2019 has begun!

Happy New Year everyone!!!!!!

first hike of 2019, Jan 1st!
I feel this epitomizes our last few months ๐Ÿ™‚

Our last days in Christchurch were fun, we had made our decision, so could relax and enjoy. We really loved our last Airbnb and got on so well with the family, we are keeping in touch and I am sure we will meet up again.

The weather really is summer now, and our days were spent hiking and going to the beach.

Among the Toi Toi’s…..
Views from the Port Hills looking over Christchurch


Turing around the other way is the view toward Banks Peninsular. Really spectacular….

Sumner Beach
looking out at Sumner with Christchurch in the distance…
Rich’s beard is growing fast ๐Ÿ™‚

Luca got his first wet suit! He looks like a proper surfer now ๐Ÿ™‚ ….

and we hit the beach.

Luca tried his first fresh, (straight from the tree), apricot, he liked it a lot!!!!!!!


In the evenings the kids would shower and chill after busy busy days of playing….

Rich too ๐Ÿ™‚

It was great the way the kids got on, like they have always known each other. So nice to have our place full of kids again ๐Ÿ™‚

We left Christchurch on the 2nd of January and traveled back to Dunedin. The Airbnb here in the Port Chalmers area is an eclectic mix of buildings with the hosts living in some, and us having others. They have friends staying, and they have a child Luca’s age, Noa, the boys get on great and spend as much time together as they can going between our places. This area is high on our list to settle in ….

Our sleeping cabin
View inside our sleeping cabin…

we look out each morning over the harbor, that is the ocean in the distance, it really is a lovely setting….
Our bathroom facilities up the hill…..
our kitchen underneath the house our hosts live in….

Noa has adopted an orphaned duckling, Luca is in love!

“Duckie”, not sure yet if boy or girl ๐Ÿ™‚

Some people we have met here have a litter of puppies, again Luca is in his element!


Dixie’s puppies….

Dunedin beaches are really amazing, there are numerous and they go from proper surfing ones to quiet bays. This is up Warrington way, an area we are also looking at to live, it is neck and neck with the Port area at the moment….

Rich heading out, Luca already in there….

Deciding on an area and then finding a rental in that area is proving challenging and we are pacing ourselves. Firstly there are many lovely areas, and secondly the demand for rentals high, so lots of competition. We are tempted to buy, have seen one we really like, but think renting for 6-12 months is more sensible to get to know the area better. Dunedin is really booming, lots of things going on here and many are choosing to move here it seems. Rich has started work on his visa, (lots of appointments for things like medical, fingerprinting, police checks etc etc), I have started job interviews getting my registration sorted, and we are checking out the schools in the areas we like. There are many options schooling wise, so again lots of research about what is best for Luca, ultimately the next 8 years is about where and what it is best for him. It is an exciting, if somewhat stressful time making all these decisions, but how lucky are we to have choices!!!!!!!!!

People are being so kind, hospitable and helpful, and we feel it coming together. Next post we should have a home, all going to plan ๐Ÿ™‚

For those of you who don’t know Dunedin I thought this summed it up nicely, and gives you an idea why we have chosen this place to stop for a while and see if roots take hold ๐Ÿ™‚

https://www.dunedinnz.com/