Opps … I inadvertently deleted my earlier post when I went to edit a ‘typo’. I didn’t keep a copy of what I’d posted so I’ll do my best to recreate my post:
New Zealand is a big ‘little’ country with a population of around 5,300,000 (75% on the North Island and 25% on the South Island). It’s a popular destination for tourists and people on Working Holiday Visas. Some of those people decide to house sit while they are here so that they can spend an extended period in one area.
Car ownership is high (and due to the housing shortage some people have resorted to living in their cars) and the public transport system is generally inadequate unless you’re based in one of the larger centres. Overseas visitors can find traveling around the country to be problematic and expensive.
Occasionally, a home owner may be able to make their vehicle available to the house sitter but generally it would be up to to the house sitter to have their own transport.
We recently traveled around the South Island for a few months in a car we bought and then sold. We did visit some places in the North Island without a car, but found it rather limiting.
It’s definitely possible to get around with some ingenuity and community mindedness (ride shares!) but I personally found having my own vehicle the way to go.
I wrote a blog about our experience if anyone is curious about the process of buying and selling a car as a foreigner: Roadtripping New Zealand – Jetsetting Petsitters
We are just back from our round the world trip with two months in New Zealand. Renting a car wasn’t cheap but definitely worth it as we got to all the out of the way places no trouble. We did some pet sitting on both islands. Obviously the North Island was far easier to get sits in as it’s more populated. Airbnbs were cheap as chips so we didn’t mind. I think we did about eight or nine sits. Join the kiwi group but don’t expect the same standard of sits that are offered on THS. We will definitely return. One of my favourite countries, so far.
The whole country is spectacular. I enjoyed the South Island more as I prefer isolation and huge mountains.
Thank you for your feedback . The South Island is rather special. I live quite a few km from the mountains but I can see them from my place. There was a light dusting of snow on the peaks this morning!
Thank you so much for sharing your blog! It was excellent and I’d recommend it as a ‘must read’ for anyone thinking about spending a few months traveling around NZ. I loved the fact that you included 'numbers and $$ values ’ so that people have contemporary information about the sort of money they’d need to have in order make the best of their time here.
I appreciate that you’ve taken the time to document your experiences - that sort of firsthand information is far more valuable than anything people will find in a tourist guide.
Your blog is particularly valuable for me as a home owner who lives in a rural area and who has house sitting opportunities available a couple of times a year.
My property is around 10km from town and around 3 and a half hours drive from the nearest international airport. I’ve noted in my listings that my house sitters will need to have their own transport but well meaning folk who aren’t familiar with this part of the country and it’s lack of a decent public transport system I have commented on this forum that I should make my car available to my house sitters. I’ve explained that that would leave me with no way of getting to and from the airport other than having the house sitters use my car for that purpose and that would be neither practical nor safe.
Would you mind if I included the link to your blog in my listing?
Many thanks
Helen
By the way, I’ve lived in NZ for 23 years and hadn’t heard of Stray Travel until I read your blog.
We would like to stay the maximum allowed for US citizens 90 days. Is having a return ticket strictly enforced at the border?
We have been applying for long term THS sits and if we can secure one use it as the an anchor and possibly find shorter sits on each end, but if we can’t we will join the Kiwi petsitting site. Any other suggestions?
Anyone taken the Auckland to Wellington train lately? Is that enjoyable or exhausting and expensive?
@BunnyCat you will not be able to board the plane without proof of onward travel. We spent 25 months in NZ during covid. We did 42 house sits during that time, mostly through Kiwi Housesitters. Its a beautiful country, enjoy your time there.
@BunnyCat I book an anchor house sit, book travel, and work around adding other sits to fill the time. I highly recommend you consider joining Kiwi Housesitters as they have a much larger presence in NZ and heaps of sits. Also, a fraction of the cost of THS.
If you only have 3 days, i’d fly & save some time avoiding ferry delays etc. Head to the air nz site & look for the grab a seat section where there may be some cheap domestic airfares. You mentioned feb/march & as tis still tourist season, something to think about.
I have been to New Zealand a few times but noi for a few years now. I would highly recommend the ferry from Picton to Wellington. It is the most scenic ferry I have ever been on from the Picton side., for about three quarters of the way across. You are just going through mountainous hills on either side and seiing waterfalls etc. It is absolutely amazing. An experience not to be missed even if you ahd no need to get to the other side. And if you have time do stay a night in Picton and do the extremely scenic walk out to ‘The Snout’ stopping off at 'Bob’s Bay on ther way.
If you had more time I would say do ‘The Queen Charlotte Track’ that starts from Picton. I have done the complete walk all 71k of it twice now. The ferry will take your gear and drop it off where you are staying each night, so you do not have to carry it all. I did it once in three days and the second time in four which was better. Just a bit too far on the first day when doing it in three days. An absolutely amazing walk and at one point you are walking along an extremely scenic ridge where you can see the sea on boith sides… The area around PIcton is one of my favourite places in NZ. If looking for somewhere to stay for a night in Picton, do try Tombestone Baxkpachers. they run it a bit like a hotel and the elderly owners make freshly baked cheese scones every morning for breakfast. Hope you have a grreat time.
Hi there - I’m a NZer living in Sweden and currently on a sit in Spain where the weather is much kinder than Sweden at this time of the year. Aside from Air New Zealand and “grab-a-seat” option, there is also JetStar that might be worth checking out for domestic travel there. I haven’t been back for 18months so don’t know the state of the Wellington - Picton ferries, but last time we travelled on them, there was no problem. If you want to buy a cheapish car, try checking out Turners Auctions or maybe go on to the TradeMe site and see what is available. Happy to answer any questions you may have on NZ and if I can’t, am sure some other Kiwi will be able to. Good luck!
Thank you for all the helpful replies. The ferry option does sound exciting and a great way to see more of NZ. We have to leave Wellington on January 5th and get to Christchurch by the 7th. Our next sit starts on Jan 8th. Is that enough time or ferry cancelations can last several days? We looked at flights as well and they are relatively cheap compared to domestic US flights.
It may come down to $$ as you’re travelling on the weekend before business return from the holidays plus main school holiday time. I’ve not looked in a few months but is it still $300 to take a car on the ferry one way?
I just had a wee look at the air nz site & $119’s not a bad one way fare between welly & cch.
If you do choose to drive, be mindful It’s not a straight piece of road & the traffic volume that weekend.
As Kaikoura’s the main stop beyond Blenheim for most between Picton & Cch, book whatever you need to, now.
Hi bunny Girl. If you caught a ferry early morning on the 5th from Wellington you would reach Picton at some stage on the 5th. Can’t remember how many hours now. You could then have the night of the 5th in Picton. On the 6th you can travel to Christchurch. arriving on the 6th. You have another night to play with, depending what time on the 7th you need to arrive? The ferry trip really is not to be missed. and if coming from Wellington you see it just becoming more amazing as you travel across. I found it like the jewel in the crown and an attraction not to be missed.
. The South Island is rather special. I live quite a few km from the mountains but I can see them from my place. There was a light dusting of snow on the peaks this morning!
No, the train’s a waste of time & you don’t see much at all. I’ve done it once & would rather drive. Don’t trust the cook strait ferries 
.