Monday was the start of my job searching around Christchurch, and I initially hoped I could just walk into tradestaff which is the agency that gave me labour work in Auckland and get a job. They unfortunately said I needed a driving license which made me unsuitable for the job. I think they were just being awkward because the Auckland office knew I was a backpacker and gave me a suitable job with that knowledge, and the person on the reception at Christchurch seemed like they couldn't be bothered to accommodate me even though other people in my hostel in Christchurch were working for tradestaff without a car. I therefore spent the rest of the day just looking up other jobs.
On Tuesday I hadn't yet heard anything from anywhere so I decided to go out for a walk to the Port Hills which is home to Christchurch Gondola. I walked up the top however as there was a popular path called the Bridle Path up to the top, which linked Christchurch to the small port of Lyttelton before they built a tunnel. I didn't go down to Lyttelton however, instead admiring the views which one way was of Christchurch City and even the Southern Alps. And the other way Lyttelton Harbour and the Banks Peninsula. I also visited the small information centre at the top of the gondola which was interesting, before heading over castle rocks to get a better view of Christchurch. I then headed down back into Christchurch not getting back to the hostel until dark with the daylight hours now well and truly into winter.
By Wednesday I still hadn't heard anything from any jobs anywhere. The issue is in terms of work in Christchurch is there's a lot of construction work, but the alternative is only really retail and hospitality and employing a backpacker in low season probably isn't ideal for them. I therefore contacted a few more agencies to try and find labour work, and also broadened my search a bit. By Thursday the opportunity arose to do some voluntary work on a farm in Kaikoura, so I had to make the decision whether to continue searching for work in Christchurch, move elsewhere in search of work, or do some volunteering in Kaikoura. I opted for Kaikoura
Kaikoura is a small town located about halfway between Christchurch and Picton (the place you catch the ferry to North Island). It's particularly popular with wildlife enthusiasts due it's abundance of marine life including whales, dolphins, and seals. In November 2016 the town suffered a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake and eversince the main route north to Picton has been closed due to landslides, meaning a journey to Picton now takes about 9 hours instead of about 2 hours. In addition to this the main route south is also closed meaning the only road to Kaikoura is an inland mountain road, making the town particularly inaccessible since the earthquake. I managed to get there though despite this.
My job in Kaikoura is on a farm park just outside the town. I have to stay a minimum of 2 weeks but I'm not sure how long I'll stay yet, because to be fair Kaikoura is a nice place. The farm is supposedly run by an English couple from Bournemouth but the husband is currently in the UK and filing for divorce from the wife who has run off with a local Kiwi guy so it's slight fun and games. In return for food and accomodation I have to every morning feed the animals, clean out their areas, and prepare their meals which takes a couple of hours. And then 4 days a week spend a few hours in the afternoon doing so called project work which could be anything. There's 4 volunteers on site so we work in pairs.
Leaving Christchurch early Friday morning I was in Kaikoura by half 10 and was picked up by the owner who seems really nice. I was shown round the farm which includes Llamas, Pigs, Sheep, Donkeys, a Wallaby, Deer, Goats, and lots of birds, rabbits, and guinea pigs, as well as a 3 legged dog and 1 eyed dog. I even have my own bedroom which is like this gypo hut all to myself, as well as a bathroom, kitchen, and lounge area which I share with other volunteers. The farm is open to the public and also has holiday accommodation including a teepee, yurt, and train carriage. I spent the afternoon tidying up the cottage area.
On Saturday it was my half day although come afternoon it was raining which meant I stayed at the farm and played games with my volunteer partner. We did however cycle into Kaikoura late afternoon despite the rain to see one of the seal colonies before it got dark. The farm is basically located 4km from the town so it's walkable but the farm owners have bikes you can use to get around in our free time which is useful. Come Sunday I had got to know the daily routine with the feed times at 8.15am and 3.15pm, and it seems like a nice little job for the time being.
No comments:
Post a Comment