New Zealand Farm Stay

My home sweet home for 5 days.

Tyler and I arrived in Christchurch after a 12.5 hour flight from San Francisco to Auckland, NZ and a 1.5 hour flight from Auckland to Christchurch.  Ian and Devin met us at the airport, and we went directly to Antarctica New Zealand, which is less than a mile from the airport.  At AntNZ, we left some of our gear for shipment to Scott Base and selected our cold weather clothing.  The AntNZ clothing is very nice, and I’ll eventually write about it, probably after the trip so I can provide a review as well.

From AntNZ, we went out to Jenny’s farm, a few miles south of Christchurch.  Jenny was Devin’s Ph.D. advisor and is a good friend of Ian’s.  She and her husband are at a conference this week, and they needed some house sitters to take care of their chickens, sheep and cats.  We gladly volunteered.  It’s a great place!  Tyler and Devin are staying in the house, and I got the vintage caravan!


The view in from the front door.
The living quarters. I do get to use the main house, too, including its great shower, kitchen, and comfy chairs.  However, I could see loving a trip in a caravan like this.

The caravan is a New Zealand classic and is exceptionally charming.  I’m loving it, especially in the morning as the birds start waking up, the rooster crows, and the sunrise shines in through the window.  There are both starlings and finches nesting in the shed, and I can watch them bringing food to their chicks.  Some bird loves to run across the metal roof, the full length of the shed, making pitter-patter noises.

A couple of the sheep will eat food pellets out of my hand, and they keep migrating to the wrong paddock.  I have been herding them back.  The chickens produce lots of eggs, which are often slightly oddly shaped, all different sizes, and very tasty.  So are the fresh herbs, broccoli, and chard from the garden.  We’re supplementing those with many more fresh fruits and veggies.

These few days are a complete contrast from what we’ll be experiencing starting Monday.  I’m trying to enjoy every bit of it while I can!



The view out the front window with my favorite sheep and a pukeko.

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