Location
  • New Zealand
    • Auckland
    • Christchurch
    • Queenstown
    • Wellington
Length
52+ weeks
Program Tags
Adventure Travel After College Cultural Immersion Working Holiday

Program Details

Activities
Backpacking Mountain Climbing Surfing
Timeframe
Year Round
Primary Language
English
Age Min.
18
Age Max
30

Pricing

Starting Price
420
Price Details
The fee for BUNAC's Work New Zealand program offers you unparalleled support from the moment of booking until you arrive back home. Costs include access to our resource center in Auckland with arrival orientation which will assist you with setting up bank accounts, tax numbers and finding a job and accommodation. You'll also have access to pre-departure planning and visa support from our team in the USA.

Check out our website for all the details!
What's Included
Some Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Some Meals SIM cards
What's Not Included
Accommodation Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
Mar 14, 2023
Mar 19, 2016
115 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Live the high life as a ski lift attendant, play the field working in a vineyard or cause a stir as a barista. You don’t need a magic ring or bearded wizard to work in New Zealand. You just need BUNAC’s Work New Zealand program – which hooks you up with the visa, arrival accommodation and job support you need to live and work in New Zealand for up to 23 months.

(If the Lord of the Rings reference wasn’t clear – wait until you arrive. The scenery is magical).

New Zealand working holiday visas allow you to work anywhere in the country and in most sectors, giving you the freedom to find a job to support your career or casual work to fund your adventures. Our Global Jobs team source and vet employers across New Zealand who are looking to take on working holidaymakers right now. Typical jobs include hospitality, tourism, labouring, ski resort work, retail, sales, nannying, temping, and fruit picking/harvest work on farms and vineyards.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Comprehensive arrival orientation, including an extensive job hunting presentation
  • Support setting up your tax file number, bank account and accommodation
  • Pre-arranged job opportunities before departure
  • BUNAC’s Booking Promise - 100% money back if you can’t travel due to global pandemicsT&Cs apply.

Program Reviews

4.75 Rating
based on 4 reviews
  • 5 rating 75%
  • 4 rating 25%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 3
  • Support 3.75
  • Fun 5
  • Value 4.75
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Default avatar
Julie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Stunning scenery!

The entire country of New Zealand is absolutely stunning! I spent 10 days driving from Queenstown to Marlborough along the West Coast and saw some of the most beautiful landscape in the world. One area that was particularly breathtaking was at a small backpacker in a remote area of the Marlborough Sounds. It was not easy to get to (several hours driving from the closest town, plus a water taxi) but once there it was worth the trek and highly recommended! Kayaking across the Sound was a blast, and a definite challenge heading directly into the wind. I highly recommend taking the time to explore as much of the country as possible.

What would you improve about this program?
The ability to have up to date tracking once you submit the application, although the staff at the BUNAC USA office were very helpful whenever I called to find out the status of my application.
117 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Beth
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

SO HELPFUL!

BUNAC makes the visa application process incredibly smooth and simple. I couldn't believe how easy it was because of the guidance they provide.

Then, once I got to NZ, I was impressed by the knowledge of the staff in the office in Auckland. I had a specific tax question, and they really went beyond to get me information and point me in the right direction.

If you're considering applying for a visa, I'd definitely recommend this as an easy way to do it!

116 people found this review helpful.
Read my full story
Default avatar
Johanna
5/5
No, I don't recommend this program

New Zealand was Amazing

I had an amazing experience working and traveling in New Zealand. I don't think it was truly necessary to use an outside provider such as BUNAC- anyone could just make these arrangements on their own. They do help guide you through the process and there was an orientation upon arrival, but after that the support was pretty non-existent. You end up just figuring out your own housing, jobs, etc.

But NZ is an amazing country with wonderful people. You need to be diligent to get work, but it is well worth it and the country is so easy to get around to see it all while you are there. Save up money before you go so you have a little flexibility in case you don't get work right away. And don't be afraid to try jobs that might be out of your comfort level- it's an adventure!

130 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Scott
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My first overseas adventure

After finishing university and not knowing what I wanted out of life, I researched overseas programs that would help me gain experience while traveling abroad. I was terrified at the thought of going to another country all by myself, I had never been that far away from home before, but the Bunac and Work New Zealand program definitely helped me to soon get over that!

Once I arrived in NZ, the Work New Zealand office had already booked a night for me at the nearest backpackers and had an orientation meeting for a group of travelers the day I arrived. Sure, I was nervous, but that first day I met so many great people and I knew I had made the right choice. Through the orientation we learned about the NZ culture, the different kinds of jobs available to us, and the essentials like setting up a bank account (and figuring out the currency!).

I went without a plan, and that made for a grand adventure. I learned about WWOOFing (working in exchange for accommodation) and working at backpackers and knew that I wanted to check out the south island first, so I talked with the program office and they recommended that I take the train down south to begin the second part of my adventure.

I stopped in Wellington and applied to different WWOOFing positions and ended up working in a small household (living out of my own little caravan!) with a great family. My mornings started out cleaning up after the horse and donkey that they kept, and then I was assigned other various tasks throughout the day. It was hard work, but it was worthwhile and I got to live with a local family and hear their stories and gain an insight into the culture of the area.

While there I applied to two jobs: One working at a small backpackers in Nelson on the South Island, and the other was just a shot in the dark sending my resume to the observatory at Mt. Cook (because I always wanted to work at an observatory). I ended up getting a call back from the backpackers first and they offered me a position in the reception office and I was soon on the ferry heading there!

I ended up staying there for five months! I loved the family I was working for and it was in such a cool town and really my job was to meet people from all around the world. It doesn't get much better than that! I worked for accommodation, free wi-fi, and utilities AND got a small stipend each week. Talk about an adventure!

My last few months were spent traveling and exploring the South and North Islands, living entirely out of a car (minus the few nights at various backpackers; we had to shower somewhere). Along the way I found myself jumping off cliffs on a canyoning tour, sitting under the light from hundreds of glow worms in a cave in Waitamo, and beside three fierce mountain trolls from The Hobbit! (Seriously though, I had so many more adventures; I could write all day about them)

I ended up losing my passport early on, which was a bummer, but the Work New Zealand office guided me through the steps to get a replacement. It was a hassle, but the process itself wasn't as bad as I had feared thanks to the help I received. And really, the staff at the Work NZ office is always just a phone call or email away and very willing to help travelers in any way they can.

Do yourself a favor and book your year abroad with them. You'll be glad you did.

What would you improve about this program?
At the time I was there the only physical office they had was located in Auckland, so it'd be really nice to see them put more satellite offices up around the country!
122 people found this review helpful.
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Questions & Answers

Hi Em, Sorry for the delay getting back to you. You can work for up to 12 months on the New Zealand working holiday visa. Unfortunately that visa doesn't allow dependents on it. Cheers Lucy

Hi there! Thank you for your interest in our Work New Zealand program. Our programs are open to worldwide citizens; however, if you are not from the US, UK or Ireland you must be able to independently gain the Working Holiday visa for your intended destination.