Thank you very much for what you have included here. It’s all helpful and a great resource. If I go, I will drop you an email.

Cost is still a major factor here, as is bureaucracy, e.g., working to afford the travel and accomplish what going there should mean. Certainly I don’t envisage I would be able to spend as much time as I would like in New Zealand, nor travel it as well as it should be.

But the game is not over yet, and there are still options. I have an update to this article planned quite soon. So I’ll let everyone know.

In the mean time, suggestions and help are still open to anyone who wants to leave them here!

Having lived in NZ for a year, I have to tell you that there are parts of this country that should not be missed by Anyone. I am a native Argentine NYer with the urge to travel in my blood after years and years of travel with family, friends, and the like. All of this out there, I have to say that living in NZ was by far one of the most incredible experiences of my life.

The South Island, specifically the West Coast, offers some of the most incredible scenery I have seen in my entire life. The Fjordlands are gorgeous, the tramping ridiculously breathtaking and inspiring, and the Mountains/Glaciers are beyond compare in many ways. What makes this Island all the more beautiful is the utter lack of civilzation in many parts. So many people talk about the overly touristy parts of NZ since the release of the Lord of The Rings series but I assure you, there are untouched parts of this country that should not be missed.

The North Island, though much more populated, provides incredible sights and experiences as well. From the beaches just 45 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Auckland, to the Lakes and Mountains in the South of the Island, and the Glow Worm lit caves…the North Island offers adventure, beauty and charm.

Though parts of NZ life can be expensive, you can do things cheaply as well. And when all else fails, how can you miss the opportunity to hang out in a country with 40 million sheep?!

Suggestions galore if you’d like them and connections in abundance if you need them. I just moved back to the states in early April in preparation for some more travel (looking at 3+ years to cover everything I want to) so the people I know are still there.

All the best…

-Alana

Any Suggestions on what products?

I am actually working on this as we speak. You might also have just inspired an article on the subject!

You’re missing one hell of an opportunity mate

Yes to Twitter, in fact we are already following each other! @TLWH

How about couch surfing around Australia? Using Twitter as well?

Cheers
Anthony

-lee- Hi Lee, thanks for the comment and all that information, I found it very helpful. Good to hear about the employment level, I guess it’s a sector thing. With some areas doing well and others not so much. I think you’re on the right track with the sponsorship thing. And once in, with a job, if it’s not all that great, look for another sponsor. Not sure if I have the skill set to be so selective. But certainly it’s not something I heard of too much, so I appreciate your input! Thanks all so for the offer. I’m weighing all this up in mid to late December, and might shoot you over a mail around that time as I come closer to a decision.

-Loran- Great to hear a big plus for New Zealand. I’ve not had much feedback on NZ so far. Especially on the job front. I guess it’s bigger neighbor over shadows it a little at times. Nonetheless I have a bigger pull for it for the scenery and so on. I’ll have to delve into looking for information about work there a little more.

I saw someone mentioned the unemployment rate – as far as I’ve seen its actually quite low here in Melbourne – I even know plenty of people who have confidently quit jobs and found new ones soon after. If you have any idea of what you would like to do its worth joining some expat websites to meet people as ask their experiences and see if they have any advice and/or can help you find something.

If you have any questions about it feel free to shoot me an e-mail. As I said I am very happy that I moved here so am more than willing to help if you want to try.

Thanks for your comment. Yes once I get to some good internet I will check out wwoofing. Again couch surfing to me often leads to more party and going out than home. At least in my experience so far. I am also looking at house minding down under.

Many thanks for your kind words about the blog. It means a lot that it provides some inspiration to others. BTW I finally got around to updating my travel directory and included your submission. Safe travels!

you’re right, bureaucracy and money limits a lot of us from traveling. it sux but it’s a fact that we all have to deal with.

i think you’re a very resourceful person because you’re able to manage to travel for almost 5 years and maybe you could go even more…

i think you should go to australia and new zealand to find out if its a potential home for you. i suggest you check wwoof for possible employment and couchsurfing for possible accomodation and contacts in australia.

btw, you’re doing a great job in this blog. it’s very inspiring and not the usual travelogue that i see online. keep on writing…
keep on traveling until you find your home…

goodluck

-flip

-danette- Thanks for advise on places and things to do. You make a very valid point in making friends of people from there before going!

-Be and Sascha- Wwoofing is certainly something I have to spend time looking at. I’ve not heard of Harvest Trail, but I will certainly look into both in the coming weeks. Travels not an issue, but sustainable travel certainly is! Thanks again.

-Nick- Indeed a camper van for travel is always an option. Again travel is not really a huge factor here. It’s more something to keep me in one place to figure out if I like Oz or NZ well enough for it to be home.

-Damien- I would say just about anything other than bar work. Basically a job that can put a roof over my head so I can get to know the country and the people a bit better than just a normal traveler. Actually that time of year is just fine, as I mentioned about I am planning well in advance for this one. So if you do know of anything at anytime of year then please do drop me a mail here.

-yee- Thanks for your insight. Yes from what I’ve learned so far, the start of home is certainly getting “that” feeling. This is some of the problem I face as without being in a place, it’s impossible to tell. Likewise it’s not possible to visit everywhere attempting to do so. In this case it’s an educated guess, hence I opened it up to comments. Again, like I mentioned, so far nothing about OZ or NZ is jumping out at me. We’ll see over the coming months.

-Maya Gonzales Berry- I am very glad to hear you have found your home in Australia. Yes, as I mentioned in a comment above sometimes you can only know once you are there. At the moment I am weighing this up with some other options. Thanks for taking the time to read, and comment here.

-Renny- Thanks for your comment. No is still very much an option, high unemployment and other such difficulties do weigh on my mind. That said I wouldn’t sacrifice such a journey just for the sake of continuing this website. It is after all only my journal, the journey’s end destination is much more important.

-waitinginthedark- Yes you are very correct. One can only know once one gets there. Sometimes your gut will tell you this could be it before you get there. But one only knows once you’re there. On this occasion though, it might mean ending the journey in place that’s not home. With no going back. So I need to be sure.

-Nora- Serendipity was a great thing for you as I know the story. A great one. Yes such things could fall into place for me too, who knows. I appreciate your honest travelers insight into this scenario very much. Also the offer of a place to stay I’m taking everything on board!

-All- Thanks for all the comments, and emails I’ve received from this post. I am not making any decision straight away as I mentioned in the post. I am in one way, ‘thinking out loud’. Which often helps. Likewise with such feedback, it’s certainly reminded my of some other options. And, as always it’s great to hear from others experience down under.

I certainly will not be making a final call on this for a few months. As mentioned it could be a make or break trip. And for me if it’s a break then it’s the end of just a journey. Hence I am giving it serious thought. Time will tell as I continue to plan and add things up. No gut feeling on it, but it may come over the coming few months as I travel again.

As far as under the table work goes, it varies. Fellow travelers have had so-so luck with it; with so many travelers on working-visas willing to pick fruit (for example), it doesn’t make tons of sense for employers to risk hiring under the table. But it all depends on where you are and what you’re doing.

Even on a tourist visa you can work in trade for your accommodation and meals; finding a gig like that could help you get your feet wet.

And of course you have a place to stay with us! Cheers.