About
Bronwyn is British (her mother’s family is English and her father’s family is Scottish). She was born in Scotland and grew up there until she was in high school, and then she moved with her parents and her brother to Canada. She is now 29 and a dual British and Canadian citizen.
Tell us about you
I only speak English (unfortunately), I did learn French in school but when I was teenager, I didn’t understand how valuable speaking a second language would be, so I didn’t stick with it sadly. I have worked a wide variety of jobs in my life, but currently I’m working my favourite job I’ve ever had, which is as a freelance digital marketing specialist.
Moving to New Zealand
When and why did you move to New Zealand?
I spent a year living in Australia on a working holiday visa when I was 22 and absolutely loved it. Ever since then I had been wanting to do the same thing in New Zealand because I knew it would be an adventure, and that’s what I crave. Covid got in the way for a while unfortunately, but finally I was able to make the move this year, and I arrived in New Zealand in May 2023 with my fiancé!
How did you find an apartment in New Zealand?
There are actually so many different ways you can find accommodation here. For the first month, I rented an Airbnb in Auckland because it was nice to have somewhere set up already before I arrived. For my next accommodation, I found it through a Facebook group for Auckland sublets. There’s so many groups like this, and I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking to stay in one place for a while. Through this Facebook group, I managed to find a sublet for two months in a beach town north of Auckland, and it was perfect.
Since I left the Auckland area, I’ve been using a third option which is house sitting! I’ve been house sitting in Matamata for a month, where I get to stay in a family’s house for free while they are away, in exchange for taking care of their pets (in this case, it’s two cats and four chickens). My fiancé and I have another three house sits lined up after this one, all in the Wellington area! The website I use for this is called Trusted Housesitters.
How did you get set up?
I am a very organized planner, so I researched all logistical aspects well in advance and felt super prepared when I arrived. Getting a phone plan was very easy, I simply went to the store of my chosen network (One NZ) and got set up with a sim card and phone plan in only a few minutes. Setting up a bank account was a bit more complicated, but still not too bad. I decided to go with ANZ, so I had to fill out their online application, then they emailed me the day/time of my in-person appointment. I had to bring all my necessary identification and documents with me to that appointment, and then I walked out of there with a new bank account. To work here you also need to get an IRD number for taxes, but this is pretty easy to apply for online.
What did you bring with you to New Zealand?
I brought two suitcases (one carry-on size and one larger) and my backpack and that’s it! They are filled to the max though so I will likely have to donate some clothes at some point next year. I do like to bring little mementos of home with me though, so besides clothes/toiletries/electronics, I did also bring my favourite mug (for my morning coffee), a small stuffed animal, and some printed photographs.
Living in New Zealand
What are the main differences between Scottish people, Canadians, and Kiwis?
I feel like Canadians are stereotyped as being very nice, and don’t get me wrong, some are, but I can honestly say that I have found Kiwis and Scots to be overall nicer. There are a lot more similarities than differences though between these three nationalities, which makes the transition of moving between them much easier.
When’s the best moment to visit New Zealand?
If you’re from anywhere in the northern hemisphere, then January or February is the best time to come because you get to escape winter in your country and come and enjoy the New Zealand summer!
Have you seen any wildlife?
You will see sheep and cows absolutely everywhere in New Zealand, I mean literally everywhere. I now completely believe the fact that there are more sheep than people in the country. Definitely visit a kiwi sanctuary in New Zealand if you can! Because they are nocturnal animals, you’re super unlikely to see them in the wild, so a kiwi sanctuary/house/hatchery is a great opportunity to see them. I went to the National Kiwi Hatchery in Rotorua and was able to see two adult kiwi birds there, it was amazing!
Do you feel safe?
Yes, I feel very safe in New Zealand. It’s a very safe country overall, and I would be more than fine walking by myself at night, for example. I have heard that car theft is something to be wary of here, which I worry about from time to time, but in terms of my own personal safety, yes, I always feel safe here, which is very comforting.
What are some books / movies that we could read to learn about New Zealand?
Lord of the Rings of course, and the Hobbit movies as well! You’ll definitely want to visit Hobbiton if you’re a fan, which is in the small town of Matamata in the North Island. It’s really well set up and feels like you’re stepping into the movie when you take a tour there. I’d also highly recommend the book “Experience New Zealand” by Lonely Planet. I have that book with me and have discovered a lot of cool places to visit in there (sometimes it’s nicer to read through a book than Google search everything!).
What should people consider before deciding to move to New Zealand?
People should definitely consider how far away it is. New Zealand feels very isolated in that it’s so far away from anywhere else (besides Australia). If you’re from a country like Canada, the cost of living is honestly similar though. But if you want to move here, I recommend getting your driver’s license if you don’t already have it, because New Zealand doesn’t have great infrastructure (like trains) between cities or great public transport in cities/towns.
Final Thoughts
What has been the hardest aspect of living in New Zealand?
The hardest aspect is probably being so far away from family and friends. I previously lived a four-hour drive from my parents which is still far but obviously nothing is as far as New Zealand. Besides that, though, nothing has been incredibly hard because I love the experience of living abroad in a new place, and I also have my fiancé here with me, who is a great support system, and he feels like home to me.
Are there any experiences there that you are particularly proud of or that surprised you?
I had no idea that New Zealand had sand dunes so when I discovered Te Paki sand dunes on the North Island I was blown away because it felt like I was in another world. I went sand boarding here, and I was very scared to go down some of the giant dunes, but I did it and felt very proud of myself after.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
After our year in New Zealand, my fiancé and I plan to travel more, likely to parts of Asia because neither of us have been there. After that, we want to explore the possibility of getting working holiday visas in other countries so we can continue our living abroad journey 🙂
Thank you so so much Bronwyn! I had NO IDEA that there were sand dunes in New Zealand either! Sounds like quite an adventure; traveling the world with your fiance! I wish you well on your travels.
Her Instagram is Here and her Tiktok is also @bronwynabroad!
Her Instagram is Here and her Tiktok is also @bronwynabroad!
