When people think about creating a rural life in NZ, they tend to picture the exciting milestones. They imagine the house taking shape, fruit trees being planted, vegetables growing in the garden, and peaceful evenings spent looking out across the land. I know that's where my mind usually goes.

A few months ago, after spending three and a half years travelling through Asia, Europe and the UK with our family and our two rescue cats, Biscuit and Snowball, we finally bought 2 hectares of rural land in Southland. Owning a piece of rural New Zealand felt surreal. We'd spent years talking about what this stage of life might look like, saving towards it, researching properties, and wondering if we'd ever find the right piece of land.

Once the purchase was complete, I assumed we would move fairly quickly into the next phase. We'd start finalising house plans, make decisions about the build, and begin putting the pieces in place for the future we had been working towards. Instead, we found ourselves facing a challenge I hadn't really anticipated. Finding the right vehicle has turned out to be far more difficult than I expected.

The Stage Nobody Talks About

At the moment, our land is sitting quietly waiting for us. We own it and OMG we need to maintain it now. Every time we stand there we can picture what it might become. The reality, though, is that we aren't living there yet. We're still renting while we work through the many decisions that need to happen before we can begin building.

This stage is oddly annoying. The dream is real because the land exists and our names are on the title, yet very little has physically changed. We haven't broken ground. We haven't planted an orchard. We haven't built a shed. Most of our time is spent researching, comparing options and trying to make sensible decisions that support our long-term goal of living mortgage free in NZ.

Every week seems to bring another important choice. We find ourselves comparing timber and steel construction, looking at kitset homes, talking to consultants and trying to balance cost, practicality and future plans. Creating a rural life in NZ involves far more planning than I ever imagined, and right now we are firmly in that planning stage.

Why The Vehicle Matters So Much

One of the biggest surprises has been just how important the vehicle decision is. Before buying the land, a ute was something we knew we would eventually need. After buying the land, it became obvious that we would need one much sooner than expected.

Our property is around ninety minutes away from where we're currently renting. Every visit involves packing supplies, taking measurements, meeting people, checking things on site and continuing our research. Once the build begins, those trips will become even more frequent. We've come to the realisation that we'll probably rent a room in a motel while we build to lock up stage, so we can stay there.

But the vehicle we choose needs to do much more than get us from A to B. It needs to be capable of handling rural roads, carrying tools and equipment, transporting building materials and coping with whatever the Southland weather decides to throw at it. As we move closer to building a house in rural NZ, it will become one of the most heavily used tools we own.

That requirement has sent us down a rabbit hole of research. We've compared different makes and models, read countless reviews, watched videos and spoken to so many dealers and owners. Some vehicles looked fantastic in photos but didn't impress in person. Others had service histories that left us with more questions than answers. A few seemed perfect until we saw the asking price. And then of course, the ghosting. From DEALERS nonetheless. I just can't believe how slack they've been ... that's a story for another day.

Getting Closer

After months of searching, we may finally be getting somewhere.

We've found a vehicle that looks promising and ticks many of the boxes on our list. It's located about two and a half hours away, which means we can't simply pop over for a quick look. Instead, we've requested additional photographs, asked plenty of questions and arranged an independent inspection. And the owner has been super helpful and responsive - hooray !! Someone who actually wants us to pay them!

I'm looking forward to that inspection report. If everything comes back looking good, we'll make the trip to see it for ourselves. If not, the search continues. (Please let it be the one!!)

Creating a simpler life in rural NZ isn't built on one grand gesture. It's built on hundreds of small decisions that slowly move you closer to where you want to be. And yep, we're in the thick of it now.

Building Something Bigger

The vehicle itself isn't the destination. It's simply one piece of a much larger plan.

Our goal is to create a home where we can grow food, enjoy a slower pace of life, spend more time outdoors and build something meaningful on our own land. We want space for gardens, fruit trees and wildlife. We want a comfortable home that suits the way we live. We want a place where Biscuit and Snowball can safely enjoy the outdoors, and where we can continue working for ourselves while creating a simpler and more intentional lifestyle.

Every decision we make is filtered through that vision. The land, the house, the vehicle and the infrastructure are all tools that help us move towards it. Some of those decisions are exciting. Others involve spreadsheets, inspections and phone calls. They all matter.

For now, we're waiting on an inspection report and hoping that after months of searching, we may finally have found the vehicle that will help us take the next step towards creating a rural life in NZ.

If you'd like to follow along, you can find more updates at The Homestead Letters.

Every month, I send a real letter through the post sharing what's happening behind the scenes. Not just the big milestones, but the smaller moments too. The things we're learning, the challenges we're working through, the decisions we're making, and the realities of building a simpler life on rural land.

Along with the letter, I include little keepsakes that you can keep and enjoy. Things like recipe cards from our kitchen, bookmarks, postcards, seasonal extras, stickers and notes about Biscuit and Snowball, and other thoughtful bits and pieces that make opening your letter feel a little special.

In a world where almost everything arrives instantly on a screen, there's something lovely about finding real mail in your letterbox that isn't a bill.

My hope is that The Homestead Letters gives people a reason to slow down for a few minutes. Put the kettle on, grab a cup of tea or coffee, and enjoy a glimpse into the journey we're taking as we build our home, grow our gardens and create a more intentional life.

The goal isn't to share a polished version of the journey.

It's to share the real one.

The good decisions, the mistakes, the lessons learned, the wins worth celebrating, and all the little moments in between.

If you'd like to follow along, I'd love to have you join us.

You can learn more about The Homestead Letters at www.thehomesteadletters.com.