{"id":9390,"date":"2018-12-04T13:20:17","date_gmt":"2018-12-04T00:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/queenstownlife.com\/?p=9390"},"modified":"2021-06-16T14:14:13","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T02:14:13","slug":"new-to-queenstown-your-guide-to-settling-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/queenstownlife.com\/2018\/12\/new-to-queenstown-your-guide-to-settling-in\/","title":{"rendered":"New to Queenstown? Your guide to settling in"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/p>\n When I moved to Queenstown<\/span><\/a> New Zealand over fifteen years ago it seemed smaller, quieter. I wondered how I would ever get used to which shops were on The Mall and which were on Beach Street (tbh I still get confused) but I joined the local running group and went to the library and started from there.<\/p>\n Queenstown seemed<\/em> to be a mish-mash of locals, tourists, young people. Some here for the snow, sports fanatics here for the races and hospitality staff here to party and so I had to work out where I fitted in and also remove some of the little discrepancies I had heard from others about the town. This place gets into your bones. It’s expensive, fast paced and often chews people up and sadly for some it feels like they are spat out, but if you can find your place this town has a giant heart beating right at the core.<\/p>\n When you arrive find your group(s). There’s HEAPS of them happening here and a few to get your teeth into and make some friends:<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Get outside<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Running groups<\/span> Triathlon<\/span><\/a> swim squad Open water swimming Park Run<\/span><\/a> Weekly mountain bike rides with Torpedo 7 here<\/span><\/a>!<\/p>\n Races <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n Get Involved\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wakatipu Potters<\/span><\/a> Group<\/p>\n The biggest list of clubs to join<\/span><\/a> you can find here! From curling, to line dancing to gardening. Why have I never found this before….?<\/p>\n Volunteering: Plenty of places to get involved here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n I have a locals podcast<\/span><\/a> and section<\/span><\/a> on the website to see what people get up to!<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n What you need Get some good boots\/ runners for walking\/ hiking. There’s so many trails<\/span><\/a> out there even the biggest hater of the outdoors gets out there. Get your camera ready and get your smiles on, you’re bound to meet someone who’s new to the area.<\/p>\n Suncream Get up to speed on what’s happening with the hospital, who isn’t pulling their weight at QLDC, a new breed of sheep… all can be discovered at Crux<\/span><\/a>. A fantastic journalistic goldmine.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Support\/ Help<\/span><\/p>\n Happiness<\/span><\/a> House for everything you might need even if you don’t need it. Access to supportive chats and somewhere warm to hang out. They have weekly groups, free food, second hand stuff and access to Legal advice every month.<\/p>\n Central Lakes<\/span><\/a> Family Services for anyone experiencing family violence\/ abuse or sexual assault and families\u00a0experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. Families, individuals, children.<\/p>\n Citizens<\/span><\/a> Advice Bureau. Not sure if it’s legal? ask the experienced team here.<\/p>\n Medical Centres: Lakes District Hospital Emergency<\/span> <\/a>and Midwife team<\/p>\n Community Mental Health<\/span><\/a> Team<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Jobs<\/span><\/p>\n Pick up a copy of these releases (yep paper is still king here) for current jobs in the area : Mountain<\/span><\/a> Scene\/ Lakes<\/span><\/a> Weekly Bulletin and online here: Seek<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Co-working spaces- Sherwood<\/span><\/a>, Fluid Sharespace, <\/span><\/a>Yonder .<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Community Facebook Pages<\/span><\/p>\n Queenstown Lakes Women<\/span><\/a> – 1500 strong founded my moi! A safe and supportive environment for w\u0101hine and anyone identifies.<\/p>\n Start Up<\/span><\/a> Queenstown Lakes<\/p>\n Queenstown Creative<\/span><\/a> Collective<\/p>\n Queenstown Photographers<\/span><\/a> Community<\/p>\n Queenstown Trading<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Queenstown Lakes\u00a0Entrepreneurs\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Quiet places Sam Summers Loop <\/a><\/p>\n Local places<\/span><\/p>\n Atlas<\/span><\/a> for good steak and chips and craft beer. If you’re new here and want a full pack itinerary to really get your teeth into the place check out my 1-3 day must do’s for Queenstown<\/span><\/a> and Wanaka.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Homesickness is totally normal. I spent so much time thinking “what have I done?” and then slowly but surely I found my place. I ‘fit’ into little pockets of the place and before long I knew where to head to get my coffee where there wouldn’t be queues, where to get the best bagels from and where the hikes were that your camera would weep. Give it time. And you’ll fall in love with it every single day.<\/p>\n I’d love to know what you needed to know when you first moved here. Get in touch with your list!<\/p>\n
\nDon’t be put off by the word on the street (out of this town) that seems to be “Queenstown doesn’t have a community”. It has a massive one, you just have to unlock the layers and voil\u00e0. So many people here in the same position as you; close family a thousand miles away all looking for somewhere to call home.<\/p>\n
\nMonday Runday<\/span><\/a>
\nEvery Monday at 6pm a new run every week (between 6-12k) and lots of levels so don’t worry about being slow!<\/p>\n
\nAlpine Aqualand have a squad that runs every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 6.30am. All levels.<\/p>\n
\nSouthern Lakes Swimming Club<\/span><\/a>. Every Saturday at 9am at the Scout Den Near the Boatshed on Frankton Marina.<\/p>\n
\nEvery Saturday at 8am (Summer) and 9am (Winter) is Park Run. A free timed 5k run by volunteers. Get yourself on the list for helping and also run it!<\/p>\n
\nActive QT<\/span><\/a> (the one and only Adrian Bailey) have more races than you could shake a stick at. Have a look at what’s going on and you’ll be sure to find something you can get into your lycra for and meet some newbies.<\/p>\n
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\nIf it’s Spring\/Summer get a fan asap. If it’s Autumn\/Winter get a heater. ASAP. The houses here are not always the best and you might find yourself shivering in your thermals before long. (**Note to self get some thermals**) and often it gets really hot in Summer so get yourself down to the local second hand shop and get a fan before they all go.<\/p>\n
\nThe sun here is evil and I mean burns-within-a-second evil. It’s very strong, even in Winter, so get a big pot of suncream and slip, slop, slap my friends.<\/p>\n
\nQueenstown<\/span><\/a> Medical Centre
\nWakatipu<\/span><\/a> Medical Centre<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>When Queenstown gets a bit busy in those seasons (let’s be honest all year now) here are some lovely places to sit, reflect and realise why you came to this amazing place.<\/p>\n
\nMoke Lake
\nMoonlight Track
\nTrails Trust Trails
\nLake Hayes
\nKevin Heights Peninsula Trail
\nJacks Point<\/span><\/a> Club House<\/p>\n
\nJoes<\/span><\/a> Garage for coffee and great vintage ski videos
\nSherwood<\/span> <\/a>for yoga, coffe, lunch, dinner and hanging out.
\nRaeward<\/span><\/a> Fresh for coffee and bagels and local banter.
\nQLDC Library<\/span> <\/a>lets be honest, I always head to the library for ‘what’s on’ in a new place and this library is awesome. A quiet place to sit and work too.
\nRemarkables Market<\/span><\/a> every Saturday 9am-2pm October through to April. Winter markets coming!<\/p>\n
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