23-07-2025
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.
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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.
