Safe, friendly, drop-dead gorgeous and with good job prospects. No, not our USIT dating profile – but the reasons why you should do a working holiday in New Zealand.
We have hundreds of working holiday jobs in New Zealand to fill right now.
Holy sheep!
Home to snow-capped peaks, golden surf beaches and coolly creative cities, Aeoteroa or New Zealand is a showstopper. And Kiwis know it (the people, not the birds). They’re some of the proudest in the world – protective over their environment and the nation’s rich Māori culture. Inventors of the phrase 'too easy', they're also some of the friendliest and most laidback.
Need to know before you go
Where to go
When the travel gods were thinking ahead to 2015 #vanlife hashtags, they earmarked New Zealand. The best place on the planet to do a campervan roadtrip, you can get around the best of the North and South Islands in around two months. Giving you the option to pick up casual work to fund your travels, or base yourself in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington or Queenstown doing career or trade jobs – getting on the road at weekends and holidays to explore.
What it pays
New Zealand has one of the highest minimum wages, currently NZD $22.70/hour. The cost of living can be high, so opt for seasonal fruit picking, vineyard work or hospitality work in resorts and hotels which often includes subsidised staff accommodation. If you're looking to do professional or trade work, your earning potential will be much higher – especially as you can work for the same employer for the full year of your New Zealand working holiday visa.
When to go
New Zealand works year-round, with ski season winters and beach barbecue summers. The summer (Dec-Feb) is high season, bringing with it seasonal hospitality and tourism jobs to help with the crowds. By June, it’s gearing up for ski season with resort work on both islands – with Queenstown being the goal for many working holidaymakers. Shoulder season (March-May, Sep-Nov) are great times to explore between jobs – with cheaper digs and fewer campers on the roads.
Get hired or get the intel
Net lag is real! Why spend hours online finding out about J1, when you can get all the inside intel in one go from our J1 team? Your summer J1 ride or die, we'll tell you everything you need to know - including where you can go, what jobs you can do, and when you need to apply. Sign up now for our free travel talk.
Meet Camp Directors face-to-face, connect with others heading to camp, and (fingers crossed) get hired on the day. To register your interest, apply for Summer Camp USA and let us know which city you'd like to attend. We can't wait to see your face, but don't worry if you can't make an in-person event - the quickest way to get hired is in our hiring pool.
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