Going on an adventure to the other side of the world: it’s the dream come true for two young Quebecers who left everything to travel the roads of New Zealand in their van, where the landscapes are breathtaking.
Mélissa Raymond-Gariépy and her partner, Yannick Belouin, are fully enjoying their new life as nomads. Last October, they flew to New Zealand for “the trip of a lifetime” with a one-year working holiday visa in hand.
In 2023, Mr. Belouin was hit by the crisis of his thirties and he admits that he needed a change of scenery. Originally from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, he worked in real estate on the South Shore of Montreal, while Ms. Raymond-Gariépy, 29, was a project manager in agri-environment. Both studied at Laval University.
Mélissa Raymond-Gariépy and her partner, Yannick Belouin, from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, left everything to go on an adventure in New Zealand.
Photo provided by Mélissa Raymond-Gariépy
“We’ve wanted to go on a long-term trip for a long time. We decided to do it before we had too many responsibilities like a house and children. THE timing was good,” said Ms. Raymond-Gariépy.
Mountains and the sea
The type of visa they obtained allows them to work while making new discoveries. When they arrived in the country, they worked for a few months at the legendary Cardrona Hotel, near the town of Wanaka.
“We chose New Zealand precisely because it is on the other side of the world and close to South-East Asia. It’s a place where we would also like to travel with the low cost of plane tickets,” added the young adventurer.
The couple has always had an attraction to the mountains and the sea. In New Zealand, they are fulfilled. Every day, it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.
According to Mr. Belouin, being able to work on site makes carrying out such a project more affordable. During the interview with The newspaper, On Monday, they were in Rakaia for three days where they looked after two pet dogs in the absence of the owners of the house, thanks to the House Sitters application, which also offers twinning possibilities in Quebec.
Hiking in Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand.
Photo provided by Mélissa Raymond-Gariépy
Changes in values
“We are super happy. We love animals, but it also gives us a place to stop, since we live on the road in our minivan and comfort is not always present,” continued Ms. Raymond-Gariépy.
“Of course we feel free, that’s wonderful. We call it the slow living, everything is slower. Just going to wash is sometimes a project. […] We have 20 liters of water and when we run out, we have to find a place to fill the tank,” said Mr. Belouin.
The two hiking enthusiasts never tire of the landscapes offered by New Zealand and the people they meet on the road. After a few months of living this bohemian life, their relationship with society has changed somewhat.
A sunset at Glenorchy over Mount Judah.
Photo provided by Mélissa Raymond-Gariépy
“I come from the business world. Of course I was more materialistic. We place importance on assets. I had already started to deconstruct this thought before leaving on my trip. We love freedom, traveling and meeting people. Human contact is much more important than material. That’s no longer our values now,” expressed Mr. Belouin.
To follow their journey:
https://www.instagram.com/my.newzealand?igsh=emFtY21vMGZkZ2oy
https://www.facebook.com/yannick.belouin
Quebecers travel in this converted van that they bought when they arrived last fall.
Photo provided by Mélissa Raymond-Gariépy