NZ Virtual Tour.

[Zardnaar]

Thought I would start a thread doing a virtual tour of New Zealand. Atm we are functionally cut off from the world. Technically you can still get here.

Boring stuff.

New Zealand - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

We're a small nation of 5 million people approx (they messed up the census). Geographically almost the same size as Colorado. A bit smaller than Italy.

During lockdown I watched a few YouTube videos on NZ as I normally watched ones in Europe, Asia, Middle East etc. A few parts I hadn't seen.

Generally the scenery is pretty I suppose. Growing up around it you take it for granted. I'll use a variety of personal photos, friends and family photos, YouTube videos and images found on Reddit.

What are we famous for? Sheep, All Blacks and Lord of the Rings. Baaaaa.

 

[Zardnaar]

My local city. Work in progress.

So where do you live you kiwi hillbilly? I live in Dunedin, Otago.

Otago - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

It's a university city of around 120k. My harbour a month or so ago at sunrise. Late April/Early May.

Dunedin is also known as the Edinburgh of the South. It's on the SE coast of the South Island.

Promotional type video.


More recent as filmed by local in lockdown . CBD area.


But that's the pretty bits. Here's some photos of suburbia where I live.

We're about 100metres up on a hill.

I'll leave it there for the moment and see how things go. I'll expand it out to some nearby locations, the Southern Alps areas and up the coast, then the rest of Otago and South Canterbury. Feel free to ask any questions or make requests.

 

[Dioltach]

I already took a couple of virtual tours. They were called The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

(Sorry, you're probably sick of people saying that.)

 

[Zardnaar]

I already took a couple of virtual tours. They were called The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

(Sorry, you're probably sick of people saying that.)

It's one of this faux pas. That, sheep jokes a few other things.

I don't mind thick skin etc.

 

[Zardnaar]

A large % of the population is urbanized and mist of it lives in or bear the coast.

Locally we have great beaches but summer tends to be a Friday afternoon in late January.

Lots of walking, hooking type tracks. Going for some exercise last year. On the outskirts you have city block then straight into farms.

Ten to fifteen minutes drive within city limits there are multiple interesting spits.

Lagoon at Tomahawk Bay. Cones with some trash.

The lagoon has a small Creek flowing out to the ocean. There's a walking track around the lagoon, and a hike over the hills.

Following the creek you come out at Tomahawk Beach. Not suitable for swimming. This photo was taken a week earlier than the others and it but 29 degrees Celsius at 9am.

Facing north looking up the beach early on a Saturday morning.

Walking up the beach looking South.

No seals or sealions spotted that day. 200km stretch of coast doesn't look to drastically different.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Why is the beach unsuitable? Wildlife? Dangerous tides?

 

[Dioltach]

Why is the beach unsuitable? Wildlife? Dangerous tides?

Corsairs of Umbar?

 

[Zardnaar]

Why is the beach unsuitable? Wildlife? Dangerous tides?

No lifeguards, surf+ currents. Mostly surf as most beech's don't have lifeguards anyway.

There's another similar beech just a couple of kilometres South where more people swim with lifeguards and esplanade and salt water pool.

 

[Randomthoughts]

One of the things I’m considering for my bucket list is some sort of LotR/Hobbit tours. I’d like to get your (local) take on that. Worth it?

 

[Zardnaar]

One of the things I’m considering for my bucket list is some sort of LotR/Hobbit tours. I’d like to get your (local) take on that. Worth it?

It is a thing. One of the YouTube channels I planned on linking to did that. A lot of the locations are scattered and sans CGI barely look like the movie.

It's a lit if traveling. Hobbiton is a tourist site, other places are near a road or in the high country.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I'd love to tramp (backpack) the length and breadth of NZ. thanks for the inspiring photos. I'm sure my kids would want to come along and surf all day at the beach.

The other thing I heard about NZ is that folks are by in large friendly and nice to tourists, especially respectful ones - true?

Oh yeah, I've known a couple of folks who abandoned the US and moved to En Zed full time full stop. Interestingly before they left, one of these chaps (it was around 2002/3) said that if you emigrate to New Zealand, you can't send your money back to the US, it all has to stay in New Zealand.

On the rugby front 2019 RWC: England beating the All Blacks was an upset, although not as stunning as Japan beating Ireland and then Scotland in their pool...

 

[Dioltach]

On the rugby front 2019 RWC: England beating the All Blacks was an upset, although not as stunning as Japan beating Ireland and then Scotland in their pool...

I wasn't upset at all about the England win!

Actually, I'm not sure either was such an upset. Japan had already shown how good they could be, the only real surprise was that they could so it consistently. And England were a 50-50 ref's call away from beating the All Blacks the year before. Sure, the ABs had put Ireland to the sword the week before, but so had England in the Six Nations and in the summer, and then England demolished the Aussies in the QF. So the win wasn't such a huge surprise, but the totality perhaps was.

 

[Zardnaar]

I'd love to tramp (backpack) the length and breadth of NZ. thanks for the inspiring photos. I'm sure my kids would want to come along and surf all day at the beach.

The other thing I heard about NZ is that folks are by in large friendly and nice to tourists, especially respectful ones - true?

Oh yeah, I've known a couple of folks who abandoned the US and moved to En Zed full time full stop. Interestingly before they left, one of these chaps (it was around 2002/3) said that if you emigrate to New Zealand, you can't send your money back to the US, it all has to stay in New Zealand.

On the rugby front 2019 RWC: England beating the All Blacks was an upset, although not as stunning as Japan beating Ireland and then Scotland in their pool...

Generally it's true. Chatty bunch. Bit more laid back than a lot of countries perhaps.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

Generally it's true. Chatty bunch. Bit more laid back than a lot of countries perhaps.

Coming from California, I'm pretty comfortable with laid back.

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

My local city. Work in progress.

So where do you live you kiwi hillbilly? I live in Dunedin, Otago.

I knew the Dunedin of Arnor and Gondor, nice to meet one from Otago.

Err, sorry about the joke, I just wanted to say cool idea for a thread and looking forward to seeing more.

 

[GreyLord]

Well, thus far I've learned that New Zealand is far bigger than I thought. It looks to have more land than Germany or some other large European nations.

What is the price of living like compared to someplace like...the US Midwest, California, London England, Rural Ireland, or Frankfurt Germany (I know, all different economics and prices of living, which is why I listed the variety)?

Is it fairly cheap, and how hard is it to get a place in a more rural area for a retired individual who may become an ex-pat?

Are there a lot of creatures with highly poison toxic bits and stings like Australia?

How often do typhoons hit and how do you guys stay safe from them?

 

[Mistwell]

My daughter is hoping to someday attend an Irish Dance competition in NZ. Sadly it looks like none of the Irish Dance schools in NZ are close to Dunedin (closest are all in Christchurch).

 

[Zardnaar]

My daughter is hoping to someday attend an Irish Dance competition in NZ. Sadly it looks like none of the Irish Dance schools in NZ are close to Dunedin (closest are all in Christchurch).

Christchurch might be the best city to live in here. It's big enough to do most things, great location, pretty, and avoids Auckland's problems. Also good location for heading inland.

 

[Matchstick]

Loving this. Getting worn down by negativity and this is a thread that inspires me to dream a bit. Thanks!

 

[Zardnaar]

Well, thus far I've learned that New Zealand is far bigger than I thought. It looks to have more land than Germany or some other large European nations.

What is the price of living like compared to someplace like...the US Midwest, California, London England, Rural Ireland, or Frankfurt Germany (I know, all different economics and prices of living, which is why I listed the variety)?

Is it fairly cheap, and how hard is it to get a place in a more rural area for a retired individual who may become an ex-pat?

Are there a lot of creatures with highly poison toxic bits and stings like Australia?

How often do typhoons hit and how do you guys stay safe from them?

Typhoons are basically unheard of. Nothing poisonous no snakes, ticks etc. Katapo spider in the sea is about the worst we've got.

Price of living varies but generally housing is expensive. Cheaper in rural areas.

House where I live us about 350k USD for something decent, Auckland double that.

Rent is also expensive. Consumer goods are more expensive than USA.

I don't find food that badly priced relative to wages.

Meats expensive.

If you have an ok or good job and own house freehold it's quite good. Housing crisis.

NZ about 1/3rd smaller than Germany, bigger than UK, but smaller than Italy.

Ballpark Spain/France/Italy/UK Germany in size.