 9 years and LOVED it. I could never get over cars stopping in the middle of the road for me to cross though 🤣I just think of Vancouver and it makes me smile.

  • @atariplayer3686
    @atariplayer3686 10 місяців тому +4

    Thank you for showing beauties of Queenstown, New Zealand!

  • @als423
    @als423 10 місяців тому +1

    I'm loving your guys videos, you both are so chill, very easy to watch ❤️

  • @leeeverett8109
    @leeeverett8109 9 місяців тому +1

    I was in NZ and AUS NOV 2023 and 6:51 I rented a Toyota Rav4 (no self contain sticker) no one ever came to ask. hahaha

  • @greggiles7309
    @greggiles7309 10 місяців тому +1

    Iook at Raglan Beach, Waitamo Caves road has a lot of features.
    Mount Te Aroha for a Summit view, n local Hot Pools.

  • @TheOnlyTaps
    @TheOnlyTaps 10 місяців тому +3

    Fantastic watch as always 🫡👊🏿

  • @learningtofly226
    @learningtofly226 10 місяців тому

    Awesome video, hope you guys have a fantastic time in NZ. Sure sounds like you are. I was lucky enough to spend lots of time in BC and I'd put that as one of the most amazing places around. Mountains, rivers, lakes and wildlife and not over populated ticked all the boxes for me. All the best and safe travels 👍

  • @jpkiwi8744
    @jpkiwi8744 10 місяців тому +2

    ..Just out of Queenstown you have Cromwell.. lots of fruit and Veggie farms that sell direct..very cheap.

  • @nzcfamily3366
    @nzcfamily3366 6 місяців тому

    Don't forget to check the local council pages see if they have community fruit orchards 😊

  • @leah436
    @leah436 10 місяців тому +1

    Another Canadian here who has now lived in NZ for 10 years. I am still struck by the beauty here everyday - probably because I'm from the prairies in Canada and the landscape here is so different. I live in north Auckland and I love my view of the ocean and the semi-tropical lush feeling of this area (and further north) of the north island. I've seen a little of the south island and I do think it's lovely, but maybe because I'm so used to the Rockies, the mountainous areas aren't such a big deal to me. Hope you get to see the north island soon!

  • @bradclifton5248
    @bradclifton5248 10 місяців тому +1

    Nth is. Many people have a lemon tree in Back yard.

  • @Capfka
    @Capfka 9 місяців тому +2

    Interesting - just stumbled over this video. I'm an ex-pat Kiwi living in the UK. A Canadian friend once described NZ as having nothing that Canada hasn't got - but you can see it all in a day! Yes, an exaggeration, but having driven across large chunks of Canada, I understand the sentiment ...
    You may not believe this, but when I was a kid we used to stay in Queenstown every summer. On Sundays, the only shop open was a dairy which opened between 10 a.m.and 3 p.m. Very (in)convenient. But our reasons for being there were the same as those of many tourists now - we did the Routeburn Track (both ways) more than once and the Rees/Dart track and Greenstone/Caples track (at least twice). We also walked to Skippers and back once. We climbed Bob's Peak (now serviced by the gondola). We walked to Moke Lake. That kind of thing.
    I'ver subscribed and will go back and watch your previous videos now. Well presented and fun! The first I've heard of deep-fried kiwifruit. Was it really all that nice?

  • @bittersweet340
    @bittersweet340 10 місяців тому +2

    Great stuff... and yes agree the weather has really flipped this season. If you moving south of Auckland then being central will help cover most of the island on both coasts. It's a pity though it's now coming into winter so it' might limit your freedom to move around and experience the island in warmer conditions, then on the other hand north is much warmer than the south in comparison.

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому +2

      Yessss with lows of 7/8° in the Bay of Plenty in June/July we are hoping we will still be able to do what we’re doing now - considering it’s colder than that here in Queenstown in March!

    • @kiwihib
      @kiwihib 10 місяців тому

      But it rains a lot more in the North.

    • @Jordan-du6fu
      @Jordan-du6fu 10 місяців тому +1

      Waiouru is cold and snowy though and Taumarunui is one of the foggiest towns in the world so some places in the north island aren't good in terms of weather.

  • @icedem1
    @icedem1 10 місяців тому +2

    Kia Ora Canadian 🇨🇦 Cousins.
    New subscriber here.
    Love your content on our Beautiful Aotearoa.
    Kia Kaha mo to haerenga.
    Stay strong on your journey and Mauri Ora!! (Stay well)

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому +1

      Thank you and welcome to our channel ❤️

  • @lakelady57
    @lakelady57 10 місяців тому +3

    You are right about buying fruit and say lemons but as a Kiwi I would not consider buying a lemon as a lemon tree grows and will fruit in a very short time and we can grow fruit and veg all year - but this is becoming a thing of the past. Very sad. I lived in Canada for many years and just saw it as a very large NZ but the things I remember seeing were a harvest moon in Alberta, very spectacular, aurora borealis also in Alberta looking North, scattered showers - funny - but because the country is so vast on the Prairies you could see showers over there and over somewhere else at the same time. Enjoy your travels and I hope you have just fun and make memories.

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому

      Thanks so much for your comment - I find nz and Canada very comparable. Good point about the lemons!

  • @tonymunro5693
    @tonymunro5693 10 місяців тому +4

    You can't equate Queenstown as normal NZ,it's a tourist trap so prices are high for everything, it is without a doubt not normal/average NZ

  • @Andy_M986
    @Andy_M986 10 місяців тому

    It always used to be "Stop for Pedestrians on crosswalks", but not generally anywhere else, it's all about courtesy,and if you want to show it.

  • @mith60d
    @mith60d 10 місяців тому

    Thanks for all the great NZ videos. We have travelled to NZ twice over the last 6 years from our home here in Nelson BC. To say the least, we love NZ. We did meet a BC couple in Hokitika. They were of the opinion that NZ(at least the South Is.) was just BC with different trees. They were wrong of course, as you are finding out.

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому

      The South Island is very similar to BC, but of course there are lots of differences too :)

  • @jospsalm91
    @jospsalm91 10 місяців тому

    Hey North Island kiwi here.. great video
    We are just back from 2 weeks Southland Te Anua Wanaka Tekapo Milford sound queenstown Dunedin etc was the best thing ever every view was spectacular The weather soooo different to East Coast N I ...Puffer Coats Beanies then hot next day but only saying 16 degrees and the wind phew... loved every change thoughvery exhilarating and now back to Bay of Plenty Beach ... so humid and warm in comparison...Try to live on Coast in North... Far north has beaches that are stunning East Coast best Ohope yes...😊

  • @HunterofInvisibleGame
    @HunterofInvisibleGame 10 місяців тому

    North Island suggests the Volcanic Plateau, Rotorua, Auckland has Waiheke & Rangitoto Islands, Hokianga Harbour with Opononi &Tāne Mahuta, also called "God of the Forest", is a giant kauri tree in the Waipoua Forest, Bay of Islands.

  • @MICHALMALACHOVSKY
    @MICHALMALACHOVSKY 10 місяців тому +3

    WOW WOW WOW !!!

  • @user-yb9hi3us4p
    @user-yb9hi3us4p 5 місяців тому

    Queenstown is absolutely New Zealand. Or it was. I spent most summer holidays in Queenstown and the rest of Central Otago and I'll be retiring there. Best part of the world.

  • @realitycheck4156
    @realitycheck4156 10 місяців тому +2

    Just a few pointers for the ones watching from abroad. The weather is changeable due to wind direction and closeness to the sea and altitude etc. Winds from the south come off Antarctica/South Pole direction and from the north the tropics hence the change in temperature. Pedestrians do have right of way technically but its difficult with jaywalking and people who hang around pedestrian crossings while not intending to cross. Drivers are not mind readers. NZ has had a few natural disasters this last year or so which has affected fruit and vegetables supplies and prices are higher accordingly. It means shop smarter and buy the right products in the right season. I am sure this happens everywhere. For example you could buy a 2 kilogram pumpkin for say $2NZD in winter and maybe $17NZD in summer so a huge difference. Tomatoes $20kg in winter but as low as $2kg in summer. Queenstown has one of the highest costs of living in the country property and rent wise due to supply and demand and is a top tourist destination in NZ. There are better deals if you look around including restaurant schemes where you can get half price off food with certain conditions. Friendly locals can point travellers in the right direction lets say.

    • @monkeyboynz
      @monkeyboynz 10 місяців тому

      Pedestrians only have the right of way at a pedestrian crossing.

  • @archie_bol8153
    @archie_bol8153 10 місяців тому

    Definitely need to go to Hastings

  • @guesswho6925
    @guesswho6925 10 місяців тому

    Welcome guys!

  • @ZootZoots-ks9wx
    @ZootZoots-ks9wx 10 місяців тому

    Im in the North Island but love the South. I make small films. Nice to see you enjoying our country. It’s dope for the free spirit. 🤘

  • @jared2232
    @jared2232 10 місяців тому +1

    Canadian as well did a NZ WHV in 2015-2016. Beautiful place. Still think about it regularly all these years later.
    My only complaint was the pay if im being honest. Worked in the same profession I have in Canada and my yearly take home was half.. lol.
    All in all I think the two places are extremely similar in many ways.

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому

      That’s so interesting! Thanks for sharing. You’re right, very similar.

  • @alexandramcpherson4189
    @alexandramcpherson4189 10 місяців тому

    It was flipping freezing in Taupo this morning by the way, 2 degrees and it's March!?? what the heck... so rug up warm! seems like NZ is just freezing right now.

  • @carolinemcnicol498
    @carolinemcnicol498 9 місяців тому

    The Dark Sky project for Milky way gazing at Tekapo , the Kawerau bridge 43metre bungey over the river near Arrowtown, Whale watch boat trip at Kaikoura is a must and visit Hamner Springs thermal pools in the South Island , the road past Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo with views of Southern Alps and Aoraki Mt Cook is stunning. North Island Mount Taranaki/ New Plymouth hike ,Hot Salt water pools Mount Maunganui and climb Mauao for a stunning view, The East coast from Opotiki to Gisborne December /Jan stunning Pohutakawa tree displays (red flowers) and turquoise ocean ,remote beaches, rural NZ ,Gisborne /Wainui beach surfing meccas. Taupo Huka Falls and Rotorua hot water thermal zone Waireki hot pools, Polynesian pools Rotorua and experience a Hangi /Maori Culture a few to choose from.

  • @jdb9388
    @jdb9388 9 місяців тому

    ouuuu nice Independent hoodie one of my favourite brands

  • @hunter2442
    @hunter2442 2 місяці тому

    red onion price in my country is 1/4 the cost in New Zealand!

  • @derekmills5394
    @derekmills5394 10 місяців тому +2

    South Island - Dead flat plains and huge mountains - 'big' scenery
    North Island - Generally rolling hills so a lot of more close-up views - not to say there are not stunning things to see!

  • @kennethhammond4028
    @kennethhammond4028 10 місяців тому +1

    only thing predicatable about the weather is its unpredictable.😅😅

    • @robert3987
      @robert3987 10 місяців тому

      NZ weather is very changeable in short times because it's smallish islands surrounded by oceans.

  • @skylagaaia1683
    @skylagaaia1683 6 місяців тому

    Queenstown is one of the best places in New Zealand, but moving to Queensland places you in one of the closest cities to Antarctica.. hence cool weather during the summer.
    North Island will give you your sun tanning weather… and a must to checkout the beaches, if you haven’t already done so… hope you really enjoy New Zealand.

  • @johanmeischke9189
    @johanmeischke9189 10 місяців тому

    Yeah in NZ, as in aus and the UK cars have absolute right if way except for pd xings

  • @PacketOfCereal
    @PacketOfCereal 10 місяців тому

    With your jobs are you working longer hours on those 4 days? I work 4 days on 3 off and do 10hr shifts here. Where you working in town that are offering the 4 days as well?

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому

      No we work (mostly) 8 hour days. Nick is a handyman and I’m a receptionist! We’re not comfortable disclosing exactly where we work online, we’ll post about it when we leave! but it took us a while to find jobs because we were picky with this. With every cover letter and application we both were very firm that this is the only schedule we’d be ok taking because of UA-cam so we got a lot of nos but eventually we found jobs that agreed to give us the exact same schedules. I think transparency is key

    • @PacketOfCereal
      @PacketOfCereal 10 місяців тому

      @@nickandraychel nice one, yeah for me I would definitely only take another job if it was 4 days here. We live in Queenstown for lifestyle, not work haha. There has to be some benefit/s with that. Where were you planning to stay in North Island. Were you looking at Tauranga/Mt Maunganui? You said south of Auckland so I’m guessing that way? Mt Maunganui is tough for accomm as well so try get something sorted ahead of time if it’s possible.

  • @craigbrooks6469
    @craigbrooks6469 10 місяців тому +1

    Drivers are required to stop at dedicated pedestrian crossings. Courtesy crossings are, eh, a courtesy for pedestrians and drivers. They're designed as a visual aid and intended to make roads safer. The emphasis, the New Zealand Transport Agency says, is for drivers to be courteous to pedestrians on these crossings.......so I feel your given bit of a false statement

  • @tommyau2006
    @tommyau2006 10 місяців тому +2

    cool guys...................

  • @bradclifton5248
    @bradclifton5248 10 місяців тому +1

    Sth Is and nth Is are not even close to the same climate.

  • @ruahinesrider
    @ruahinesrider 10 місяців тому +1

    The minimum wage is common in NZ 🇳🇿 Queenstown is not vindictive of the rest of NZ 🇳🇿 & the Living wage is good for NZ 🇳🇿 but most people don't get it.
    Most people only get 50cents more than minium wage.Areas of the North Island are dangerous for foreign freedom campers especially not in self contained van people are fed up with people shitting in the bushes & that's why the self contained laws came in ruining it for us Kiwi's who camped by the rules & not scared to use a D.O.C long drop.

  • @brucehowe194
    @brucehowe194 10 місяців тому

    Deep fried banana coated in maple syrup is very nice and sweet 😋 👌

  • @dalewells9491
    @dalewells9491 10 місяців тому +1

    Head to the coromandel peninsula and go fishing yeeeehhhha

  • @robert3987
    @robert3987 10 місяців тому

    The North Island geography is not as interesting but it's still full of great places.

  • @angelajoseph3066
    @angelajoseph3066 10 місяців тому

    Did you have to buy travel insurance before you moved here? If so, do you mind explain the process?

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому +1

      Yes we always buy through Allianz!

  • @D.Cooper420
    @D.Cooper420 10 місяців тому +2

    Come and see the real New Zealand. Psst...It's outside of the tourist spots. Given our current double dip recession a lot of kiwis cant afford to even go to queenstown so please try and spend with your dollar and give back to the economy by supporting locals (queenstown not included)

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому

      We said right from the beginning of video that we’re only in New Zealand a few days per week to work and the rest of our time is spent exploring!

  • @yipmabaruya1148
    @yipmabaruya1148 10 місяців тому

    Like ##116, Good morning from Yipma Bariuya UA-cam channel, Papua New Guinea. I enjoyed watching your contents, thanks for sharing. May God bless you

  • @nocturn791
    @nocturn791 10 місяців тому

    If you had driven in the US you would have noticed similarities with NZ traffic vs pedestrian conventions. Moreover, the US backs this up with strong jaywalking rules. Canada is the standout exception which puts everything into proper perspective.

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому

      It depends on the state, the laws vary a lot. Pedestrians have the right of way at unmarked crosswalks in states like Oregon South Dakota Virginia Washington, and some more. Though when my American friends came to visit us two months ago they were pretty shocked by the traffic here too as they were used to having the right of way, and they live in Arizona. I don’t remember noticing a difference when we spent 6 months travelling through the US, but it would be interesting to go back.

  • @lynetteburgess5188
    @lynetteburgess5188 10 місяців тому

    you need to visit a "normal" NZ town to be able to truely get a representation and comment on NZ as a country. you're already in Qtn so jump in the car an drive to either Dunedin (where i live) or Invercargill, then comment on NZ

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому

      As we said right at the beginning of video, we have travelled to new cities in the South Island for half the week every single week, and have so lucky to been to so many places! As mentioned in the video we’re hardly in Queenstown

  • @user-yb9hi3us4p
    @user-yb9hi3us4p 5 місяців тому

    Groceries in NZ aren't expensive, people are just idiots. NZ is a long way from anywhere and had seasons. So eat what's in season and it won't be that bad. But if you want to eat avocado all year round, it's got to come from somewhere outside of NZ's growing season.
    Or better yet, go carnivore. Cheaper, easier, not seasonal, and so much healthier than you could ever imagine

  • @paulrichardson5892
    @paulrichardson5892 10 місяців тому

    nz close to antarctica

  • @jayjayson9613
    @jayjayson9613 10 місяців тому

    Wow, $23.15 NZ Dollar equals to $14.30 USD. Thats pretty bad, even if most employers pay more than the NZ minimum wage.

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому

      If you’re American lol

    • @jayjayson9613
      @jayjayson9613 10 місяців тому +2

      @@nickandraychel yeah but you said it yourself, NZ has a higher cost of living so NZ minimum wage with those grocery prices, seems like it's hard for folks there as well. My point being that $23.15 sounds good but the higher cost of living means it doesn't go that far

    • @optimumperformance
      @optimumperformance 10 місяців тому

      @@jayjayson9613cost of living has only really got out of control since the scamdemic

    • @OkinInc
      @OkinInc 8 місяців тому

      @@jayjayson9613bang on Jay. Our kids are now young adults and they could never rent any place by themselves and pay bills, groceries etc. in order to achieve that, they’d need a minimum of $30 an hour to even live off noodles and toast after paying rent and utilities. NZ is beautiful, love my country but I feel so bad about the next generation. My wife and I have had it hard but made it so to speak but our kids will have much more struggles as it seems to be the way these days. My parents bought their first house on my Dad’s salary alone. We lived comfortably, no flash car or going out but we were nurtured and looked after, all on Dad’s work. We need to go back to those times and then some. Life is for living, not for financial bondage which puts pressure on families in turn leading to destruction of the family unit.

  • @modfus
    @modfus 10 місяців тому

    Haha, I'm a Kiwi and I hate Kiwifruit 😁

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому

      Omg!

    • @Davo-i1s
      @Davo-i1s 10 місяців тому +1

      Kiwifruit are actually from China and used to called Chinese Gooseberrys seeds were taken to NZ in 1904 and they started growing them there.

  • @GianfrancoGonzalez-b5f
    @GianfrancoGonzalez-b5f 10 місяців тому

    4k for a computer? Jeez. Are you Nasa engineer?

  • @tonymunro5693
    @tonymunro5693 10 місяців тому

    $30 entree, not for this average kiwi

  • @paulrichardson5892
    @paulrichardson5892 10 місяців тому

    hot summer day in new zealand ??? . !! no such thing...

  • @optimumperformance
    @optimumperformance 10 місяців тому +1

    Coldest summer in 20 years here in Queenstown. Bring on global warming.

  • @junebartlett7494
    @junebartlett7494 10 місяців тому

    KIWIFRUIT!!!!! Say it again. Its KIWIFRUIT! NOT NOT NOT kiwi.

  • @matthewfergusson6700
    @matthewfergusson6700 10 місяців тому

    what is the actual reason for people not liking bare feet? and don't give me that bacteria yarn..... Its not my fault your feet like to live in prison.....

  • @MJBR3315
    @MJBR3315 10 місяців тому +2

    Little less chatting more showing the country

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому +5

      This is an impressions video it’s a talking head video. We do one once every few months. We have 200+ vlogs on our channel if vlogs are more your cup of tea.

  • @PhilWilliam-hx6xh
    @PhilWilliam-hx6xh 10 місяців тому

    The comment I made was truthful and it’s truthful for many who have had a god awful experience here.
    Keep hiding the truth, keep selling a lie.
    Delete this as well.

    • @nickandraychel
      @nickandraychel  10 місяців тому

      We don’t delete comments lol UA-cam blocked your comment and sent it for review.

  • @skylagaaia1683
    @skylagaaia1683 6 місяців тому

    Queenstown is one of the best places in New Zealand, but moving to Queensland places you in one of the closest cities to Antarctica.. hence cool weather during the summer.
    North Island will give you your sun tanning weather… and a must to checkout the beaches, if you haven’t already done so… hope you really enjoy New Zealand.