New owners for township backpackers
The new crew at Barefoot Backpackers - from left; WWOOFer Karl Schmitt, daughter-in-law Sharon Trustun, owners Johno and Henrietta Earle. Photo: Gerard Hindmarsh.
Johno and Henrietta (Yetta) Earle are new owners of Barefoot Backpackers at 114 Commercial St, having taken over from Chris and Jacqui Peters in September.
Previously the Earles lived for 15 years at boat-accessible-only Paradise Bay in Pelorus Sound, where they own a 40-hectare bush block, ran an apiary and operated an 18m charter launch.
Says Henrietta: “One of the big reasons we shifted to Golden Bay was because we have two grown-up children living here. It was lovely living in the Sounds, but we were ready for a new challenge too.” Their children here are Andrew Earle, who lives at Tui, and son Kim Duff, who manages Anatoki Salmon. Kim’s partner Sharon Trustun now helps at the backpackers.
The Earles are painting and laying new carpet to give their new premises a more homely and friendly atmosphere. Four rooms, including one family room plus a caravan, can cater for 16 overnight guests. There’s also a spa pool and two separate lounges—a stand-alone outdoor lounge with a TV, pool table and internet computers, and smaller “laid back” one for just listening to music. Other new touches include local art on the wall, Tui Bee Balms for sale, a book exchange, free bicycle hire and free muesli for breakfast.
Johno isn’t quite finished at Paradise Bay either; he travels back monthly to finish electric fencing to keep the wild pigs out of their regenerating bush.
Barefoot Backpackers was set up by Fred Uhrle in the mid-1990s under the name GB Backpackers, then Tony and Kath Sandall brought the 1915-built house and property up to consent standard. It is one of three backpackers currently operating in Takaka township.
Gerard Hindmarsh
