Paradise, Help me Out!!

Loco-Deer-Slayer

Loco-Deer-Slayer

Active member
Hello NZ,

I'm currently a 4th year Geoscience/Atmospheric Science major attending the University of Utah but I want to get the hell out of here for one semester. NZ caught my interest because of the geological education offered, amazing geography, and the outdoor activities to do there.

I'm thinking of taking the 2nd semester (January - May semester), and from the little research I have done it seems that there will be no skiing offered these months, June being the earliest for snowfall. Definitely ok with this as I LOVE LOVE to surf and ride mountain bikes, but I am a little unsure what University to attend.

With that being said I'm thinking that my options for Unis are three (based on my major):

-University of Canterbury (from browsing the regionals apparently this isn't the best choice??)

-University of Queensland

-University of Otago

I'm sure you guys are tired of people clogging your regional NZ forum of threads like this, but please can you humor me? Which University would you say best fits my interests? Nightlife isn't a huge plus as I have partied quite a bit and am now looking for more of a serious education, some locals to shred some mtn bikes with and maybe catch some waves. I figure everyone loves to party but who likes to party with people they have nothing in common with??

Thanks guys, if I ever see a fellow NSer in NZ I'll be sure to buy them a round.
 
University of queensland isnt in NZ, its over the ditch haha. University of canterbury is in christchurch which has been hit hard by earthquakes (that could turn you off going there). Not sure which uni is better placed for surfing and mountain biking though. I hope this was useful!
 
haha oh damn you're right. I just assumed University of Queensland was in Queenstown. Earthquakes don't turn me off...remember I'm a geo major that's why I'm coming to NZ haha.

Thanks for the response though +K.
 
Might be worth you having a look at Victoria University in Wellington. I'm pretty sure they have a decent geological department - see here http://www.victoria.ac.nz/sgees/

Wellington's pretty legit, although I'm biased having lived here a long, long time. There's an enormous mountainbike park, with something like the most singletrack in Australasia. Plus there's reasonable surfing although it's apparently pretty intermittent.
 
University of Otago is a great uni. I don't know anything about your degree haha but I'm sure Otago could cater well for it. Plus Dunedin has some pretty good surf, nice down hill tracks, and is only a few hours from Queenstown which again has some really good mountain biking.
 
I would definitely recommend Canterbury Uni. The geo course there is really really excellent, they have awesome teaching staff.

Skiing is the best around here. You have everything from the clubs to commercial and the CHILL pass is super legit if you want to explore. Up to twelve field across the south island all on one pass, and it's really good value.

As far as biking goes, Christchurch has some pretty awesome trails. Craigieburn and castle hill are just an hour away and the coastal crew came in February for a product shoot, as above.

Queenstown and Wanaka are a good weekend trip away in the winter and summer if you want to use the gondola for lift accessed biking or to ski some park.

PM me if you need any more info

 
Awesome, thanks for the input guys!! Getting really excited about this trip now. Kinda leaning towards Canterbury right now, but everyday I change my mind haha.

+k to all.
 
yo what i would say is that dunedin can be a pretty average place to live - the weather is generally crap (even in 'summer') and you will probably be in a dingy flat. that said, i live in a shitty dunedin flat and still absolutely love the place. there is outstanding surf within a ten minute drive, and more than you could ever want within a 30min drive (though you'll need a decent wetsuit). i can't say much for mtb as im not really into it, but the terrain around dunedin is much hillier than chch, which is pretty much dead flat. also a deal breaker for a lot of people is night life, and speaking from very recent experience in both cities, atm there is virtually no night life in christchurch. there is no town as the cbd is still in ruins, and any parties you try and have tend to get shut down (aggressively, believe me haha) by the police at around 11
 
bumpin this back up.

Finishing up my student visa and received my official letter of acceptance to the University. STOKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, anyone go the Uni of Otago?
 
Congrats man NZ is the shit. If you are looking mostly for surfing, go to the North Island for sure, if there is a college on the West coast. Christchurch is definitely the skiing spot, and U of canterbury seems pretty legit for Geology. WHen I was there I lived with a geo phd candidate and he was doing some super interesting stuff. The South island has cooler outdoors stuff in my opinion, and is basically one giant national park. So damn beautiful. The surfing is shit on the south island though. Either way, the country is fuckng sick. Good luck man.
 
Fuckin sick man. One thing I will suggest, that blew my mind out of the water is this: (I don't know if you are into this type of shit, but it changed my life) There is a meditation course on the tip of the north island, which can be found at http://www.dhamma.org

What it is, is a 10 day meditation retreat, spent all in silence. They feed you, give you a private room to stay in and teach you meditation. The whole thing is donation based, and you are only eligible to donate if you sat the entire thing.

Like I said, it's not for everyone, but it was exactly what I needed to cap off my lifechanging journey to this crazy ass country. Sounds cliche for sure, but if you have any inclination towards this type of thing, give it a go.
 
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