Meet Mao Mao, the cat highway tripping round New Zealand

Kayaking in Cromwell, climbing the well-known Wānaka tree, mountaineering in Coromandel – Mao Mao the cat has executed all of it on her travels.

Fed up with their mundane day-to-day life, her homeowners Matt Day and Ching Yi Wong give up their jobs, purchased a van and took Mao Mao off on a visit to discover the nation.

When the couple determined to hit the highway, there was no query whether or not or not Mao Mao would reside the van life with them.

“We get loopy appears from individuals after we’re strolling her, like, ‘Is {that a} cat?’. However why not, she loves it,” Day mentioned.

Day met Wong in Hong Kong 5 years in the past. The pair lived collectively in Hokitika on the West Coast, Day working as a builder and Wong in hospitality, earlier than they determined to unfold their wings.

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“We had been sick of Hoki, so we thought we’d reside the simple life. We simply began exploring and seeing the place we would wish to transfer to,” mentioned Wong, 25.

Day and Wong lived subsequent to the seashore in Hokitika. Mao Mao, which is Cantonese for “cat cat”, grew up having each day walks on the seashore and retaining Day firm when he went surf-casting.

By the point they had been able to hit the highway, Mao Mao, who’s a 12 months previous, was used to carrying her harness and going for walks within the wild.

Their first cease was Cromwell, the place they picked cherries and freedom camped for a few months earlier than cruising up the east coast of the South Island.

The “tremendous spoiled” Mao Mao had each day walks via the orchards and visited standard vacationer spots, together with the enduring Wānaka tree.

They later arrived in Motueka, the place they picked apples for 3 months.

“It was so chill. Everybody cherished Mao Mao. She’d run via the kiwi fruit subject like frothing,” mentioned Day, 27.

Mao Mao all the time wears a harness when she’s outdoors, and has a protracted lead that ties to the van.

“In any other case she gaps it and doesn’t come house till like 4am. It’s essentially the most tense night time, not value it,” Day mentioned.

Mao Mao is not any common cat – Wong and Day say she has extra dog-like qualities.

She loves her walks, she swims and joins Day for a paddle on the kayak – she even places her head out the window after they’re driving.

Stress-free on the dashboard within the solar or sitting on her dad’s lap, Mao Mao doesn’t thoughts the lengthy drives.

She even has her personal Instagram account, @adventuremao, the place individuals can comply with her on her travels.

The travelling trio at the moment are on Waiheke Island pruning the grapevines.

Dwelling stress-free with little duty, the pair say it’s the happiest they’ve been.

“You don’t have those self same duties right here, you simply come, work for 2 months, then go away for the subsequent. We’re simply so chilled out,” Wong mentioned.

Whereas they reside a easy life, Wong enjoys cooking up Asian delicacies on the highway.

“Typically we’ll rock as much as a campground and [Wong] will prepare dinner up a sizzling pot and everyone seems to be staring. Whereas they prepare dinner up their sausages, we’re having a connoisseur meal,” Day mentioned.

The pair are utilizing the time to discover the place they could prefer to quiet down. They plan to spend the summer season travelling the North Island with Mao Mao and dealing the place they will.

They’ve made associates alongside the best way, and have even come throughout different travelling cats.

“Everyone seems to be so pleasant in seasonal work. We get together with everybody,” Day mentioned.