SO.... awesome thread!!!
I spent 6 months in NZ outside Christchurch workin at an apiary (honeybees...) that worked about 2000 hives on 2000 acres of rolling foothills near the southern alps.
Travelling could not have been fucking easier. busses are cheap, hitchin is easy... scenery's gorgeous, and people are so nice.
woofing is a great bet down there, as is plain and simple chatting at hostels. hostels there are a GOLDMINE of awesome folks and theres one in EVERY damn town.
Summer is great for farming on the north island (Northland has some amazing organic farms..) and work in orchards in Marlborough, Golden Bay and Canterbury. Late summer brings grape and other fruit harvests in Marlborough and all over the north end of the south island, and fall brings a LOT of work wrapping grapevines for the winter in Blenheim and a few other winery towns nearby.
Before you even go, think of what you might want to do and do some sleuthing online... Get a contact email for someone in the industry and go from there. It is SOOOO much nicer to have a backup plan of a place you can go and be expected in case cruising for work doesn't pan out well.
that's my piece. ALSO look into the Working Holiday Visa. it's good for a whole year, and you can travel, and work too.... legally. you get better wages this way, and i even got a tax return. If you're goin for the off the grid thing, cool... but its pretty nice to make a chunk of change no matter where you go, no questions asked.
<3
