A bit of background: I’m Maori and moved to Australia when I was a toddler. I returned to Auckland straight after high school, then moved back to Brisbane in my late twenties. I’ve been here ever since and am now in my late thirties.
I’m a single mum with a daughter who is turning six and another baby on the way. Life is fairly comfortable here. I work in hospitality and property operations, earn around $130,000 plus bonuses, and hold both Australian and New Zealand citizenship. However, lately I have felt ready for something different.
I know very little about the South Island. It's another world to the north. Still, I have been thinking that a major change might be a good thing.
Queenstown appeals to me because hospitality is my area of expertise, so I believe I could find suitable work. I would also like to buy a home, preferably before moving in. I have been looking broadly in the $1.5 million to $2 million range, although I am not yet sure what would be realistic on a single income, even with a reasonable deposit.
I would really appreciate honest perspectives from people who actually live in Queenstown:
What is Queenstown like for raising a young family?
What are the schools, childcare options and healthcare services like?
How difficult is it to build a genuine community when so many people are seasonal or transient?
What is the local culture like outside the tourism industry?
How safe does it feel, and are crime or antisocial behaviour significant concerns?
What is the weather like across the full year, rather than just during the tourist seasons?
How seriously do residents need to consider earthquakes, flooding, landslides, snow or other natural hazards?
What are the less obvious disadvantages of living there that visitors may not see?
Would you recommend Queenstown itself, or are nearby areas such as Arrowtown, Lake Hayes, Frankton or Cromwell more practical for a family?
I've researched quite a bit already, but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask the actual community.
Thanks for your help 😊