Looking for somewhere with affordable housing, job opportunities galore and a safe environment to raise your children? The South Island is an exciting, beautiful and liveable place that ticks all of these boxes.
Each part of the island has its own unique charm. From the bustling streets of Christchurch to the action and adventure of Queenstown, the South Island presents a range of different lifestyle choices for every different type of person and family.
Here, we ask the experts at New Zealand Movers about the top destinations to move to in New Zealand’s beautiful South Island.
Christchurch
New Zealand’s second largest city is an interesting mix of mountains, beaches, rivers and cosmopolitan living. Like most of the South Island, Christchurch has a serious advantage in terms of house prices. For example, while the median house price in Auckland is now over $1mil, the Canterbury region has a median house price of just $680k. Quite the difference! Still in the rebuilding phase from the 2011 earthquakes, Christchurch is a fast-growing city with job opportunities in IT, technology and construction.
Dunedin
Dunedin is an underrated gem on the South Island. A university city, it’s the perfect place for students thanks to the highly-esteemed University of Otago, ranked in the world’s top 1% of universities. It’s also home to a distinct mix of Scottish and Maori culture, with beautiful Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Dunedin is known for its strong job market in the areas of education, healthcare and professional services.
Nelson
Art galleries, wineries, mountains, beaches – this compact little jewel facing Tasman Bay is one of the best cities to live in on the South Island. Nelson is home to New Zealand’s biggest fishing port, meaning that well-paid jobs in fishing and agriculture attract many new locals each year. One of New Zealand’s safest cities, Nelson is a great place for children to grow up, and go hiking and swimming on the weekends.
Wanaka
Snow-capped mountains and huge alpine lakes mark the resort town of Wanaka in Otago. The gateway to the Southern Alps, it’s a popular town in winter due to alpine sports. Wanaka is a fantastic place to live for those in tourism and alpine education, presenting a safe and interesting place for children to grow up.
No matter where you decide is the right place on the South Island for you and your family to move to, make sure you pick a trusted moving service like New Zealand Movers. New Zealand Movers are one of the country’s most experienced and highly-regarded furniture movers, with 41 years of experience in the industry. New Zealand Movers can help you get settled in your new home, whether you’re on the North Island, South Island, or somewhere across the globe. Grab a quote from the friendly team today!
