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14 Apr 2024
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Details
Description
We have a 1.5 hectare property with two homes in the heart of the gorgeous Karangahake Gorge. The property was very neglected and had previously been a restaurant and winery for many decades. Our multigenerational family of seven bought it and moved in in December 2021. Since then we have been working hard to restore and improve the property.
Our family consists of my parents, my aunt, husband, two teenage daughters and I, plus our family pets. We live in separate houses, living our own lives but sharing the lifestyle property. Most of our days are spent outside working on the property, looking after our animals and enjoying the beautiful scenery that surrounds us. We are all quite health conscious but not to the extreme, none of us smoke and we enjoy the occasional wine. Sleep is really important to us after our hard days work, so we'd expect anyone staying with us to respect our quiet hours from 10pm to 6am.
I work in the office at an organic fertilizer company during the mornings, and my husband operates a military flight simulator and restaurant/bar business in nearby Thames.
Our main house was originally built as an off grid cabin in a Latvian style from recycled materials and included a horse barn. The house was extended to large four bedroom house, continuing the Latvian look and recycling theme, and the barn was converted into a restaurant. We converted the restaurant into a home for my parents and aunt.
The buildings now need to be painted and have repairs completed. The extensive, once beautiful gardens, also need a lot of work, plus new landscaping projects to improve the property. Long term, we would love the gardens and house to be beautiful enough to be featured in the local annual Garden Festival.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are a Kiwi family spanning three generations, living in a close knit Kiwi community. Anyone staying with us would be immersed in typical New Zealand family culture.
We also have WW2 Polish refugee heritage. Not many people are aware of the story of the thousands of Polish children who were orphaned in the war, so we are happy to share our family's story with those who are interested.
We grow our own vegetables, keep free range chickens and ducks for eggs, and try to grow our food as organically as possible. We've also planted over thirty fruit trees in our new orchard. We have two goats, 14 chickens, three ducks, three cats, a dog and a rescued magpie bird. Our animals are an important part of our family.
The Karangahake Gorge area where we live is a national heritage site. We take great interest in the local history, especially the lives of the people who lived in our area and the impact they had on the land.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We need help with...
- Painting the exterior and interior (cleaning, prepping and painting)
- Repairs to rotten window frames
- Gardening & landscaping
- Fencing
- Splitting and stacking firewood
Having had experience with rural life and/or physical work would be an advantage.
We have safety and work equipment available on site.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Accommodation is in a sleepout that shares a large patio with my parents house. There is a queen bed, single bed, dressing table, TV, microwave, fridge, toaster, kettle and outdoor table and chairs.
You would share a bathroom and kitchen in the house.
We usually cook an evening meal however sometimes we do DIY dinners where we all make our own when we want it. We are unable to cater to any special dietary needs sorry.
Mature travellers with some life experience and the ability to work unsupervised would fit into our family the best.
What else ...
The Karangahake Gorge is a spectacular area with rivers for swimming, beautiful walking tracks along the old mine trails and through the tunnels, and many areas with ruins from the historic gold mining industry. There is native bush surrounding the property with many native birds and insects, including NZ glow worms. Our property has it's own private access to the local walking tracks.
Nearby the gorge are other nature trails and the Hauraki Rail Cycle Trail.
Waihi Beach is 25 minutes away for surfing and swimming.
Regional towns Paeroa (7 minutes drive) and Waihi (13 minutes drive) have a good selection of shops and cafes. There are other nearby country towns that are lovely to visit too.
We are a central location for those wanting to travel further to the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula, volcanic Rotorua, Hobbiton in Matamata and Hamilton City. Auckland is only 1.5 hours away.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have satellite WIFI and areas for laptop use.
Space for parking camper vans
We have carpark that can accommodate up to a medium sized camper.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
