Leaving Queenstown (update)

In this week's video, we're going to talk about why we left Queenstown after 6 months of living here, and what our next plans are for traveling New Zealand. #newzealand #travel #lifeupdate

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➤ ABOUT US: Hi! We’re Nick & Raychel, and we want to help people open their eyes to alternative living, whether that be teaching English online, moving to Cambodia, taking advantage of working holiday visas, or building a DIY stealthy camper van to live & work on the road. Nothing is off limits when adventure is the ultimate goal. After three years of living full time van life throught Canada, Mexico and the USA, we're now car camping our way through New Zealand in a Land Rover Discovery 1.

Our goal here is to bring you weekly content where we hope to inspire you to break free & live the life you desire. On this channel, we talk everything from finances to minimalism to working online to mindset and post a weekly vlog of our daily lives. We hope you join us on our journey to see the world, save money, live minimally, and most importantly, have fun.

So if you're looking for a channel about van life, alternative living, and budget travel, you're in the right place.

[nickandraychel]

OMG I feel like we haven't spoken to y'all in foooorever. Thanks for letting us catch you up this week. This past month has been a bit chaotic. Between leaving our jobs, moving, our car breaking down days before our road trip North, and a trip that took us out of the country, it has been... nuts. But don't worry, we filmed it ;) so we'll see you next week with a new travel video.

[deanparkin]

So sad you're leaving the south island its been great having you both show it to the world. 😢😢enjoy the north island and hopefully you'll make it back here soon stay safe guy's ❤

[scottgresham]

Queenstown is a remarkable place with an international community that feels different and excluded from the rest of New Zealand. My wife and I were there for a few months (she is on holiday there right now), before we decided it was too expensive, and the landlord asked us to leave because of something I did (which was wrong and warranted being asked to leave). We had a car and drove around most weekends, Skippers canyon, Wanaka, Arrowtown including mountains above Arrowtown, Shotover river, and countless other places. As for housing, either you can buy your own property (very expensive) or I think you need to develop some deep connections in Queenstown and prove yourself as a long-term resident. Covid had a tough impact on Queenstown, but it has pulled through and keeps moving forward and has a lot of money coming into it from high places.

[marleymarl]

Been fun following the QT/SI videos. It’s too bad about the housing situation, I think council could help more. They just sold some land for $20m, and a big new development in Frankton being built is advertised as “holiday rentals”… It looks like they are not incentivizing living for permanent residents. With the cost to build, land and mortgage rates, I don’t blame home owners for airbnbing though.

[murraystirling]

Really sad you’re leaving guys. Take care and keep safe. ❤❤

[modfus]

Thanks for this update. I've missed you guys😉

[steventhomas]

North Island, then you will be living in Hawkes Bay you will see a difference in the islands

[ir]

Awesome coming to the best island of NZ🙃 Safe travels to your mystery destination and see you on Te Ika-a-Māui soon.

[Emzy]

I was feeling genuinely worried as you guys hadn’t posted for a while!! Glad all is well and you’re on another adventure, super excited to find out where that is…my guess is Chile?!

[markmatthews]

Leaving Queenstown in 2 weeks due to housing costs and shortage. Moving to one of the best neighbourhoods in Auckland for $200 less a week. I've never lived anyplace in the world (and I'm a NYer who's lived on 4 continents) which took a greater percentage of my income for simple survival. Rent alone was well over 50% of my income. It's a small town with sterile, unimaginative, touristy bars and restaurants and small scale slopes that are mostly covered in snow made by snow machines. It's quaint and nice and the hiking is great but not even close to worth the money you spend here when there's better, less expensive, world class options in the region.

[ReneePosthuma]

I left NZ to live in Japan for a bit just before you guys moved to NZ, and man it’s always to see scenery and familiar sights through your videos! That frost, ah I miss the crisp mornings! I could almost feel it 🥹. My guess on where you’re going is either Japan or South Africa 😀

[cerico]

is it possible ? "easy" to find a job as a Handyman? I am looking to move to New Zealand, I fix Campervan for leaving, but is going probably to be a seasonal job. Cheers.

[JohnMehana]

My guess is Japan and don't forget to come back.

[Calsdenim]

Did you work on the front desk at the QEC? Where vanlifers go for. $2 shower?? 😅

Be careful in the North island, there is a lot more gang activity there. Definitely a different vibe to the south island. Especially bad around Hawkes bay, bay of plenty.

Take care on your travels

[richardcaldwell]

Sad but true with airBNB, someday it will come back & bite them on the bum !! 13hours eh.... I plumb for Tokyo Coneche wha. Enjoy your trip guys

[virtualdude]

Your next destination is one of these:
Hong Kong
Singapore
Bali, Indonesia
Tokyo, Japan
Bangkok, Thailand
Seoul, South Korea

[stevie_M]

Hi have a fun trip, my guess is Taiwan.

[AutumninAsia]

I think you are going to South America !!

[VandalNZ]

I wont lie, I've watched all but a handful of your videos and had to stop here specifically cos all I read was "why we are leaving" and I thought it meant you were leaving NZ! lol. Its 4am and I actually said out loud wtf????"

[charleycox]

Queenstown housing is a joke. The landlords spat their dummies out over the new renting regulations and decided the appropriate response was to turn everything into an airbnb. The complete lack of empathy and foresight has crippled the towns workforce. I have to move house at least once a year and houses are getting harder to find every time. Slowly getting squeezed out after 5 years here, gotta move again by end of september.