Latest news with #Catrin
India.com
4 days ago
- India.com
This woman, 22, lives on a deserted island with just six people, once lived a colorful city life, and then...
Catrin spent 9 months on the Motutapu island in New Zealand. In a bizarre yet interesting story, a young British woman quit her job and ditched her hectic but colorful city life in Wales and moved to a remote, deserted island in New Zealand, which she shared with just six other residents for nine months. According to details, Catrin, a 22-year-old outdoor instructor, relocated to Motutapu Island, 11,000 miles of the coast of Auckland, after quitting her job in Malvern, England in 2023. Why Catrin moved away from city life? Detailing her experience of living on a deserted Island among a handful of natives, Catrin wrote in her blog that she was exhausted with the hustle and bustle of city life and decided to leave everything behind to experience the tranquility offered by nature. Catrin said her strange decision was driven by the desire of a peaceful life, away from the colorful yet tiring life of cities, which ultimately led her to Motutapu, a small island in the Hauraki Gulf, northeast of Auckland. Catrin spent nine months working in an outdoor recreation centre in Motutapu. How Catrin felt on Motutapu island? In her August 2023 blog, Catrin revealed the pros and cons of living on a remote island, saying that while island featured everything a nature lover would dreams, like beaches, walking trails, rolling hills, farmland, and scenic views as far as the eye can see, it has been uninhabited for over 700 years and can only be reached by a ferry from Auckland or via a causeway from Rangitoto Island. Catrin wrote that she did not have to worry about her safety while roaming around the island at night as its nearly uninhabited, and she was also save a lot of money because there are no shops, pubs or malls to spend on. What challenges Catrin faced on Motutapu? While Catrin was quite happy with her tranquil life on Motutapu, she also faced quite a few challenges on the deserted Island. Catrin notes that she had to wait for a ferry to travel to the mainland to buy food and other essentials as there are no shops or restaurants on the island. Sometimes, she was bored to death because there was nothing to do on the remote island, and the lack of a social life got to her at times as there were only six people living on the entire island, which made her feel restless and anxious. However, she confessed that pros of living a quiet, tranquil life in Motutapu, far out weighed the cons as it gave the most important gift a person could ask for; peace. Her story inspires those who want to move away from the hustle and bustle of city life and choose a simple and peaceful life amidst nature. 'Motutapu taught me that life can be slow and that's okay. There is peace in nature and simplicity,' she writes.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
I quit the UK to live with 6 people on ‘sacred' island 11k miles away – it's saved me £1,000s but there's a big drawback
A BRITISH woman has revealed that she ditched life in the UK to move to a remote island 11,000 miles away. Catrin, 22, has an extreme passion for 3 Catrin ditched the UK to live on a remote island Credit: instagram/catrinexplores 3 Motutapu Island with Rakino in the background in the Hauraki Gulf Credit: Getty 3 Boats anchored at Islington Bay, Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands, New Zealand. Credit: Getty In 2023, the seasoned explorer left her home in Wales, and decided to move to Motutapu, a small island off the coast of Auckland, Motutapu, meaning "sacred" in Māori , boasts incredible scenery and is a haven for native birds, but it can only be accessed by ferry from Auckland. Catrin shared the pros and cons of living in such a remote location via a blog post on her website Peaceful surroundings If a peaceful life is what you're after, a remote island might be perfect, as the adventurer revealed that there is no "hustle and bustle" on Motutapu. Read more real life stories Catrin, who lived on the island for nine months, working in an outdoor recreation centre, explained that there is plenty of time to think and relax, with the sound of tweeting birds the only noise likely to wake you up in the morning. Stargazing Due to its incredibly remote location, Motutapu has little light pollution, meaning that at night the sky is lit up with thousands of glittering stars. "If you love your stargazing and astrology, then working in a remote location would be super cool!", Catrin said. Scenery Motutapu is packed with gorgeous sandy beaches, and offers incredible views of Auckland in the distance. Most read in Fabulous Catrin boasted that the island also offers panoramic views of nearby islands, rolling hills and even a volcano. Safety Even as a seasoned traveller, Catrin said that as a young female, she often fears for her safety when abroad. Little Diomede is a tiny remote island where US is just 2 MILES from Russia However, she revealed that in Motutapu , she felt the "safest", she's ever felt. "Not once have I stressed about going out after dark, about leaving the doors open, about being paranoid that somethings going to happen. "Just one less thing that's on my mind when going to sleep", she said. Money saving Motutapu has no bars, pubs or shops, which may sound boring to some. How easy is it to move abroad? Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here's what you need to do at home before moving: Notify HMRC about your upcoming move. Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address. Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving. If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad - contact the You can sign up to the Royal Mail's If you have outstanding student loans, contact the If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools. However, Catrin explained that it helped her to save thousands for her next trip. Difficulty getting food As there are no shops or restaurants on the island, Catrin admitted that it can be tricky to access food. Each time she needed to head to the shops, she had to wait for a ferry to the mainland, meaning she had to plan well to make sure she isn't left without. Nothing to do With no nightlife, and only five other people to hang out with, life on the island can get boring. "You have to do with nature and entertaining yourself", Catrin said. Lack of freedom Finally, Catrin said that the hardest part about living on the island, was the inability to nip to the shops or head out for dinner whenever she pleased. "You start to become stir crazy, being stuck in the same location, with the same scenery, and the same people", she revealed.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Scottish Sun
I quit the UK to live with 6 people on ‘sacred' island 11k miles away – it's saved me £1,000s but there's a big drawback
The island has no shops or pubs, and can only be accessed by boat ISLE GO I quit the UK to live with 6 people on 'sacred' island 11k miles away – it's saved me £1,000s but there's a big drawback A BRITISH woman has revealed that she ditched life in the UK to move to a remote island 11,000 miles away. Catrin, 22, has an extreme passion for travelling, and can often be seen jetting off to exciting locations such as Sri Lanka and Morocco. 3 Catrin ditched the UK to live on a remote island Credit: instagram/catrinexplores 3 Motutapu Island with Rakino in the background in the Hauraki Gulf Credit: Getty 3 Boats anchored at Islington Bay, Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands, New Zealand. Credit: Getty In 2023, the seasoned explorer left her home in Wales, and decided to move to Motutapu, a small island off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand, which has a population of just six people. Motutapu, meaning "sacred" in Māori, boasts incredible scenery and is a haven for native birds, but it can only be accessed by ferry from Auckland. Catrin shared the pros and cons of living in such a remote location via a blog post on her website Catrin Explores. Peaceful surroundings If a peaceful life is what you're after, a remote island might be perfect, as the adventurer revealed that there is no "hustle and bustle" on Motutapu. Catrin, who lived on the island for nine months, working in an outdoor recreation centre, explained that there is plenty of time to think and relax, with the sound of tweeting birds the only noise likely to wake you up in the morning. Stargazing Due to its incredibly remote location, Motutapu has little light pollution, meaning that at night the sky is lit up with thousands of glittering stars. "If you love your stargazing and astrology, then working in a remote location would be super cool!", Catrin said. Scenery Motutapu is packed with gorgeous sandy beaches, and offers incredible views of Auckland in the distance. Catrin boasted that the island also offers panoramic views of nearby islands, rolling hills and even a volcano. Safety Even as a seasoned traveller, Catrin said that as a young female, she often fears for her safety when abroad. Little Diomede is a tiny remote island where US is just 2 MILES from Russia However, she revealed that in Motutapu , she felt the "safest", she's ever felt. "Not once have I stressed about going out after dark, about leaving the doors open, about being paranoid that somethings going to happen. "Just one less thing that's on my mind when going to sleep", she said. Money saving Motutapu has no bars, pubs or shops, which may sound boring to some. How easy is it to move abroad? Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here's what you need to do at home before moving: Notify HMRC about your upcoming move. Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address. Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving. If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad - contact the International Pension Centre. You can sign up to the Royal Mail's redirection service. If you have outstanding student loans, contact the Student Loans Centre. If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools. However, Catrin explained that it helped her to save thousands for her next trip. Difficulty getting food As there are no shops or restaurants on the island, Catrin admitted that it can be tricky to access food. Each time she needed to head to the shops, she had to wait for a ferry to the mainland, meaning she had to plan well to make sure she isn't left without. Nothing to do With no nightlife, and only five other people to hang out with, life on the island can get boring. "You have to do with nature and entertaining yourself", Catrin said. Lack of freedom Finally, Catrin said that the hardest part about living on the island, was the inability to nip to the shops or head out for dinner whenever she pleased. "You start to become stir crazy, being stuck in the same location, with the same scenery, and the same people", she revealed.
The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
I quit the UK to live with 6 people on ‘sacred' island 11k miles away – it's saved me £1,000s but there's a big drawback
A BRITISH woman has revealed that she ditched life in the UK to move to a remote island 11,000 miles away. Catrin, 22, has an extreme passion for travelling, and can often be seen jetting off to exciting locations such as Sri Lanka and Morocco. 3 3 In 2023, the seasoned explorer left her home in Wales, and decided to move to Motutapu, a small island off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand, which has a population of just six people. Motutapu, meaning "sacred" in Māori, boasts incredible scenery and is a haven for native birds, but it can only be accessed by ferry from Auckland. Catrin shared the pros and cons of living in such a remote location via a blog post on her website Catrin Explores. Peaceful surroundings If a peaceful life is what you're after, a remote island might be perfect, as the adventurer revealed that there is no "hustle and bustle" on Motutapu. Catrin, who lived on the island for nine months, working in an outdoor recreation centre, explained that there is plenty of time to think and relax, with the sound of tweeting birds the only noise likely to wake you up in the morning. Stargazing Due to its incredibly remote location, Motutapu has little light pollution, meaning that at night the sky is lit up with thousands of glittering stars. "If you love your stargazing and astrology, then working in a remote location would be super cool!", Catrin said. Scenery Motutapu is packed with gorgeous sandy beaches, and offers incredible views of Auckland in the distance. Catrin boasted that the island also offers panoramic views of nearby islands, rolling hills and even a volcano. Safety Even as a seasoned traveller, Catrin said that as a young female, she often fears for her safety when abroad. However, she revealed that in Motutapu , she felt the "safest", she's ever felt. "Not once have I stressed about going out after dark, about leaving the doors open, about being paranoid that somethings going to happen. "Just one less thing that's on my mind when going to sleep", she said. Money saving Motutapu has no bars, pubs or shops, which may sound boring to some. How easy is it to move abroad? Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here's what you need to do at home before moving: Notify HMRC about your upcoming move. Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address. Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving. If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad - contact the International Pension Centre. You can sign up to the Royal Mail's redirection service. If you have outstanding student loans, contact the Student Loans Centre. If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools. However, Catrin explained that it helped her to save thousands for her next trip. Difficulty getting food As there are no shops or restaurants on the island, Catrin admitted that it can be tricky to access food. Each time she needed to head to the shops, she had to wait for a ferry to the mainland, meaning she had to plan well to make sure she isn't left without. Nothing to do With no nightlife, and only five other people to hang out with, life on the island can get boring. "You have to do with nature and entertaining yourself", Catrin said. Lack of freedom Finally, Catrin said that the hardest part about living on the island, was the inability to nip to the shops or head out for dinner whenever she pleased. "You start to become stir crazy, being stuck in the same location, with the same scenery, and the same people", she revealed.
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Daily Mail
I quit the UK to live on a remote island - I can only leave once a week and there's nothing to do but I love it
A Welsh expat has shared the benefits and drawbacks of remote living after moving to an uninhabited island near New Zealand. Catrin, a 22-year-old outdoor instructor, has worked in far-flung destinations all over the globe, from Borneo to India, and regularly documents her experiences, itineraries, advice, tips and tricks on her travel blog. In 2023, Catrin left her job in Malvern, England, and relocated to Motutapu Island, situated in the Hauraki Gulf to the northeast of Auckland, New Zealand, where she spent nine months working in an outdoor recreation centre. Taking to her blog in August of that year, she highlighted the pros and cons of living in a secluded location. Though the island boasts rolling hills, farmland, beaches, walking trails and scenic views, it has been uninhabited for over 700 years and is only accessible either by ferry from Auckland or via a causeway from Rangitoto Island. Catrin warned: 'Living remotely can come with both positive and negative aspects, and remote work is not for everyone.' Pros Peacefulness According to Catrin, an uninhabited island provides the perfect base for a peaceful existence without the everyday interference of urban life - giving individuals the space to think, relax and unwind. Catrin wrote: 'The only noise you'll hopefully be complaining about is the wake up call from the tweeting of birds at early hours in the morning, or the sound of the river and sea if you desperately need the toilet!' Stargazing Although not designated as an official Dark Sky Reserve, Motutapu's natural, undisturbed environment and relatively dark skies - especially away from the main camping areas - offer good incredible opportunities for stargazing on clear nights. Catrin added: 'If you love your stargazing and astrology, then working in a remote location would be super cool!' Scenery Motutapu Island offers a diverse and scenic landscape, with a blend of rolling farmland, native bush, and historical sites. It's known for its tranquil environment, offering walking tracks, coastal views, and opportunities to explore both Maori and World War II history. Catrin wrote: 'As I'm living on an island with sun and beaches, I have amazing views of the city in the distance, other islands, the sea, and the rolling green hills. Oh, and also the volcano adjacent to the island I'm on!' Safety Motutapu Island is considered safe to Catrin, despite its secluded nature. She noted that, as a young female, she was the 'safest she ever felt' while living on the island. The outdoor instructor added: 'Not once have I stressed about going out after dark, about leaving the doors open, about being paranoid that something's going to happen. Just one less thing that's on my mind when going to sleep.' Regardless, visitors should be prepared and aware of potential risks, as the island lacks many typical amenities and services, requiring visitors to be self-sufficient and mindful of their surroundings. Introvert's paradise According to Catrin, working in a remote location ties in perfectly with individuals who identify with being introverted. She said: 'As you will most likely be in a location away from any sort of civilisation, it will make it a lot more difficult to socialise with large range of people. Saying this, it will allow you to get close to a small group, and you can make friends for life! 'If you enjoy spending some time on your own, or with a small, steady bunch of people then this is an ideal situation for you to find yourself in.' Money saver When living on a remote island, everyday living is likely to be less costly as there are a lack of extracurricular activities and amenities to actually spend money on. Catrin explained: 'No high streets, shops, cinemas or pubs to spend all my money, which makes it a great place to start saving for upcoming trips.' Cons Accessibility There is no public transport available on the island, and visitors must rely on ferries, private boats, or kayaks for access, with the public ferry service from Auckland to Motutapu limited to just one departure a week Despite its beauty and historical significance, Motutapu Island has some accessibility limitations, such as a lack of public transport and a limited ferry service. There is no public transport available on the island, and visitors must rely on ferries, private boats, or kayaks for access, with the public ferry service from Auckland to Motutapu limited to just one departure a week. Visitors have to travel elsewhere for food and water as there are no readily available sources on the island, except for Home Bay. Catrin said: 'This can be a challenge. Luckily for us, there is a regular ferry, and easily accessible water taxis to and from mainland. 'Just do some research before you choose to accept a remote position, for accessibility to amenities and the frequency of being able to get things.' Facilities and amenities According to Catrin, visitors and residents would simply have to 'make do' with living a slower life, such as immersing themselves in nature or hanging out with other individuals on the island. She warned: 'If you are unable to do that, then remote location work is definitely not for you! It requires an ability to be productive and find activities out of minimal things, rather than staying inside.' Social opportunities The outdoor instructor warned that some people may experience difficulty in moving to the island at first as there will only be a select number of people to get to know, and a 'people-person' personality is required to get along with neighbours. She added: 'It's going to be a long, difficult time if people don't get along with you, or you don't get along with others! You must be adaptable, and be able to be civil and friendly, even with those who you don't quite see eye-to-eye with.' Freedom The biggest drawback for Catrin is the 'lack of freedom' on the island, as she was unable to 'pop to the shops' or head out to dinner and drinks with friends. She warned that spending long, extended periods living on a remote island can be 'very challenging,' and can even affect a person's mental health. Catrin added: 'You start to become stir crazy, being stuck in the same location, with the same scenery, and the same people.
