Coddiwomple Stardate 180401

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Daylight is rapidly getting shorter on Stuart Island as is our stay. Thanks to daylight saving we don’t see the sunrise until 8.00am.

It’s almost time for us to leave and head back to Australia for a few weeks before heading for the northern hemisphere’s summer and North America.

We have now been in New Zealand for 5 months and homeless bums for 10 months. To sum it all up it has been worth every minute since we left our home in Wellard, May last year.

If you have been reading our blog’s you would have read about all the fantastic places we have seen and experienced. All the interesting and new friends we have met on the way. How sad it is to say goodbye to so many people, but I think Stuart Island and its people are going to be the hardest to say goodbye too. We have spent a total of 10 weeks on the island and just love the beauty, clean air, lack of noise pollution and the very laid-back lifestyle of the island and its people.

Aaron & Carol the owners of Stuart Island Backpackers have been very generous to us while we have been here, and we will miss them their two daughters and Rachel plus all the other locals we have met during our stay. We have never felt like we don’t belong here and have just been accepted by everyone we meet.

When Sharon and I started planning our 2 years off work we really had no idea what we would be doing. We have just been winging it as we go. At this stage we will probably be back in Perth October 2019. Thinking about going back to a normal life of 9 to 5 work and the same home every night is almost nightmarish for us to contemplate. I know our life now isn’t everybody’s idea of living, having to give up everything you have worked for in your life and carrying everything you need with you as you go from destination to destination. You do learn that you do not need much in life to have a great life. Our plans may change but we are considering coming back to Stewart Island to work over the 2019 – 2020 tourist season.

Our last couple of days on the island has been quite busy. Sharon has been catering for 30 students from USA on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Aaron was asked if he could cater for the group who in turn asked us if we would like to do the catering. I willingly agreed knowing Sharon would be doing most of the work. Things became more complicated when we found out the dietary requirements for the group. We had to cater for Vegetarians, Vegans, nut allergy, lactose intolerant and gluten free. Sharon thought she had covered everything including making custard for her apple crumble from soy milk to cover all dietary’s special people. There was someone in the group allergic to soy milk. The students and staff were very appreciative for all of Sharon’s efforts. Some students even came up and gave her big hugs.

Thursday night we went to Church Hill Restaurant the classiest restaurant in town. Aaron and Carol being the generous people they are payed for all 8 of us. It was to celebrate Rachels 21st and to say thank you and goodbye to Sharon and I for all our help. The restaurant has been run by a husband and wife since 1999 and only cater for 20 people. The view over Halfmoon Bay was spectacular so was the food and company.

After the meal Aaron was determined to find us an adult Kiwi, as we had only seen a juvenile up until then. It was back to the backpackers for a change of clothes and pick up a couple from Toronto Jarid & Brigette and head out again. Aaron didn’t disappoint we came across one an hour and a half into our spotting. I must say watching a Kiwi feels like your living on another planet they look very alien with the shape of them and the way they run.

Good Friday and our last shift at the backpackers. We were booked on to the 3.30pm ferry. We were going to leave Saturday then fly to Melbourne Sunday. I was getting concerned if the ferry was cancelled Saturday we would miss our flight. As it was they did cancel the latter service on Friday due to staff shortages and the weather does not look good for Saturdays crossing. So now we have a day to fill in at Queenstown.

With everything packed and our Sherpa Rachel helping us with our luggage we walked down to the ferry terminal. As we made our way to the terminal we were dropping into different businesses to say goodbye to people we have gotten to know. At the terminal we had goodbyes from quite a few people and Sharon quickly got on to the ferry to hide her tears. The ferry trip back to bluff was crowded due to the latter cancelation but was a nice smooth crossing. The ferry company Real Journeys also has a bus service to Queenstown from Bluff. Sharon and I were the only passengers on the bus it was a nice quiet trip.

We stayed at Pinewood Lodge Friday night in a twin room it was all that was available in Queenstown after I decided to leave Stuart Island a day early. It was a nice place we were thinking we should have stayed there 2 nights. Saturday we were booked into Base Backpackers in an 8-bed room dorm. Again, that was all that was available in Queenstown when we booked. We could not check in until 2.00pm.


We went down and booked a cruise on the TSS Earnslaw. The last 2 times we had been in Queenstown I avoided going on the cruise thought it was too touristy. I must admit it was worth going on as we both thoroughly enjoyed cruising on Lake Wakatipu. The Earnslaw was built in 1912 in Dunedin. Disassembled then reassembled in Queenstown to service all the Highland farming properties along the lake.

We were back at Base at 1.50pm to book into our dorm. Couldn’t book in until exactly 2.00pm. Two o’clock arrived and Sharon asked if there had been any double room cancelations. We really didn’t want to spend our last night in New Zealand in an 8-room dorm. Fortunately, there was and we grabbed the room without even worrying about the price. The room was on the third-floor and on the corner of the building with amazing views over the city towards the mountains and glimpses of the lake. We had a TV, fridge, kingsize bed and our own ensuite. It was worth the money.

It is now time to get ready for spending 9 months in North America.










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