Expats have given a glowing assessment of life in New Zealand - providing backpackers with ample reasons to pack their bags, secure
cheap travel insurance and head for the southern hemisphere.
According to research conducted by Alliance & Leicester, expats in general believe that living abroad offers a better quality of life, standard of living and, significantly, a more temperate climate.
A lower crime rate, a slower pace of life and higher income are also benefits associated with being in a foreign company.
Significantly, it is New Zealand that comes out in top in the expat poll - suggesting it is the ideal location for a backpacker holiday as well as a full-time move.
"Recent research that Alliance & Leicester International carried out showed that New Zealand scored most highly and consistently for both cost of living and quality of life, closely followed by Italy, Australia, Portugal and Dubai," Simon Ripton, joint managing director of Alliance & Leicester International, confirmed.
In the 12 months to August, ten million UK residents visited parts of the world other than Europe and North America, statistics from the Office for National Statistics show.
Going, going, gone. Downunder for
cheap travel insurance