In September Barclay said he was moving to London to look for job opportunities.
Since then Barclay has posted photos to social media of him and companion Kristy Martin enjoying some time off with a two-month tour of Europe's most envied destinations.
The Coliseum in Rome, the canals of Venice, ruins in Athens and white sands of Mykonos in Greece were all on the lengthy tour.
This week it was reported that Barclay had taken a job with the Japanese owners of Queenstown's Millbrook Resort, the Ishii family. His London-based role is as international business affairs secretary for the family's Japanese design and software company, Too Corporation, Mountain Scene reported.
As an MP and deputy chair of a select committee Barclay earned about $160,000 a year as well as the added benefits of travel and accommodation expenses.
Barclay, the former MP for Clutha-Southland, left New Zealand on September 19 - just 4 days before the election.
He met Martin and the pair travelled through Italy, Croatia and Greece - taking selfies along the way.
The trip included St Peter's Basilica and Trevi Fountain in Rome, Florence and the seaside villages of Cinque Terre, and Gondola rides in Venice.
In Croatia the pair enjoyed the old walled city of Dubrovnik and the seaside village of Split. After that it was on to Athens in Greece before relaxing in the sun on the picturesque island of Mykonos.
After Winston Peters' October 19 decision to support a Labour-led government, Barclay posted on social media: "Really sad for my former colleagues - National MPs, party members and Beehive staffers today. You should be proud of everything you've achieved over the last 9 years. Know you have made a difference. Thinking of you all."
A week later the pair travelled back to London for a Halloween costume party at a friend's flat before Barclay came back to New Zealand in time for the Queenstown Marathon.
Under Parliamentary policy someone who retired would still be paid until three months after polling day - up to December 23.
All 34 MPs who resigned or lost their seats at the 2017 election still get paid for three months - about $40,000 in total, or $3300 a week, before tax.
Former MPs and party leaders Peter Dunne and Te Ururoa Flavell defended Barclay, saying departed MPs have an entitlement and how they use it is their business.
Te Ururoa Flavell said despite the circumstances Barclay was entitled to his salary and "it was up to the individual concerned how they spend their money".
Dunne said MPs ceased to be employed on election night.
He had "been at home re-establishing himself" since election night but said Barclay was free to do what he wanted.
"Like all MPs he ceased to be a member of Parliament at midnight on election night, after that he is a private citizen.
"That's his life and responsibility and good on him for getting on with it. I think in his circumstances to get right out of New Zealand was the right thing to do."
Barclay was tipped for great things after his election in 2014 - becoming the youngest MP in the House of Representatives.
But his career came crashing down after Glenys Dickson, a senior electorate agent for Barclay, resigned because of an "employment problem" between the two.
It emerged Barclay had made clandestine recordings of staff members he suspected of being critical of him. Despite it being a crime, Barclay refused to give a statement to police who decided not to lay charges.
Barclay could not be reached for comment.
Timeline
June 2017 - Barclay announces he will not stand again in the 2017 election
September 8 - has leaving party
September 19 - leaves for UK
September 25 - Travels with Kristy Martin to Italy then continues to travel with her through Croatia, Greece taking in Athens, Mykonos
November 10 - Back in London
November 16 - Tokyo
November 18 - Back in Queenstown
