Experience family life on a small farm in Northland, NZ

Details

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  Description

  Hi, we are Simmie (34) from Hungary and Ray (35) from New Zealand. Our little family currently lives on an 80ha farm in Northland, 10 minutes from Matauri Bay and 20 minutes from Kerikeri. We are just on the way if you are planning to visit or are coming back from visiting Cape Reinga and/or 90 Mile Beach.
  
  Ray is managing the whole farm and is doing twice-a-day milking with the 180 cows and Simmie is responsible for the admin work for our company through which we operate the farm for the owners, who pop in every now and then. But mainly for a while now Simmie is a full time mum to our daughter who's gonna turn 1-year-old in July and in the meantime we are expecting another baby late June/mid July. We also have Ray's 6,5-year-old daughter with us every second weekend and half the school holidays. We have an 8-year-old farm dog, Hunter.
  
  We are happy to open our home to travellers who would like to have a taste of the NZ country life.
  
  Simmie used to be an assistant director in theatre and on movie shootings, and she used to travel to several different countries mainly throughout Europe (but got to the American, African and Asian continent as well) before residing in NZ in 2022, a lot of times staying at places thanks to Workaway (and other similar) opportunities, meeting lovely families who welcomed her in their homes, getting a taste of life of various organisations, and B&Bs.
  
  Ray has spent most of his life in the farm sector in different positions in New Zealand and roughly 4 years in Australia. He loves fishing, hunting, riding motorbike, boating. He was planning on starting backpacking, living the van life throughout NZ, leaving this particular farm where we are at, when Simmie, as a backpacker showed up here.
  
  After Simmie spent a few days on the farm, we started planning traveling together, because why not?! :) We bought a 7m bus together that we wanted to build up ourselves to our taste and needs while Ray's contract lasted on the farm. And then... one day...
  
  If you are interested in the rest of our story so far, we are happy to share it with you when we meet. :)

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Anything to learn what they are interested in in connection with self-employed, family-oriented life on a dairy farm.
  On occasions we go out to the beach or nature walks, Ray occasionally goes out fishing --- you are welcome to join us.
  We love listening to travellers sharing their stories and we have a few to share as well.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  There are plenty of different opportunities to have a taste of farm life with us either out on farm and the garden or around the house.
  
  Depending on your interests and qualities you may choose wanting to:
  - help out with cooking, cleaning
  - we have a garden that'd need help with reviving
  - help around with the kids without screen time, playing inside, taking them outside, or practice your language with them
  - learn farm managing from Ray, going out with him on farm doing everyday tasks (eg. weeding, general maintenance, animal care, etc.)
  - have a taste of morning/afternoon milkings alongside Ray if you want to have the experience
  - and we are open for you to let us know what projects are you working on and can offer to share skills with us or if we could help in your project
  
  2024
  - we are happy to welcome Workawayers in MAY and JUNE
  - when baby is due - late JUNE / mid JULY - we would really need help around the older kids and cleaning/cooking
  - 🚫 AUGUST 5th-25th we are NOT taking Workawayers due the guest room being taken by Simmie's family from Hungary
  - from SEPTEMBER we plan on hosting again and would be awesome if Workawayer(s) could help out in the house, cooking, cleaning, playing with the older kids, or with anything you feel like doing outside the house from the above list

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Hungarian: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  Own bedroom in the house with a queen size bed (our guest room).
  Bathroom is shared with the family.
  You are welcome to join preparing and sharing family meals with us or can decide cooking your own food for which you are welcome to use our basic ingredients. If you have special dietary needs, please talk with us whether we use ingredients that you would require and if we can cater for them or what is that we need you to provide for yourself.

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  What else ...

  Like everywhere in New Zealand (except for the big towns) you kinda need to have your own car to be able to travel around in the area.
  
  We as a family like cooking together when possible, playing boardgames day and night, get out to the beach or go for a nature walk for a few hours, enjoy family movie nights --- we are happy to have company in these. :)
  
  
  SIGHTS NEARBY
  
  Beaches: eg. Matauri Bay, Te Ngaere Beach, Wainui Bay
  
  Nature walks: eg. Puketi Forest, Kauri Walk, Rainbow Falls, St. Paul's Rock Track, Mahinepua Peninsula Walking Track
  
  Historical heritage: eg. The Stone Store, Rainbow Warrior Memorial
  
  Kerikeri and Waipapa: shopping, movies, cafes, restaurants, banks
  
  Kaeo: basic grocery shop, a cafe place, couple restaurants and takeaway
  
  Worth to visit: Paihia, Whangaroa
  
  Bigger trips: Cape Reinga, 90 Mile Beach, Great Sand Dunes

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week