Many people believe New Zealand to be a must-visit destination at least ‘once in a lifetime’. Well, at least we did and still do! Therefore, as soon as Lithuania signed a contract for Working Holiday in New Zealand, we were the first ones in line for the adventure. Well, of course, we had to beat the competition first: we as Lithuanians get only 100 spots per year and there are way more applicants than that.

What’s so special about New Zealand you ask?

First of all, it being so far from everything else is incredibly tempting in itself. Think of traveling to the other side of the globe. For Lithuanians as well as most Europeans, if you dug straight through the Earth, you would end up in the Pacific Ocean with New Zealand literally being the closest shore nearby. Hence, being ~17 000 km (10 000 miles) away, it is a furthest possible destination for us to travel to.

Secondly, think of all the incredible landscapes it has to offer – snowy peaks of mountain ranges, bubbling mud pools and volcanic plateaus of Rotorua, beautiful beaches, lush native bushes and those green rolling hills that Peter Jackson fell in love with and chose for Hobbiton.  Being so separated from the rest of the world, New Zealand has formed a unique face with an incredible variety of landscapes and wildlife.

Perfect balance of outdoors and urban

 

It’s a perfect country for those outdoorsy type always looking to explore, go hiking or embark on a road trip. As for the urban type – New Zealand’s cities years after years are listed among the best ones in the world to live in with New Zealand being one of the most progressive nations. So having a whole year (or 23 months for few select countries) on Working Holiday in New Zealand gives you a perfect amount to experience the best of both world – cities and nature!

 

By the way, if curious more about the cities, you can check our story for a short break in the hipster capital Wellington.

So expensive & so far

Unfortunately, traveling to, out of and within New Zealand is quite expensive, so it can get you hesitating whether it’s worth a travel just for a few weeks of holidays you can get off work within a year. Moreover, few weeks of holidays here are just way too little to explore and really experience it all, especially, if on a tight budget. Hell, even one year is not enough for me.

I’m not saying it is not worth going for a few weeks, as it definitely is if you can afford it. However, be aware you won’t be able to explore as much as you may wish to, so choose a trip itinerary that best fits the time you have. Otherwise, you might end up planning too much and seeing too little. If you try to fit too much, you’ll end up spending 80% of your trip just driving, trying to make it to the next destination. It’s better to see less but in quality rather than just rushing through as many places as possible. Better plan few trips, then trying to fit everything in a period that is really too short for it.

Working Holiday in New Zealand: Travel & Work to explore

So, for those looking to really explore and get to know the country, Working Holiday in New Zealand is a perfect way to travel and work, meaning you’ll have the income for all those splendid attractions New Zealand has to offer.

If you still have your doubts, research and make sure it is a right move for you. As for us, it is the best decision we have ever made!

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