Annette Taylor thought she was on an extended holiday to New Zealand to wait out the COVID-19 storm until the new year.

However, she soon she realised the pandemic was likely to go on for a lot longer, so she made other plans and jumped at the chance to put down roots in Fiordland. 

She is now the proud owner of the Manapouri Store and Cathedral Cafe in the picturesque lakeside town of Manapouri, at the gateway to Doubtful Sound, and she couldn't be happier. 

After being made redundant in March from her retail job in the UK following the pandemic outbreak, Ms Taylor decided to come home to New Zealand – where she's originally from – and travel around the country, taking in the scenery and visiting family and friends. 

She was on a trip to Rakiura/Stewart Island when she spotted the Manapouri Store for sale on Trade Me.

"I didn't think I was likely to get another job... and I was in the area, so I thought I'd pop by and have a look," she said. 

View of Lake Manapouri from the Manapouri Store and Cathedral Cafe.

The business was previously owned by Jocelyn and Grant Brown who owned it for eight years.

Ms Taylor said she worked with Mr and Mrs Brown at the store for around month to get a feel for the place and make sure she liked it before making the purchase.

"It was just me," she said. 

"I like the community here, the scenery is just gorgeous and I have a daughter in the South Island."

Originally from Auckland and with a property in Wellington, Ms Taylor doesn't have any family ties to Southland or really know many people down here – she just really liked the place. 

Ms Taylor said she wasn't deterred about taking over a small business in a COVID-19 climate. 

Annette Taylor outside the Manapouri Store.

Fiordland relies heavily on revenue from tourism and with the borders closed to overseas travellers, small tourist towns such as Te Anau, Manapouri and Glenorchy have been feeling the pinch. 

Often in the summer months, the population of these towns will double in size as tourists flock to enjoy all the region as to offer in the warmer days. 

Businesses budget for quiet periods in winter, but because of COVID, this winter has been particularly hard. 

"I do realise that I'm going into a low time, with winter and COVID but a lot of [Kiwis] are travelling right now because they can't go anywhere else."

She said she had noticed a slight drop off in visitors since Auckland had gone into Alert Level 3, but she wasn't worried and said things would pick back up as more people started travelling to the region in summer. 

"I have a really good feeling," she said.

"I've inherited two very good women with the business – Kim and Lee – and without them, this wouldn't be able to happen for me. They are a great staff."

The three women take care of everything at the store from sorting the mail for the post boxes, baking, serving, cleaning, and making coffee. 

There is plenty to keep them busy. 

Ms Taylor said she was keeping most things the same at the cafe for the meantime but would be making a few changes, such as putting in a comfy couch seating area and offering a few more types of food on the menu. 

Travelling is something that Ms Taylor loves but she said she only liked it if she was working at the same time.

So, for now, she's here to stay and discover all that Southland has to offer.

The Manapouri Store and Cathedral Cafe is located at 29 Waiau Street, Manapouri.