Where's Best to Live in NZ and what do we need to know: PART TWO!!!

[AngryBeaver]

Wow,have just gone to post and it wouldn't except it! So have had to start a new thread. Hope everyone finds it ok.I feel a bit like we've all been out for the night and somehow got seperated and no one has their mobile!!
Anyway,this was the question I've had to cut and paste from the old thread:...

Sorry,have had a quick look but can't see...has anyone used emirates?
I think the sky couch thing looks good,but we'd have to buy a couple and that would be pricey.
Dh reckons Emirates are fine,but I don't think he's anticipating how different it's going to be travelling that disatnce with 3 exhausted infants.
He has limited travel experience as it is and the longest he has been on a plane with them is 3 hours. He keeps saying it will be fine,they'll sleep for loads of it...somehow I'm thinking this will not happen!!

I did do suncream!you can see the finger marks of it on mt back and the bits I missed out!I do know that skin cancer is common out here and I'm usualy careful.Will have to up my game!
Enjoy Queenstown

My dcs are around the same age as yours WhatSheSaid and they loved the steamship and farm trip when we visited Queenstown recently. We did the cable car in the early evening and combined with the buffet at the restaurant up there - views were absolutely amazing and food was good too - much nicer than I expected. The botanic gardens are nice to wander round with kids and Arrowtown is also good for a day trip, some lovely little shops and cafes there.

If you're into wine there are some great wineries in Gibbston Valley. I know it's not the most child friendly activity but we did stop at one for wine tasting and a lovely lunch which was remarkably child-friendly with a sand pit and toys out in the back. I can't remember the name now but it was run by the bungy jumping company AJ Hackett I think. It's close to the kawarau bridge where you can watch the crazy people leaping off.

Like you, I really wanted to visit Milford Sound but I reckon it would have been too much for the dc. That will have to wait until they are older.

Another must-do for carnivores in Queenstown is Fergburger. The burgers there are fab :)

Thanks Cousinit some good ideas there. I particularly like the idea of the enjoying a nice lunch and getting mildly pissed at a vineyard while the dds play in the sandpit :).

Dh has just phoned from work to say he has been recommended Fergburgers so another vote for them.

I went to queenstown pre kids about 7 years ago. I really liked Arrowtown and think kids would too. I think you're right that Milford Sound wouldn't be ideal - a long drive and boat trip which would just be a bit stressful in my view and lost on them. Are Lone Stars still going? We ate there and in the Nelson one and they were great.

So I'm waiting to hear about our visas - I know we are in the system from their automated emails. However today I see they have taken the money out our account for all of them - is this a good sign? I'm getting a bit excited.... Or do they take the cash, decline you and then either keep it or give you a refund? Am I overthinking this?- (sorry bit drunk - been in charge of 5 boys 5 and under today and it's been a tough shift).

The postman just arrived - with our visas!!! We're in!

'Ray,lolly!See you soon!

Congratulations lolly! Great news. Now the fun begins!

We heard this week that DD needs an op and will be in hospital for a week. Any of you already here had any experience of staying at Starship? I'm not looking forward to staying there.

Sorry to hear about your dd littlestkiwi. I don't know anybody who has stayed at Starship. People I know who have taken their dcs there for general A and E type stuff always seem to sing its praises though.

Oh dear,sorry to hear that,kiwi.Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery for your dd and minimal stress during your stay xx

Good luck littlestkiwi - remind me - are you based in Auckland or will you have to travel to it? How old is dd?

We live in the Eastern Bays so are only about 15 mins from Starship. We'll be able to do shifts or take turns with the over nights as one of us has to stay. DD is 2.5. The drs have been discussing this op for about 18 months so I'm sort of glad the tests are finally over. They haven't given us an option and it should resolve the problem. I just want it over with as soon as possible now but we are waiting for a date.

Lolly- can you remind me where you are headed and when you plan to arrive?

Can't imagine how you must be feeling about the op but it's good it's resolvable. I know a nurse here who said Auckland had an amazing kids hospital so that must be starship. When is it? Best wishes with it all.

We're arriving mid march I think and heading for centre or north shore - dh got preference for the shore. My concern is nursery tbh - want to work (need to for cash too) and it will be CBD - the nurseries I've googled all seem to close at 5 or 5.30 so how do women work as I'd need to be there to pick up in the shore but also at work. Is it ok to work 8.30-4.30 to fit with the nursery hours?

Bedtime crisis - DH hadn't told family about Nz - he planned to drive to tell them in person next week as didn't see point in upsetting them when we didn't have certainty of visas. A friend in Australia who we told yesterday has posted something on his Facebook and his niece is always in our pages. She's seen it so SiL and his mum both on phone at 6.30 asking what's going on. He's told them and obviously very upset - not at all how we planned. Kids running around mad in the midst of it. Feel a bit sick tbh.

Meanwhile my mum has landed back in heathrow this afternoon after giving up on her Nz dream.

High drama - time for wine I think

lollystix the other option for nursery (they call it daycare here btw, if you ask people about nurseries they will direct you to plant-growing places :) ) is to use one in or near the CBD, then you are not rushing up to the Shore before 5.30 for pick-up. There are quite a few in the city expressly for this purpose. I think there are some jobs that do shorter hours, obviously depends what job you do and your employer.

cool - and do you have after school clubs too? Basically if I can't work we can't afford NZ but as usual it's left to me to do all the drop offs and pick ups. I suppose if the afterschools also close at 5.30 then I'm stiuck again unless I can find a childminder who could hold DS1 till about 5.45- do they operate in NZ?

I'm googling like mad north shore schools to find who is offering afterschool care. It all feels a bit manic that we have to get nursery and afterschool solutions in place before renting so I know we pick the right house so I can work - seems a bit back to front but do t want to get ds1 settled in a school with associated rental only to find no childcare solutions possible. Feels like UK stress to me.

When are you going to let them know about wedding?

DH in pub as was meeting a mate - he was calling his dad on the way - not sure what's been said. He did tell me his mum had asked why we weren't moving closer to them in UK instead. He told her cos I couldn't get work there (I earn bit more than DH so I do need to work) and she had said that with 4 kids I shouldn't be working and should be SAHM - hoping I'm not going to painted the evil wifey taking her baby and grandkids away. The move isn't about me getting new job - I have a good one here I'll be giving up - it's a lifestyle choice. Think she needs some time to absorb it.

Lolly- sorry to hear you are having family issues. It's never easy. I've heard of a lot of people whose families give them a horribly hard time. But others who have ended up with stronger relationships because the move.

Re childcare. My daughters nursery is open 7.30 to 5.30 and most kiwis seem to start earlier and finish earlier. Is there a way your OH can do one of the runs? (I suspect I face this battle if I ever manage to get a job.) Are you willing to say what sector you work in?

We don't have a date yet which is a pain. We have a week's leave booked in a couple of weeks but aren't sure whether to book anywhere to stay in case it is then. But if it is before, we won't want to go away with a newly operated on DD. Sigh. I just want it out of the way now. It's heartbreaking visiting starship and seeing kids who have obviously spent a lot of time there. Puts DD's issue into perspective.

Yes we live near major kids hospital in Scotland - been in there a few times for minor issues but had 5 day stay with ds2 with serious bug which was awful as they could confirm his illness for days. Saw some of the other kids and their issues and, like you say, it really does put things into perspective.

(puts on tin hat) I'm in financial services - not quite sure how that came to pass really and don't love it but figure it would be the easiest thing to transfer into that sector in Nz.

Dh back from pub - his dad says his mum naturally very upset (we always knew this would be the case and she's not unreasonable it's just family very important - she's been hoping we would move closer).

Do you work for one of the biggest employers in Edinburgh? I temped there a couple of times in 1996/1997. I wonder if we know each other.....

I don't know much about that sector in NZ. But people have more kids here, and younger. So it must be possible to work.

lollystix many primary schools offer before and after school care (on the school premises). You would have to look at individual school websites or email them to get details for each school though.

Here's a link to Skids, they run before and after school programmes in schools. If you go to "Locations" they list all the schools on the Shore they operate in. Other schools may have their own programmes too, this is just the first name that came to my mind. If you know a school you are interested in I would suggest emailing them to check whether they have before/after school care and what hours they offer.