Working in Queenstown New Zealand

Airport

Queenstown International Airport

Queenstown Airport is located about 8kms from the centre of town and is becoming one of the busiest airports in New Zealand. Currently servicing just under 1 million passengers per year, the airport is the fourth busiest in the country.  Most flights into Queenstown are domestic links from other New Zealand cities including Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. There are limited direct international flights to Queenstown with most originating in Australian cities such as Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

There are buses, shuttles and taxis available for transport between Queenstown Airport and the CBD. Connectabus is the link between the airport and the various accommodation options and other attractions within Queenstown. A Connectabus fare between the airport and the city should cost about NZ$8.00.

Super Shuttle offers a service between Queenstown and the airport. Options with Super Shuttle include shared rides as well as private charters. There are also plenty of taxis in and around Queenstown.

Railway station

There are limited but outstanding rail services across New Zealand. Travelling by rail makes for an excellent way to take in the varied and breathtaking scenery of both Islands. There are two main rail journeys on the South Island the Christchurch / Picton line and the Christchurch / Greymouth line. The first is for travel between Christchurch and the northern tip of the South Island while the second enables travellers to bisect the South Island on an east / west journey.

If Queenstown is your base of operation or your final destination then a scenic rail journey might be an option for exploring other parts of the South Island.

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If you do choose to use rail as part of any journey around New Zealand, remember that Scenic Rail Pass allows unlimited travel on the long distance passenger train network (including the ferry transfer between Wellington in the North and Picton in the South). Travelling by rail pass means that you can get off and on as often as you like ensuring that you can explore New Zealand at your leisure.

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The Scenic Essential Pass includes both train and coach bus travel.

Transportation

Queenstown is not a vast city so there is not a significant need for extensive public transport systems. Connectabus does run a daily passenger service and there are plenty of taxis available. There is also a Queenstown Water Taxi service.

Cost of Living

Compared with other cities around the world, Queenstown is very expensive with most goods and services costing more than they would in other locations. This is in large part because Queenstown is the premier tourist destination in New Zealand and “tourist prices” do apply. However, if you do have an adventurous spirit, this is a great place to pick up work in the tourist industry – a trade-off that is well worth it.

Calculating the average monthly after tax salary in Queenstown is difficult because so many people are employed in tourist industries, which by their nature tend to be based on casual employment arrangements. As a guide, however, the average monthly after tax salary in Christchurch is NZ$2,958.50.

According to the online database, Numbeo (www.numbeo.com) prices for typical items are as follows:

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Moneyconverter.com is an excellent resource for converting any local currency to that of your home country. This is a great tool for budgeting and stretching your “hard-earned” cash.

Accommodation

Queenstown offers a range of accommodation options. From backpackers to five-star hotels and high-end resorts you are sure to find a place to stay that suits your style and your budget.

Where you ultimately decide to stay depends in large part on whether you are looking to set-up in one place for the long-term or prefer to move around from place-to-place during your time in New Zealand.

In Queenstown, some accommodation options include:

Budget

Bumbles Backpackers Queenstown

Absoloot Value Accommodation

Adventure Queenstown Hostel

Mid-range

Rydges Lakeland Resort

Mercure Queenstown Resort

Heartland Hotel Queenstown

High-end

Esplanade Queenstown

Hilton Queenstown Resort and Spa

Evergreen Lodge

Ultra-Luxury

Blanket Bay

Azur

Elchardt’s Private Hotel

Shopping

Queenstown offers a range of shops, cafes, restaurants and other outlets that are primarily targeted at the tourist trade. This means that you will pay a premium for many things and you will need to shop wisely if you are in Queenstown for the long haul.

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As with most higher-end tourist towns, keep an eye out for end-of-season sales, as you are likely to find some bargains

Emergency

Emergency telephone numbers

Police, Fire and Ambulance      111

Insurance and Healthcare

A number of countries, including Australia, have signed reciprocal health care agreements with New Zealand. The agreement provides all residents of Australia who are temporarily in New Zealand with immediate necessary hospital and pharmacy services. However, charges do often apply for visits to the GP (General Practitioner) and other medical services,

Many New Zealanders take out private health cover to further support their overall access to health care so it is important to explore your options before you depart to ensure that you have more than adequate coverage should you need to access any medical services.

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As with any travel experience, before heading off to New Zealand for holiday or work, you should confirm the specific health-care services that will be available to you and also consider taking out your own, personal travel insurance.

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Some insurance policies will have waiting periods and exclusions. Make sure you fully understand the limitations of your cover before signing up.