The 24-year-old former Crusaders loose forward has been in Dunedin for about two months, after he signed a one year deal with the Super rugby champion last October.
He played 50 matches - many of them off the bench - for the Crusaders in the past four years, but decided to head south for a fresh start.
Whitelock, who would have been fighting for game time with Matt Todd, Kieran Read and Jordan Taufua this year if he stayed in Christchurch, admitted a lack of game time played a part in signing with the Highlanders.
"It was a bit of everything, really,'' Whitelock said.
"There is a brand of rugby down here that's pretty appealing. The way they play is high-tempo and high-skilled.
"The Highlanders obviously had a very good season last year and there is a lot of things going right for the place.
"It's been a little bit of a change up from what I have done in the past. But I'm really enjoying it. It's good to just come down and be among a new bunch of guys.''
Whitelock's signing followed the departure to Scotland of former Highlanders co-captain Nasi Manu, who led the team to its first title with Ben Smith a year ago.
The youngest of the four Whitelock brothers does not yet know if he will replace Manu as the team's starting No 8, but said he is willing to play anywhere to be on the field.
"I guess we will probably know a little bit more once we have these few pre-season games,'' he said.
"I obviously want to be starting, playing good footy and actually enjoy myself. Not be too caught up in what is ahead and just enjoy each day. I want to put my best foot forward and I want to play good rugby.''
The one-test All Black could get his first chance to impress when the Highlanders play French club Racing 92 in Hong Kong on February 6.
Whitelock's former Crusaders team-mate, Daniel Carter, is expected to front for Racing 92 in the first of three pre-season matches for the Highlanders.
"They have been doing very well in their competition. It will be exciting to play a different team,'' he said.
The 1.9m tall forward will then get a crack at his former team in Waimumu, outside Gore, on February 11.
All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock, who is the third of the four brothers, still plays for the red and blacks.
This year will be the first that Whitelock has not played with one of his brothers since he was at high school.
All four - George (29), Adam (28), Sam (27) and Luke - played for Canterbury and the Crusaders in recent years, and Whitelock said his parents would travel to Waimumu to watch the pre-season match.
Whitelock's girlfriend, Claire Laredo, moved to Dunedin with him, and the pair are staying with family friends.
While his contract is only for a year, he hopes a successful season for the defending champion will result in a longer stint in Dunedin.
After captaining Canterbury to a seventh national provincial title in eight years last year, he will go back to Christchurch to play for Canterbury after the Super rugby season.
He still has "big time'' aspirations to add to the lone appearance he made for the All Blacks against Japan in 2013, but is firstly concentrating on playing well for his new team.
"I know if I can just play good footy and sort myself out that kind of thing will take care of itself,'' he said.
Whitelock and the rest of the Highlanders leave for Hong Kong on Monday.