Get your very own New Zealand Working Holiday Visa!

First off, what exactly is a working holiday visa?  It's a visa that NZ gives out to citizens of several countries that allows a person to travel and work within NZ for 12 months.  This means you get 9 more months to travel than a normal tourist and that you can stop along your route and take on a job to fund your trip further.  The catch is that it is only given out to people 30 years of age and younger.

People do all kinds of things with these visas.  Some, like me, mostly work.  Most, however, work for a few months here or there at a restaurant or bar or hostel etc to save and then continue on travelling.  The great thing about NZ is the number of hostels will to let you work for accomodation.  So you do a couple hours of work then get to stay the night for free.

Anyways, I highly recommend this opportunity to everyone!  Why not take a year to fully explore another country.  For US citizens this option is also available in Australia!

Want one?  Here's how to get it!

Check out this website:

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/

Here you will find a list of countries for which the visa is availale.

 For a USA citizen here are the requirements.
 "You must:

    -usually be permanently living in the United States of America – this means you can be temporarily visiting another country when you lodge your application
  - have a passport from the United States of America that‘s valid for at least three months after your planned departure from New Zealand
   - be at least 18 and not more than 30 years old
   - not bring children with you
   - hold a return ticket, or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket*
  - have a minimum of NZ$4,200 available funds to meet your living costs while you’re here
    meet our health and character requirements
   - hold medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance for the length of your stay
   - be coming to New Zealand to holiday, with work or study being secondary intentions for your visit
    - not have been approved a visa under a Working Holiday Scheme before."

If you qualify for all of the above then you can simply create a username and password and fill out the online form.  The application is FREE!

They do have some health and character questions in the application.  They just want to make sure you arent a criminal and that you wont be a strain on the medical system.   I had to have a chest x-ray because I had spent 3months out of the last 5 years in "high-risk" tuberculosis areas.   The process was simple enough.  Print the form, go to the doctor, get xray, have doctor fill out and sign form, mail to NZ. That's all there was to it!

Here is where to get registered:

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/registration/CreateAccount.aspx

 Easy!

 You'll most likely get an email with confirmation, then an email approving your application, then an email with you visa details.

Then you can proceed to have the best year of your life!

Here are some additional links to help you find your way to and around New Zealand.

 seek.co.nz
 intercity.co.nz
 hostelworld.com
 trademe.co.nz

 Do it! And go have a grand adventure. 

 And for inspiration here is one of my favorite quotes:

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!""

February 6 - March 13, 2014 - Rotorua, New Zealand

February 6 - March 13, 2014 - Rotorua, New Zealand

Working Holiday Visa Fee:
Free!
I had to fill out an online form and get a chest x-ray to check for TB.  That cost me about $75 and another $15 to mail the paperwork to NZ from KY. I now have a visa that allows me to travel and work in NZ for an entire year.

Exchange Rate:  1USD = 1.2NZD

A lot has happened since I have landed in NZ.  I got the job!  After 2 full days of interviewing and a pre-employment medical exam (drug, vision, and hearing test) I was officially offered the position of Reliability Engineer.  I will be working for a company that is contracted by a large pulp and paper mill to do all the maintenance.  Ill have a lot of learning to do but it will keep me on my toes and Im really excited.  My first day will be March 17.

And I also bought a cute little car.  I think it will be perfect for my commute and for road trips.  Considering gas here is almost $6.63USD/gallon, I needed something super fuel efficient.

In the meantime I have done lots and lots and lots of exploring in Rotorua.  Rotorua is a popular tourist destination on the North Island because of its geothermal features and all the hot pools that go along with it.  And because of all the tourism other things have come along making the city even more fun.  The city is also known for its exceptional mountain biking.  Just a few weeks ago there was massive MTB competition.  The Redwoods is a park with hours and hours of beautiful hiking trails.  I have now walked all but the 34km trek, but we are planning on doing that one soon.

The city also has The Luge, a downhill go-kart track, Zorbing, white-water rafting complete with 21ft waterfall drop, its an hour from nice ocean beaches and an hour from Hobbiton.  There is a plethora of free hot pools and rivers to soak in.  And its even situated on the shores of Lake Rotorua.  I'd say the only downside is the sulphur smell, but after a few days you get used to that.

I have ventured out and tried most of these activities! And I know its only been 6 weeks but I really LOVE it here and Im stoked to get another 10 months to explore.

Note to friends:  I have found a sweet house in which I will rent a room.  There is an extra bedroom so feel free to come visit anytime!

I have spent the last 6 weeks at a hostel called Crash Palace.  This place has been amazing! The staff is excellent and the hostel and events they have are epic.  If you are coming through Rotoruayou definitely need to check them out!

Here are some pictures from the awesomeness I have done while here:

Lake Rotorua:

Redwoods Hike:

The Luge:

 Wai-o-tapu, Thermal Wonderland:

Charity Mud Tour:

 The Blue Lake:

 Cliff Jumping and Hitchhiking:

Rainbow Mountain Trek:

 Lakeland Queen Cruise:

 Kerosene Creek:

 Waimangu, Volcanic Valley:

 Hobbiton:

My new 2005 Nissan Note:

February 3 - 6, 2014 - Coral Coast, Fiji

February 3 -6 , 2014 - Coral Coast, Fiji

On the 3rd, I arrived to a place called The Beach House along the Coral Coast on the main island.  It was 2 hour drive from the ferry landing in Suva.  I checked into my room and then surveyed the area.  Amazing!  This place is exactly what you expect when you think of beaches in Fiji.  White sand, crystal clear water with palm trees hanging out over the water.

That afternoon I went on a 1 hour horseback ride along the beach and to a look out point on a little mountain.

The hostel also provided free afternoon coffee or tea with freshly baked scones with butter and jam! Yum!

Then a group of us played a little sand volleyball!

But that night was the best part.  It was one of the most beautiful sunsets I had ever seen!

All of this and a free breakfast for only 38FJD a night in a 6 bed dorm! :-)

On the 4th I simply relaxed on the beach, enjoyed the sun, scarfed down the tea and scones and played a bit more sand volleyball.

Here is one more beach picture for good measure!

I had a late breakfast on the 5th.  At 11am I caught the bus back to Nadi  and then a taxi back to Bamboo Backpackers.  That night I prepared a bit for my interview on Friday and had one more lovo dinner.

At 8am the next day I jumped a plane to Auckland, NZ to start a whole new adventure!

January 27 - February 3, 2014 - Taveuni Island, Fiji

January 27 - 28, 2014 - Ferry to Taveuni Island, Fiji:

On Monday a group from the hostel took a mini bus to Suva to catch the ferry to Taveuni Island.  Suva was a 4 hour drive from Nadi.  We spent a couple hours having lunch in town and going to the grocery store.  We also picked up a few movies to watch on the ferry.

The ferry fee was $75FJD and left port at 6pm.  The ferry was huge and had been purchased from Canada so it was really old.  They made you take off your shoes while inside.  I thought that was really strange.

We FINALLLLLY arrived at Taveuni at 1pm the next day.  Sheeesh that was a really long ride.  We were picked up from the port and taken to the Maravu Hostel.  It turns out that the hostel was previously a 5 star hotel resort.  Everything was well manicured and beautiful, our dorm room even had an outdoor shower.  I had signed up for the 6day/5night package which included 3 meals a day and daily activities all for 575FJD.  Not cheap, but still a pretty great deal.

After lunch a few of us headed out for a refreshing swim in the ocean.  That was followed by lounging around the hostel and having a fabulous dinner.  

January 29, 2014 - International Date Line and Water slides:

Around mid morning we headed out to visit the international date line.  This is the invisible line that divides yesterday from today.  Are one side of the line you are in today's time and on the other side you are in yesterday.

Then we headed towards the natural water slides.  We parked at what the hostel folks called the "white house".  It was definitely white and we would return here for lunch.  We did a short 15 minute hike into the jungle where we came upon the river.  The water had washed away the rock into a small canyon and some parts where shallow and smooth enough to actually slide down on your bum.  What good fun!  The slides weren't very long but the guide showed us that if we created a body damn and waited for the water and pressure to build up we could then get going pretty fast.  We did this a few times and swam a bit in the river before we returned for lunch.

I took a short nap back at the hostel then the group went for a tour at one of the local villages.  The custom is that guests bring kava and sit and share the kava with the chief or leader of the village.  So, of course, we all sat and had a couple of rounds of kava with the chief and listened to them sing a couple of songs.  Our guide showed us how the women use fronds to make baskets and how they grow and use local foods.  Coconut trees have many uses from the fronds to all stages of the coconut.  They also grow casava, papapya, breadfruit, oranges, and I even saw an avocado tree. He let us taste the coconuts and the oranges.

January 30, 2014 - Waterfalls Hike:

This day we went on a hike to 3 different waterfalls.   I only made it to two of them because I wasnt feeling well and decided it would be best that I turn back at the 2nd waterfall. Though the two I saw were really beautiful.

January 31, 2014 - Snorkeling and Massage

We took the boat out to do a few hours of snorkeling.  And, despite lathering on the sunscreen, my backside still got fried! Ouch.  But the snorkeling was really good.  Most of the islands in Fiji are surrounded by amazing reef and the snorkeling is outstanding.

Then the best part of the package deal!  My free (or included) massage.  Fabulous.

 I dont have any pictures of this....I really should invest in a GoPro!

February 1, 2014 - SCUBA diving Rainbow Reef:

I should have done this on one of the first days I was there becuase it was stunning and I would have totally done it a lot more.

 Fiji and particularly the Rainbow reef near Taveuni Island has some of the best soft coral in the world.  And it was amazing the diving was top notch!!  I loved it!

 Some folks put together a bonfire for that night and we all sat around and enjoyed a few beers, the fire, and a nice fire show performance.

February 2-3, 2014 - Ferry to Suva

And then it was time to return to the main island.  On the slow ferry again.  Ugggggh!