Jobs in Queenstown, New Zealand

Queenstown is a rather small town, with only 15,000 year round residents, but the population swells during peak tourism times. While it is wise to come to town with a job offer in hand, it is also possible to come into town seeking temporary jobs in Queenstown, seasonal work that often requires more labor than expected.

Popular jobs in Queenstown. In tourism, you’ll find everything from adventure guide positions to more traditional work giving tours around Queenstown. The local flora and fauna make Queenstown a great place for jobs in ecology, especially in the nearby lake and mountains. Lastly, Queenstown is a great place to seek employment in education, be it as a ski instructor or as an au pair.

Short term jobs and summer jobs vs. long-term jobs in Queenstown. Short term and summer jobs can be great options if you are working with a particular tourist industry that needs extra work during the most popular months. However, if you are coming from the Northern hemisphere, be aware that winter and summer are swapped compared to your previous experience, so December-March jobs are actually the summer time. These jobs let you get a great taste while working a temporary job in Queenstown. At the same time, more long-term employment can help you decide whether you are ready to put down roots in New Zealand. Queenstown is the kind of small town where you can really get to know people even in only a year or two of working there.

Unpaid vs. paid jobs in Queenstown. It is wise to know ahead of time whether you will be able to secure paid employment in Queenstown, since many of the best features of the area will require some spending money. You also will want a working holiday visa, so aiming for something that pays at least something is important. For very low paid jobs, consider how to stretch your money by inquiring about subsidized housing or whether meals are covered in any case. You can also supplement part-time temporary jobs in Queenstown with other work opportunities, which can make life more affordable and introduce you to a whole different sector of the local economy.

Whether you have a paid or unpaid job, Queenstown’s general atmosphere is aimed toward tourists, so keep your ear to the ground for local haunts to avoid higher prices.

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Latest Program Reviews

Great time on a Kiwi farm

December 14, 2016by: Celine SchroederProgram: Farm Stay Program in New Zealand

10

Through New Zealand Internships Farmstay Program I was arranged a stay on a sanctuary farm from 1 November 2016 to the 31 November 2016. If I had more time in New Zealand than until March, I would definitely extend my stay at the sanctuary and I would recommend it to everyone. At the beginning, I was not sure if the duration of 4 weeks was too long because there was already a group of people who were really close, but I fitted in quickly. After a few days, also 2 other new girls arrived and I got along well with them too The Farm belongs to two young women and they were both really nice. One of them was once also a German volunteer on the farm who decided to stay in New Zealand. The property is really beautiful, on the farm they have sheep, goats, chicken, ponies, cows and a lot of other animals, which were all rescued from the butcher or bad circumstances on other farms. Mine and the other volunteer’s tasks is to feed the animals in the morning and in the evening. The owners also have two Opportunity shops, where I worked two times a week for 5 hours. They sell good quality second-hand clothing and household goods and use the revenues for the farm and the animals. Other tasks, that need to be done, are put on a bill-board every morning so that the we can choose one of them or we can also search for our own project that we would like to work on. I worked 4 hours a day but most of the time I would work more hours because I loved to work on the farm especially spending time with the animals. We were provided with a nice small house with a little garden for themselves. We could prepare our own breakfast and lunch, but have dinner all together every evening. Now my farmstay is over I am now travelling through New Zealand but hope to visit the farm before I leave. Thank you New Zealand Internships for organising this experience for me.

Great time on a Kiwi farm

December 14, 2016by: Celine SchroederProgram: Farm Stay Program in New Zealand

10

Through New Zealand Internships Farmstay Program I was arranged a stay on a sanctuary farm from 1 November 2016 to the 31 November 2016. If I had more time in New Zealand than until March, I would definitely extend my stay at the sanctuary and I would recommend it to everyone. At the beginning, I was not sure if the duration of 4 weeks was too long because there was already a group of people who were really close, but I fitted in quickly. After a few days, also 2 other new girls arrived and I got along well with them too The Farm belongs to two young women and they were both really nice. One of them was once also a German volunteer on the farm who decided to stay in New Zealand. The property is really beautiful, on the farm they have sheep, goats, chicken, ponies, cows and a lot of other animals, which were all rescued from the butcher or bad circumstances on other farms. Mine and the other volunteer’s tasks is to feed the animals in the morning and in the evening. The owners also have two Opportunity shops, where I worked two times a week for 5 hours. They sell good quality second-hand clothing and household goods and use the revenues for the farm and the animals. Other tasks, that need to be done, are put on a bill-board every morning so that the we can choose one of them or we can also search for our own project that we would like to work on. I worked 4 hours a day but most of the time I would work more hours because I loved to work on the farm especially spending time with the animals. We were provided with a nice small house with a little garden for themselves. We could prepare our own breakfast and lunch, but have dinner all together every evening. Now my farmstay is over I am now travelling through New Zealand but hope to visit the farm before I leave. Thank you New Zealand Internships for organising this experience for me.