Lourenço and Filipa

Hello! We’re Filipa and Lourenço, a Portuguese couple in our early 30s.

We’re currently finishing our last week of work at The Boatshed Hotel, a boutique hotel on Waiheke Island, near Auckland. We fly to Sydney on December 23rd, where we’ll spend Christmas before heading up the East Coast in a small campervan to welcome the New Year. From January 2nd onwards, we’re looking for a place to call home on the Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast. At the moment, we have three nights booked in a hostel in Coolum Beach. I’m also in conversation for two job opportunities — at The Point Hotel in Coolum Beach and at Ramada Hotel in Golden Beach — with final plans depending on where we settle.

Over the past year, we’ve been living in New Zealand, spending the winter season in Wanaka (South Island) and the summer season on Waiheke Island. Along the way, we’ve done house and pet sitting, taking care of homes, gardens, veggie patches and beloved pets.

Lourenço lived in Australia for the past 2.5 years and is now returning, this time with me (Filipa!). I’m originally from Lisbon, where I worked in cultural communication at a theatre. Earlier this year, I took a break from my career, and since April we’ve been travelling, living and working around New Zealand — from kiwi picking to housekeeping — while exploring the country from north to south.

We’re now preparing to settle in Australia until at least April. We’re quiet, respectful and tidy people who love reading, writing and watching films — even if our tastes differ (I love poetry, he prefers graphic novels). We grew up together, as our parents are lifelong friends. We briefly dated in our early twenties, went our separate ways, and ten years later found our way back to each other — a little older, much happier, and very excited for this new chapter together.

Looking forward to meeting you