Living & working in Queenstown?

**Surly** · 3rd August 2007, 20:16

What are the pro's and con's of living and working in Queenstown?

I assume its safe to say its pretty cold but how about cost of living, cost of housing, work prospects, places to ride peopel to ride with and so forth?

cheers
Surly

**McJim** · 3rd August 2007, 20:21

I've been looking at places in the South Island. If you are one of the Uber-rich you too can aford to live in Queenstown.

I don't know how the barstaff can afford to live there but they certainly have got a few pubs.

**Jantar** · 3rd August 2007, 20:27

I was born there, and currently live only one hour away.

Pros:

1. Party, party, party.
2. Plenty of work available, (and good rates of pay).
3. Wild scenery.
4. Best motorcycling roads in New Zealand or Australia.
5. Only an hour away from one of the most pleasant towns in New Zealand
6. Party, party, party.

Cons:

1. Cost of living is high compared to most of new Zealand.
2. Housing is expensive. Nothing under $300,000 and average is closer to $500,000.
3. Do you speak either Korean or Japanese?
4. Lack of parking.

Yes, it is cold in the winter, but can get very hot in summer. It has low rainfall and is protected from most strong winds.

There are a few riders who live close by and the Chatto Creek Motorcycle Club is handy. See http://chatto-creek-mcc.tripod.com

**scumdog** · 4th August 2007, 04:55

Jantar forgot to add that criminal dickheads from all over the world go to Queenstown to drink-drive, steal, sell drugs, commit fraud and get into punch-ups..and then there's the bad ones...and they all know what a bunch of soft-cocks NZ judges are too..

Another con: You're a long way from anywhere.

**Jantar** · 4th August 2007, 14:47

Originally Posted by scumdog

Another con: You're a long way from anywhere.

Nah, he's from Perth. Compared to Perth, Queenstown is only a short hop from the Riviera of the South.

**Surly** · 4th August 2007, 19:33

What's the ratio of tourists to locals in the town and is this where the reference to Korean and Japanese comes from?

What is the attraction for the crims?

Thanks for the info

cheers
Surly

**The Lone Rider** · 4th August 2007, 19:40

Queenstown has reached a point in which the people hired to work full time in the tourist industry and such, can't afford to live in Queenstown.

You will need a deep wallet and several pockets.

**sels1** · 4th August 2007, 19:48

Originally Posted by McJim

I've been looking at places in the South Island. .

With a name and heritage like yours, Dunedin would be appealing wouldnt it?

**Jantar** · 4th August 2007, 19:51

Originally Posted by Surly

What's the ratio of tourists to locals in the town and is this where the reference to Korean and Japanese comes from?

What is the attraction for the crims?

Thanks for the info

cheers
Surly

Queenstown is primarily a tourist destination. There are about 2 tourists for every resident, and many of the residents are seasonal.

The tourists are the attractions for crims, and unfortunately many crims come to the town to work their trade. Scumdog can tell you more about the criminal element as he is in a related line of work.

However I have a step-nephew who is a cop in the town, and a step-daughter who is a lawyer in the town. They both love their work there.

**JimO** · 4th August 2007, 19:59

i have lived in Dunedin all my life been to Qtown lots of times and wouldnt live there if you paid me to and in my line of work i would have more work than i could handle

*its way too crowded in the centre of town
*proprety is overpriced
*its way too yuppified for me
*the whole beauty of the lake is spoiled by the hotels everywhere

just my personal opinion

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 4th August 2007, 20:01

Originally Posted by jimjim

*its way too crowded in the centre of town
*proprety is overpriced
*its way too yuppified for me
*the whole beauty of the lake is spoiled by the hotels everywhere

just my personal opinion

mine too... oh and its ferking cold in winter...

**crazybigal** · 4th August 2007, 22:34

expect to be poor!!! i spent 10 years there.
cost of living is much the same as auckland or wellington.
if you like going out on the piss you will spending all your spare cash on that!
Jobs can be well paid if your not in the hospo industry. Builders and trades get paid well and heaps of work otherwise it can be real seasonal.
all depends what your into, i had friends who never did anythin other than drink. make the most of the mountains and activities to be had, i moved to wellington and really miss being only 30min from coronet peak.
Its cold in the winter but you get used to it, summers can be great, lots of sun.
good luck with the move if you decide to do it

**crazybigal** · 4th August 2007, 22:38

crime! hardly, we lived with our flat door unlocked never had any problems in 10 years, only time the ratbags come to town is when there is a puplic hol like easter or winterfest. Id say its safer than dunedin or christchurch. most of the lowlifes cant aford to live in queenstown!

Originally Posted by Jantar

Queenstown is primarily a tourist destination. There are about 2 tourists for every resident, and many of the residents are seasonal.

The tourists are the attractions for crims, and unfortunately many crims come to the town to work their trade. Scumdog can tell you more about the criminal element as he is in a related line of work.

However I have a step-nephew who is a cop in the town, and a step-daughter who is a lawyer in the town. They both love their work there.

**scumdog** · 5th August 2007, 04:30

Originally Posted by crazybigal

crime! hardly, we lived with our flat door unlocked never had any problems in 10 years, only time the ratbags come to town is when there is a puplic hol like easter or winterfest. Id say its safer than dunedin or christchurch. most of the lowlifes cant aford to live in queenstown!

Hmmm, obviously you don't get to read the Queenstown police crime Report or have a scanner to listen to.

Tonight it was all fights/disorderly behaviour/thefts/pissing in the streets, a somewhat quieter night than normal for a Saturday.

More drunk drivers with high levels than you can shake a stick at too.

I saty there once a year with Dangerous, Mr Sensible, Rashika etc en route to the Glenorchy Rally - that once a year trip just reinforces my prejudice against Queenstown and its denizen.