In recent years, with burgeoning house prices in New Zealand’s main centres, Kiwis are looking to move to some of the more smaller and up-and-coming towns across both the North and South Islands. The lower cost of living and thriving local economies make some of these places a fantastic option for young Kiwis who are looking to buy their first home, start a family or who want a change in lifestyle. From Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, moving is made easy thanks to services such as Conroy Removals moving around New Zealand.
The following is a list of a few of the more underrated places to move to, and why, if you are planning on moving out of the hustle and bustle of the city, you should check them out!
Taupo
Taupo is a typical tourist destination, which means it has all the advantages of a large city, such as events, stores, access to larger city centers, but it is still a fairly small city. This means there is less traffic, a great deal more space, and everything is nearby. It is a beautiful, open town that is great for visiting, but also spectacular for living. The housing is affordable, crime is low, and there are plenty of schooling options for families. Taupo is a laidback, simple environment that makes a great home for anyone looking for a place to live outside of the main centres. The life on the lake in summer time makes for a fantastic way of living.
Napier
For someone looking for a busier life in a similarly gorgeous environment, Napier is the perfect fit. Napier is a commercial center in New Zealand, right on the coast. This town looks like a Mediterranean port, but it has good connections to Auckland. Napier has several active areas of business, several of which are still hiring new people. Napier also has plenty in the way of an active personal life. It is especially lively in terms of performance art, watersports and dining. However, it still manages to balance all this with a calm, idyllic feel. The charming art-deco and history make for a great place to live.
New Plymouth
New Plymouth has come to be an event capital recently, and it has a range of fascinating and fun festivals all throughout the year. During average days, it also has plenty of opportunities for dining out, seeing the city, and athletics. New Plymouth is also near the sea, and it is close to several beautiful beaches. The environment is rich and vibrant, and the area where it is located is often known as the Garden of New Zealand because of its lush parks and gardens. It is certainly a spectacular place to live, and it has plenty of options for housing, whether you are looking for rentals or to buy.
Nelson
Nelson is a spectacularly stunning city. It is a smaller city, but this gives it that familiar small town feel. It is sunny year round, with some of the best weather in New Zealand, so for those who get the winter blues easily, Nelson is the perfect place. The landscape is just as spectacular as the weather, which allows for plenty of outdoors opportunities. The town is surrounded by lakes, mountains, rives and beaches. Great for those who want a beautiful, small town to live in. In summer, kayaking and trekking around Abel Tasman National Park is on the highlights of New Zealand, where you’ll be competing with the rush of tourists who flock to this part of the world in January through to March.
Dunedin
Dunedin, like Taupo, is the best of both worlds. It has nearly everything a large city could offer, but it remains small enough that residents can still enjoy that small town neighborly feeling. The weather is a comfortable balance between too hot and too cold. The winters are colder than many places in New Zealand, but a great deal warmer than others. It has a large university population, meaning that it is thriving with arts and music events. Driving between places is easy due to the smaller traffic, whether it is the city center or the beaches that you are looking for.
All in all, New Zealand is ripe with places to live, and the move from out of Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch to one of the towns mentioned above will enhance your lifestyle, and if you’ve found a good paying job it can be a fantastic financial move.