I was leaving for Spain, I had 5 months left in New Zealand. I was living in New Plymouth at the time, a small coastal town on the west coast of the North Island. I had been on a road trip with a good friend from Italy in the South Island a year prior and that was it, before i knew it I fell in love. The landscape, the mountains, the air & adventure. I handed in my notice for my job at the time, gave myself two weeks to prepare, sold my surfboard, left the apartment, told my roommate (who was on summer break at the time)'' Andy, I'm going to the South Island this summer in search to find the perfect beach, if you want to make a good amout of summer cash you could come along. I remembered a few of my german friends telling me about a place called Motueka where they were picking apples for a good amount of cash. I didn't care, I just wanted to enjoy my last summer in New Zealand in the sun. Job or not I was still getting a summer apartment on the beach, two weeks later we left. I always say "everything happens for a reason and seems to fall into place when you let it".We made it to picton,( the first settlement that you reach by boat when you arrive to the South Island ) and slept in the car.

We woke up at 6am and the journey began down the picturesque Queen charlotte drive. After Nelson we arrived in Motueka, this wasn't what we were expecting. No beautiful beach & the mood wasn't right for me. The day I was leaving the North I had a very clear picture in my head of where I wanted to stay ''It was in a tranquil pine forest, birds, BBQs and a beach where I could see the sun every morning. I had heard once before of a beach called Kaiteriteri from a friend but he said there isn't any work there and you have to be super lucky to find something, Motueka is about a 15 mintue drive away so we left, and headed for the beach. I rang Kaiteriteri reserve and said '' Hey guys, I'm traveling with a friend for the summer looking for work in the area, while we wait we will stay at the campground for a few nights, could we book 3 nights please? '' Of course'' she said ! ''see you boys soon '' When we drove into Kaiteriteri, the feeling was surreal. it was the feeling of being on an Island, the feeling when nothing matters outside of paradise. We got into the reception and Julie greeted us ( Who became Aunty, X Love you ! ) " Hey boys ! You're the boys here for work, I have two Jobs avaliable for the summer,''WHAT! I couldn't belive it. Next I knew I was security for the summer for one of New Zealands highest ranked reserves ready to start one of the best summers in my life.