Moving to Singapore from New Zealand Great Walks: Homejourney Expat Guide

If you love the New Zealand Great Walks but are considering a move to Singapore, the Moving to Singapore from New Zealand Great Walks Complete Hiking: Expat Guide helps you compare lifestyles, understand visas and property rules, and plan a safe relocation with Homejourney as your trusted real estate partner.

This article is a focused cluster guide that supports Homejourney’s main pillar on moving to Singapore and buying property as a foreigner . It zooms in on Kiwis and international hikers who know the Great Walks NZ – from the Milford Track and Routeburn Track to the Kepler and Tongariro – and are now exploring Singapore for work, lifestyle, or investment.

Life on New Zealand Great Walks vs Life in Singapore

Spending time on the Great Walks NZ – multi-day tracks like the Milford Track, Routeburn Track, and Abel Tasman Coast Track – usually means crisp air, alpine huts, long days of tramping and very few people. Many hikers base themselves in hubs like Queenstown, Te Anau, or Wanaka, where the pace is relaxed and outdoor culture dominates daily life.

Singapore offers the opposite in some ways: a dense, highly connected city with world-class infrastructure, efficient public transport, and a strong finance and tech-driven economy. Yet the two places share important similarities: both are safe, politically stable, friendly to English speakers, and deeply outdoor-oriented in their own way (think MacRitchie Reservoir, Bukit Timah, and Southern Ridges instead of Routeburn’s alpine passes).

Many Great Walks regulars look at Singapore because:

They have regional roles covering Asia-Pacific and want a safe, central base.
They are used to seasonal work in tourism or hospitality and seek more stable, higher-paying city roles.
They are investors keen to diversify from New Zealand into a transparent, tightly regulated Asian property market.

If you are used to tramping for days, the biggest lifestyle shifts in Singapore are climate (year-round heat and humidity), vertical living (condos and HDB flats instead of standalone homes), and the absence of true wilderness – though there are more trails and green corridors than many visitors expect.

Relocating to Singapore: Visas, Jobs & Cost of Living

Visa and work permit options for New Zealanders

As a New Zealander or New Zealand-based expat, your route into Singapore will usually be via employment. Key options include:

Employment Pass (EP) – For professionals, managers, and executives with a job offer in Singapore, usually with a qualifying monthly salary and relevant qualifications. Processing is managed by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
S Pass – For mid-level skilled staff, with its own salary and quota requirements.
EntrePass – For entrepreneurs starting venture-backed or innovative businesses.
Dependent Pass / Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) – For accompanying spouses and children of eligible work pass holders.

Visa rules are updated regularly, so always check the latest information on the official MOM website and, where needed, engage a licensed relocation or immigration professional. Homejourney focuses on property and settlement; for visa decisions you should rely on official government sources and qualified advisors.

Employment opportunities for Great Walks hikers

Many people who love hiking New Zealand and long tramping holidays often have backgrounds in tourism, hospitality, outdoor guiding, logistics, or seasonal work. In Singapore, common sectors for New Zealanders and expats with this profile include:

Hotel, F&B, and tourism management – Especially in integrated resorts, international hotels, and attractions.
Logistics and supply chain – Leveraging experience in operations and planning.
Corporate roles – Many Kiwis move into sales, client success, regional operations, or HR roles.
Education and training – Outdoor educators sometimes pivot into international schools or enrichment centres.

Salaries in Singapore are generally higher than in regional New Zealand tourism hubs, but so are some living costs (especially accommodation and car ownership). For a rough benchmark, mid-level professional roles often start from around SGD 5,000–8,000 per month, with senior roles going substantially higher, depending on industry and experience.

Cost of living: Queenstown hut vs Singapore condo

On a Great Walk, your main costs are DOC hut passes, food, and transport to the trailhead. In Singapore, housing quickly becomes your largest expense. Broadly:

Rent: A central one-bedroom condo can range roughly from SGD 3,000–4,500 per month, while a non-central HDB flat room could start nearer SGD 900–1,500, depending on condition and location.
Food: Hawker meals (rice or noodles) can be around SGD 4–7, while mid-range restaurant meals are much higher.
Transport: With MRT and buses, many expats skip owning a car; a regular commuter might spend around SGD 100–150 per month on public transport.

Homejourney’s tools allow you to compare property prices, track bank interest rates Bank Rates , and estimate your monthly commitments in SGD versus NZD. Exchange rates move, so always check up-to-date FX data and consider using multi-currency services for transfers.

Property in Singapore for Great Walks Expats

What foreigners can (and usually cannot) buy

Singapore has very clear rules for foreign buyers:

Condos and private apartments: Foreigners can generally buy strata-titled condominium units without special approval in most areas.
HDB flats: These public housing units are heavily subsidised and, as a rule, are not available for foreign purchase (with narrow exceptions for Singapore Permanent Residents after a minimum holding period).
Landed property: Buying landed houses (e.g., detached, semi-detached, terrace) typically requires approval from the Singapore Land Authority and is rarely granted for non-residents.

If you are primarily a hiker and traveller, renting may make more sense initially. Once you understand neighbourhoods, commute patterns, and long-term plans, you can explore buying a condo through Homejourney’s verified listings and project research tools Projects Directory .

ABSD for New Zealanders and international buyers

On top of standard Buyer’s Stamp Duty, most foreigners purchasing residential property in Singapore pay Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD), which is a significant extra tax on the purchase price. The rates and categories are set by the Ministry of Finance and are periodically adjusted to cool the property market, so you must always verify the latest official rate before committing.

Because ABSD is substantial, many New Zealand investors carefully compare:

Buying a single high-quality property in Singapore versus multiple properties in New Zealand.
Buying under a spouse with different residency status (where applicable).
Staggering purchases over time or focusing on investment-grade resale condos.

Homejourney recommends speaking with a qualified tax advisor or lawyer before finalising any cross-border investment decision. Our role is to provide transparent information and connect you with verified professionals, not to provide personalised tax advice.

Popular neighbourhoods for Great Walks and outdoorsy expats

Hikers coming from the Milford Track, Routeburn Track, and other Great Walks often prioritise green spaces and easy access to trails. In Singapore, consider:

Bukit Timah / Hillview – Close to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Rail Corridor; many condos with pools and gyms, popular with nature lovers.
Queenstown / Alexandra / Commonwealth – Short ride to Southern Ridges and Mount Faber; good mix of public and private housing, near the city but with greenery.
East Coast / Siglap / Katong – Not mountains, but East Coast Park for long coastal cycling and running, plus a strong food culture.
Punggol / Sengkang – Waterfront promenades and park connectors, more family-friendly and relatively better value.

Use Homejourney’s property search Property Search to filter by MRT line, budget, and proximity to parks and nature reserves. Because Homejourney prioritises verification and user safety, listings are screened to minimise scams and ensure accurate information.