10/12/2024
Kiwi house sitter, Colin has been house & pet sitting for over ten years, which has seen him travel from the Far North to the deep South, and from the West to the East Coast of both islands. Currently on his first day of a six-week house-sit in Invercargill, he is looking forward to rediscovering the southern city he last visited 44 years ago.
“With the cost of housing prohibitive in New Zealand, house and pet sitting is the perfect lifestyle for me. In exchange for temporary accommodation, I provide home and property care, and most importantly, love, care and companionship for a wide variety of pets. I’ve cared for innumerable animals ranging from cats, dogs, goldfish, and chickens, to sheep, cattle, horses, miniature donkeys, pigs, goats, quail, and ducks, and even a recovering rescued Tui. I’ve also applied my horticultural training in the care of houseplants and gardens. Most pets reciprocate the love I give them which makes the experience even more fulfilling. An added bonus is making friendships with some incredible humans as well.
How many people can say they can leave their home and experience such a vast array of what New Zealand has to offer, including incredible Aurora Australis over a glacial lake, giant Kauri such as Tane Mahuta, snow-capped alps, volcanoes, and subtropical beaches, all very close to home. What better way to enjoy a lengthy holiday without the financial burden!
I’m currently spending seven-months in the South Island, rediscovering my favourite places from when I lived here decades ago. Assignments of a month or longer provide a chance to really settle into the home and surroundings and grow a strong bond with the pets. Having said that, shorter sits have their place when I have a gap in my bookings.
I am living my perfect retirement lifestyle which I totally love, with no intentions of settling down from my nomadic wanderings anytime soon.”
