New Zealand is a country that is a wonderful place to explore for solo travelers, and it is what many people would consider to be the ideal destination for long term travel. It is largely a very safe country with spectacular scenery, wonderful activities to enjoy and a population who welcome visitors with open arms and appreciate what you bring to the country as well as what New Zealand has to offer.


New Zealand also has an agreement with 34 countries that allows visitors to obtain a one year working visa, which is ideal if you are looking for ways to help fund your exploration of this great country.

 

Fruit Picking And Agricultural Work

One of the most common, and toughest ways of earning money in New Zealand is to work on one of the thousands of farms that can be found around the country. Many fruit farms will often look to employ temporary workers during the harvesting season, and although this is hard work, it is also work that doesn't require specific skills in order to be employed, just a willingness to do the work. There will often be roles that allow you to work a smaller number of hours purely in exchange for a bed and food in many locations around the country.

 

Sports And Activity Guides

There are so many outdoor activities companies that are based in New Zealand, and anyone who will have been traveling there will have met people from around the world working as guides for activities and adventure sports.

This kind of work can be repetitive if you do the same work every day, but if you have a real passion for a particular sport or activity, then this can be a great way to enjoy a working holiday. Skills such as First Aid or particular activity related qualifications can be very useful in this case.

 

Office Support And Administration

In cities such as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, there are often businesses who are looking for administration or office assistants to carry out relatively simple work. This can range in terms of duties, but can be stable and give you time to get to know a certain city. If you already have experience of this kind of work, then it can be easy to slot into this kind of role and will often pay enough to cover your expenses even staying in these cities.

 

Hostel And Bar Work

If you are looking for something in a slightly more picturesque part of the country, there are always roles available working in hostels, although these will usually be work in exchange for food and lodging. Bar work is also a common way to earn a few dollars as you travel, and while many hostels will have their own bars, there are also plenty of upscale bars where you can earn more money, particularly in the larger cities and more upmarket destinations.

 

Construction And Laboring Work

This is another great way of earning a living while you are exploring in New Zealand, and many employers are flexible when it comes to the hours they offer as they know many people will be looking to explore as well as work in the country. Like many parts of the world, New Zealand has a skills shortage when it comes to building and construction, so if you have this kind of work on your resume, you may well find that you are in demand.

 

Waiter And Waitressing

This is another job that generally doesn't require too much experience, but can provide a useful way of earning an income as you explore New Zealand. Restaurants will expect their staff to work hard, especially during busy evenings, and these roles also requires a good level of customer service. Meeting new people can be fun when working in slightly more informal waitering or waitressing roles, while there is also an opportunity to earn extra money through tips too.