Forgive me for the recent silence both here and on Instagram, but we’ve had a LOT going on the past few months. I’ve been dying to share some big news with you all, but needed a few things to fall into place, and to get through a super intense and busy period first. Now that’s passed, I can finally share our big news! Well, TWO bits of big news actually.
As many of you will know we’ve been slowly chipping away at finishing our little cottage, whilst we also hunted for a new home. However, several months ago we received a private offer to buy our cottage…. which we accepted! We love this little cottage more than any other home and we are so proud of the renovation we’ve done, but being a small 2 bedroom, we knew we couldn’t stay forever.
You see, during the past 3-4 months, we also decided it was time for our family to make a big move. One that has been on the cards for over 10 years. Not only have we sold our little cottage, but we are also moving to New Zealand! Those close to us weren’t all that shocked by this news at all, as we’ve been talking about it for years, but the fact that we are finally doing it feels surreal.
We actually wanted to move to New Zealand (which is where we got married) back in 2011. It was post GFC and for several months we tried to find jobs, but things just weren’t happening. So instead, we decided to move to the Southern Highlands, where we had family & spent most weekends.
We’ve done many trips to NZ over the years, but it was our trip to the South Island in 2019 where we looked at several properties in Queenstown, which reignited the fire. Then 18 months ago, my husband got a job offer in New Zealand. We decided, since we’d just sold our last home, that it was the perfect time.
If you have any good tips about moving overseas, I’d love to hear from you! I’m daunted by the idea of packing our containers (as in packing properly for overseas and Custom inspections etc) but also just the logistical side of the move, so any tips would be greatly appreciated. We truly cannot wait to start our new life in New Zealand and I’ll of course be bringing you all on the ride with us!
Stay tuned for more!
Nicki xo
Oh how my heart sings when I think if queenstown.. I’m so happy you are living your dream … very close to my own .. I know we will end up in that slice of paradise soon .. good luck with all the moving and I will stay posted on your journey as may well need some insight .. best wishes
Hi Meredith, yes please feel free to get in touch if and when you make the move too. Definitely hasn’t gone to plan as we weren’t supposed to move just yet and have none of our possession (still have my car at airport and dog with friends too!) but just have to go with the flow in Covid times. But grateful to be here. xo
How exciting. I’ll live through your photos as I too would love to live over there for awhile as I have family all over but cousins & dad in Arrowtown! Good luck with it all.
Oh how nice – Arrowtown is so gorgeous! Hope you manage to get over here at some stage. It’s staggeringly beautiful (as i’m sure you know). x
Wonderful news, Nicki. Life is meant be a journey of exploration. I have loved sharing your time in the Highlands, and I look forward to enjoying the next chapter in your lives, You have an innate talent for creating a warm home interior, and an eye for natural beauty and architecture. Keep the stories and photos coming….!
Wishing you all a wonderful time in beautiful NZ. Best wishes x
Thank you so much, Trish. That’s so kind of you and we are definitely feeling very grateful we got here when we did. Despite things not going to plan! haha. But that’s covid for you. Just grateful to be here and able to start life. xo
So thrilled for you all. Amazing how things feel so far away from reality then almost over night it all starts falling into place. Can’t wait to see your new home. That area of NZ is my absolute favourite. X
Aww thanks Kate. Honestly can’t believe we made it here when we did. Good ol’ covid strikes again. Counting our blessings!! x
Congratulations Nicki and family!
You will love Wanamaker/Queenstown! The Geology is phenomenal combined with your photography skills your Instagram will be even more amazing 😻
Safe travels and happy days! Kim
Hi Kim, thank you so much. We are so lucky we made it here when we did, and despite being a little unsettling at first, we are starting to get stuck into life here. Definitely hasn’t happened the way we planned, but hey, that’s covid for you! xo
Oh Nicki, so thrilled for you and your family! And congratulations on selling your gorgeous cottage. Wow, it’s a lot isn’t it?!? My husbands dream is to move to Queenstown so maybe I’ll see you there 😉
Hi Di, thanks so much. Yes been a very intense and trying 18 months but glad we made it here. And hopefully we will see you over this way one day in the future! It is truly spectacular!!! Nicki xo
Sounds like an amazing adventure you and your family are about to embark on. I too just sold my 2 bed cottage, which was totally gutted, I’m at the next stage of life, I’m 57 and my husband who is 66 in October has dementia and other health issues. So I have just made an offer on a property to do up, and hopefully sell on in 2/3 years time, hopefully the upturn in property price stay up until then
Lots of good wishes from Ireland
Sandra 💕💕💕💕
Hi Sandra, oh I’m sorry to hear about your husbands condition – the must be hard on you. But excited you’ve got a new plan and hope you got that property you made an offer on? Nothing like a new fresh start. Will you renovate this new property? Hopefully I can get to visit Ireland one day! Nicki xo
Congratulations Nicki & family, I am sure you are going to love the Wanaka Queenstown area. I can see you fitting in perfectly and we are so lucky to have you come to live in New Zealand. I will DM (on Instagram) you details of a friend who might be of some help with a rental. I know you loved Hawke’s Bay, but the prices have gone out of control and can see you loving Otago even more. Best of luck to you all for finding your best life here xx
Wishing you all the best with the move
My family and I moved from England 11 years ago to Australia. It was a hard decision to leave family and friends, but for our family is was the best decision ever.
We had a short term rental in a holiday home then a year long rental, until we found a wonderful family home. Thankful all our possessions arrived in the container intact.
Our children enrolled at a fabulous primary school, where we made great friends too.
Putting yourself out there and getting stuck in is the best advice we can give. You make your own luck and with a lovely family and great friends you can’t go wrong.
Hi Lils, wow sounds like you made the right decision too, and how wonderful for your kids to grow up in Oz. Thanks for the encouragement and support. Not as easy decision, as you know, but been wanting to do this for such a long time it feels great to finally have made the jump. And kids are very happy so far. Just hoping we can get our possessions in the next coming months! ha. Nicki xo
Hi Debbie, thank you so much for the kind words and encouragement. We are so lucky we made it here with everything that’s gone on back in Oz. Excited to start life here now, although hopefully we can get our possessions sometime soon! ha. xo
Oh wow! How amazing- things do happen for a reason and now must just be the right time- enjoy! What a beautiful place to be moving to! Good luck with it all!
Thanks so much, Justine. Feeling unbelievably lucky we got here when we did. x
Good luck with the move! I can’t wait to see all the beautiful photos you will post. It’s such a gorgeous place. We relocated from the city to the country & experienced a similar thing, everything was falling into place, we couldn’t ignore it & we haven’t looked back.
Thanks so much, Gen. Our move from Sydney to the Highlands 10 years ago was exciting and it’s been a wonderful 10 years, but this feels even more so. I think because we’ve wanted to do it for so long!
Lovely to read your story this morning. Covid has been challenging for so many reasons. Good to see you’ve found something exciting and inspiring in your lives. You won’t regret it and it’ll pull your little family so close together. When we moved from the UK to Sydney, with 3 small boys, it was the best decision we’ve ever made. I’m looking forward to following your progress. Good for you!
Oh thank you so much, Catherine. It feels unbelievably exciting to be finally doing this after so many many years dreaming about it. And especially after the last 18 months. Imaging moving from the UK was a bit more intense than just to NZ so hats off you to! X
Congratulations Nicki! So thrilled for you and your family and look forward to seeing all of your adventures over the pond! X
Thank you so much, Cassie! Can’t wait to share our trip and the whole process of moving to a new place too. X
No need to tell you that you’ll love like in Wanaka.. seems like you know that ! It’s a gem . If you don’t know Florence’s make sure you find it soon for a warm welcome and great coffee. See Sharyn and say hello ftom Julie (in Auckland)
We recently sold in Queensland and moved contents to NZ. I used World Moving & Storage in Auckland. I can’t fault their service on either side of Tasman. Highly recommend.
All the best
Oh Julie, you are a star! Local recommendations already. Love it! Will be in Wanaka this Fri so will hunt down Florences. And will get a quote from World Moving & Storage. We have 2 other quotes so will try them too! X
Oh Nicki!! This is so very exciting! I’ve loved seeing your images of NZ over the years and it makes me so happy you are finally able to live out this dream! Cheers to new beginnings! 🙂
Thank you so much, Abbie! It feels surreal and we couldn’t be more excited that we’re finally doing it. X
Certainly very exciting news. How wonderful for you all. Was delighted to have your email pop into my inbox as I haven’t been on Instagram either for the last 2 months or so. My advice would be to get everything packed professionally by the removalists – sure it is a little more expensive but saves so much hassle and they can deal with paperwork too ! This is what we did from Australia to UK. Cannot wait to follow your journey and lucky lucky people moving into your sweet cottage.
With best wishes
Sarah
Oh Sarah, thank you so much for the well wishes but also the advice! We are beyond excited for this next chapter. Gosh I was wondering whether we should get professionally packers as Chris has told me how meticulous you have to pack everything and it’s quite daunting. Maybe we will pay the professionals! Been thinking of you and hope all going well over in the UK. I will get back on Instagram more but also posting on here. X
Hi Nicki
My daughter just movef to
Christchurch a few weeks ago
She is loving it. She used a
Packing co. It all went well
They packed everything she
Didnt take alot. Gound a rental now looking to buy
Land and build. She comes
From a big family in Aus. So
I was sad. She is on insta
Arabella hampshire health
Follow her. She is in health
Love following you on insta
Good luck with it all
Jilly
Thanks so much Jilly for putting us in touch. Was so lovely to meet her the other week (and wow small world, I knew we’d know some of the same people!). Looking forward to many more catch ups with her and the family in the future too. xo
Hope everything is going well Nicki – thinking of you today for no particular reason but you popped up in my mind … I’m still not back again on Instagram but hope to be again soon ish. Take care,
Sarah
Oh Sarah, that’s so kind and thanks for thinking of us! I’m just typing up a new blog post an update today (some news to share!) so should be in your inbox tonight. Hope you’re doing okay over there? I saw UK was out of lockdown so I hope that’s a good thing? xox