Buddies head to Quarantine - but not for COVID 19!

At the end of last year, our Dunedin Buddies came together for an exciting trip to Quarantine Island in Dunedin, which lies in the beautiful Dunedin Harbour.
Dunedin Buddy Coordinator Marco told us: “On the day of our trip the weather proved to be a bit challenging! A strong breeze and a brisk 14 degrees didn’t stop us though, and the sun was shining. Some young people were a bit nervous about going on a boat, but it was great to see how they stepped up to the challenge.

“On the island lives a family who are the permanent caretakers, and they were more than happy to show us around. Meghan welcomed us and told us something about the history and the animals on the island. We went for a bush walk and helped set out traps that record the footprints of little rodents, and then we had an awesome picnic.

“To top it off we did a treasure hunt before jumping back on the boat. The waves in the channel between the island were moving us from side to side, and on the way back some keen passengers got themselves a bit wet, followed by lots of laughs!

“Back on the ‘mainland’ once again, we handed out the gifts that the volunteers bought for their young buddies and wished everyone a Merry Christmas!”

Our Buddy Coordinators in Dunedin, Oamaru, Clutha and Central Otago arrange group outings at different times throughout the year, for their local Buddies to join in if they wish.

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