How a ski trip became a life plan
Atlassian’s Michael McClenaghan on relocation and rhythm
Living in Queenstown full-time, a principal engineer at Atlassian reflects on the balance between global software delivery and grounded, outdoor living.
Michael McClenaghan didn’t plan on moving to Queenstown. It started with a ski trip. “I’d never properly spent time here,” he says. “But during that 2022 trip I just fell in love with how beautiful the place is, and the lifestyle.” Within weeks, a short break had turned into a long-term relocation. Now, two years later, he’s working remotely as a Principal Software Engineer at Atlassian, got married and is expecting his first child*.
Atlassian’s remote-first model, Team Anywhere, was key to making the move sustainable. “We’re able to work almost anywhere.” he explains. That flexibility, backed by structured team gatherings every quarter, allows engineers like McClenaghan to enjoy regional life without losing connection to global teams.
A town wired for remote work
When he first arrived, McClenaghan joined Mountain Club, a members club and co-working space that quickly became more than just a hot-desk solution. “They’ve got coffee, events, a really good atmosphere,” he says. “My wife and I actually got married there.”
He’s now one of around eight Atlassian employees in Queenstown, part of a growing community of remote workers who’ve traded commutes for ski fields and strategy meetings for mountain bike tracks. “People here work hard, but they do it so they can enjoy the outdoors,” he says. “It creates this really like-minded, active culture.”
Designing systems, living outside them
Before joining Atlassian, he ran several startups and consulted across time zones, often working late into the night. The remote model he has now allows for a different kind of rhythm.
“At my last company, everyone was between Singapore and Europe. So I’d snowboard in the morning, then work into the evening,” he recalls. “You’d get that mix of intense focus and real freedom.”
The value of space, physical and mental
McClenaghan says the Queenstown lifestyle has given him more than fresh air and ski access. “The boundaries between work and life are clearer here. Having a baby on the way, I really value that. It means I can be around for milestones without sacrificing impact at work.”
He’s also a big advocate of getting involved locally. "I found the move from Australia really easy. There's a reciprocal work agreement, which meant I didn't need a visa. Try coming over for a ski season. Join a co-working space. Go to the events. That's how you build a community."
He makes the most of the long daylight hours in summer, the proximity to nature, and the ability to drop into a different pace of life. For McClenaghan, Queenstown is more than just a scenic backdrop. It's a functional home base.
A move worth making
McClenaghan’s advice to remote tech workers is simple. Come try it. “A lot of people arrive for a few months and end up staying. That’s the story for most of us here.”
And in his case, it all started with a delayed flight. “My return was postponed after that first trip, so I ended up working from a co-working space for a few extra days. It gave me a taste of what working here could really be like, and I never looked back.”
* We’re happy to report that McClenaghan’s baby boy arrived just a few weeks after this interview.