Guide On Moving From Wellington To Auckland

As the largest city in New Zealand, Auckland has a diverse culinary scene, beautiful beaches and a thriving economy. If you are a Wellington resident who is thinking of relocating to Auckland and keen to embrace all the exciting opportunities it has to offer, you’ll first need to understand what life is like in the city and how best to prepare for your move.

As both of our Wellington movers and Auckland moving teams are highly experienced in helping make this move seamless, we have put together this comprehensive guide on everything you need to know before you move! Read on to learn more so you are ready for your relocation.

Many people are drawn to Auckland due to the abundance of work and career opportunities it provides, however there’s a lot to love when it comes to the lifestyle. As New Zealand’s biggest city, you'll find a diverse range of activities, dining and entertainment options to explore. But how does the cost of living stack up against Wellington and what’s the reality of everyday life in Auckland? We break it down.

As Auckland is responsible for at least 40% of the country’s entire GDP, it’s a hub of economic and industry activity. Auckland touts itself as a ‘service and innovation-oriented economy’, with a large portion of the industries focused around food and beverage manufacturing, circular economy, and screen and creative arts. Construction and engineering is also a major employer in Auckland, along with the tourism and technology industries. You can find work in Auckland via employment agencies, or online job sites such as Seek, TradeMe and Indeed.

According to Stuff.Co.NZ, Auckland’s housing market is currently in the “low phase of the cycle” so housing is slowly becoming more affordable. The average house price is currently sitting at $1million compared to Wellington’s average of $750,000. However, in some instances renting in Auckland can be slightly cheaper or on par with Wellington. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is on average $2,055 a month, compared to Wellington’s average of $2,247.

Popular Auckland suburbs include Devonport, Takapuna and the trendy Ponsoby. For families, we recommend looking in suburbs like Howick, Milford and Orakei. Suburbs in close proximity to Auckland’s most well-known schools include Pinehill, Epsom and Parnell.

Auckland has a warm, coastal climate which means you’ll experience summers with an average of 23 degrees and winters with an average of 11 degrees. Unlike Wellington, Auckland is far less windy. There is increased rainfall in Auckland, with winter and spring the wettest seasons.

You can navigate the city of Auckland through the public transportation system of buses, trains and ferries, by riding your bike or via car. There are three major train lines which mainly service the eastern, western and southern suburbs, however the underground ‘City Rail Link’ is currently in construction and will likely be completed late 2024. To use the public transport, you’ll need an AT HOP card to ‘tag on and off’ to pay your way. As parking can be expensive and difficult to come by in the CBD, it is usually residents who live in the outer suburbs that tend to own cars. The new walking and cycling infrastructure has made commuting around the city via bike significantly easier and more enjoyable.

It’s a struggle to get bored in Auckland! There’s always something to do, with a wide range of outdoor cinemas, concerts, markets and sporting events held in Auckland weekly. The arts scene in Auckland is the strongest in the country, with many galleries, theatres and music venues across the city. The foodie culture means there is a wide array of different cuisines, bars and clubs to explore. Aucklanders also take their coffee seriously, and there is no shortage of cafes claiming to offer the best coffee in the whole of New Zealand!

Nature and beautiful beaches are never too far away when you are living in Auckland. Mission Bay, Kohimarama and St Heilers are a short distance away from the city centre so you can enjoy swimming, paddle boarding or kayaking after work. Reconnect with nature by visiting the Hunua Ranges, the Waitakere Ranges and Tiritiri Matangi Island.

So, you’ve got a basic idea about life in Auckland. But before you purchase your AT HOP card and get excited about the coffee shops, you’ve got to plan your move!

As your belongings and furniture will travel across 640 kilometres from Wellington to their new home in Auckland, ensuring you have packed properly is crucial! It’s not uncommon for people to leave their packing to the last minute, but getting started early on your packing can save a lot of stress and ensure that your items are safe for their journey.

Create a list and start by packing room by room. It’s best to use a moving checklist so you don’t forget anything! We highly recommend using a professional packing service to handle this task for you and provide complete peace of mind that your items will be safe and secure throughout the move.

If you’re considering moving your car or vehicle from Wellington to your new home in Auckland, you’ll need to decide how best to transport it there. There are two main choices; drive your car yourself or use a professional vehicle transportation service. The drive from Wellington to Auckland will likely take at least 7 and a half hours so if you don’t have the time or energy for the drive, it’s best to use the professional service.

Moving is tough at the best of times, but relocating with pets can add some additional stress if you don’t plan appropriately. Before the big day, take your pet to the vet for a check-up and let them know about your move. Your vet may be able to recommend some tips and tricks to help your pet adjust to their new home, and prescribe some additional precautions if they are particularly nervous when moving.  To help take the stress off of you and ensure your pets have a smooth relocation experience, you may want to consider using a pet transportation service. The professionals will have the right expertise and resources to get your pet to their new home in Christchurch, safe and sound!

If you feel unsure about which belongings and furniture should relocate with you to Auckland, a secure storage service could be a great solution for you! Storage will ensure that your items are safe while you make the move from Wellington and settle into your new home, providing you with much needed flexibility during the relocation. Choose a storage provider, such as Allied, who is able to deliver your stored items to your new home in Auckland when you are ready.

When you choose to move, you need to make many decisions. One of the most important decisions that you’ll make is whether you should use a trusted moving company or try to tackle the relocation yourself. Usually, this decision is made upon whether it is more affordable to use movers or to attempt the move yourself. Many people are shocked to learn that it is often more cost-effective or worthwhile to choose professional movers when relocating. This is because handling the move yourself involves multiple significant costs including renting a van or moving truck, petrol, and packing materials. You also need to factor in the time taken to pack and move yourself (including taking time off work), and any other incidental expenses along the way. Using a moving company also gives you the benefit of being able to provide a quote on your specific relocation so you can easily budget for your relocation from Wellington to Auckland and won’t be nastily surprised once you add up all your moving expenses.

Aside from the money you save, you also will have more time and energy to settle into your home if you use a moving company. A team of movers will have the right experience, training and equipment to handle your relocation, will carefully look after your belongings, and will be significantly more efficient.

In the case of using multiple moving services, using a company who can offer a variety of services such as pet relocation, storage, and transit insurance can help give you a more competitive deal than compared to using numerous service providers.