Food and wildlife wonderland in a quiet valley in the beautiful Castlemaine Diggings National Park, Australia
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: 5 Mai 2025
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Feedback (11)
Let's start off by saying, thank you Elaine! I was supposed to stay for two weeks which ended with me staying for three months! It was a joy staying at your place and work together with you. All the way from simple gardening to building fences and welding made the work varied and enjoyable. Especially the more complicated things, even though it
… read more could take longer to finish them. Molly and Derek were also a joy to have around and I had a blast looking after them when needed :).
Elaine is very thoughtful and caring, she wants the best for you when you're staying there and makes sure you're all set and of course that you're enjoying it!
She's very helpful whenever you need anything and gave me freedom to use whatever tools I needed during my stay.
She's also very knowledgeable within Australia's ecology which we talked a lot about (among many other things) and I got many tips on where the best places are to go in Australia as a fellow ecologist and nature enthusiast!
There's so much to say about this experience and this place but if you're interested in a host that's caring but still likes to work hard, this is a place for you!
The final thing I want to say is that both the garden and orchard are amazing and during my stay I never had to worry about having vegetables or fruits which was both eye opening and luxuroius :).
Once again, thank you Elaine!
I highly recommend Andreas as he is hard working, self managing, lovely company,, interesting and intligent.
Andreas booked in for two weeks but stayed three. He is very easy going and will have a go at anything. He loves a challenge and thinks through problems strategically (our irrigation problems!).
He is easy going and just enjoyed chilling
… read more here. He likes his own space but is a great conversationalist and conservationist. Do we had some great chats over cups of tea.
Thank Andreas and all the best.
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to stay with Elaine for four months on her beautiful property.
Elaine is abundant with kindness and instantly made me feel welcomed and comfortable - like staying with a friend and it really felt like a home away from home.
It was such a privilege to learn about sustainability, eco systems and
… read more conservation from such knowledgeable and passionate people and I left feeling extremely inspired by their lifestyle.
Elaine is easygoing but always made fair and clear agreements. The work was varied, enjoyable and interesting with tasks like pruning, making compost, weeding, whipper snipping and planting.
It was also lovely to have been invited to dinner parties with Elaine's friends and to see how well integrated and involved she is with the surrounding community.
Castlemaine is a great town and Elaine made sure to take us to the best spots and give advice/recommendations wherever she could- even for our further travels.
I cannot thank you enough for such a fulfilling and memorable experience!
P.s Please give Derek and Molly a cuddle from me!! :)
Darcey stayed with us in central Victoria for four months in late 2024. Darcey is a kind, gentle, considerate and thoughtful young woman who is a pleasure to work with.
Darcey helped us with all aspects of gardening and building jobs you do on a hobby farm from making compost, planting vegetables, weeding, walking dogs, cutting lawns, preserving
… read more food etc etc. she would have a go at anything and is keen to learn.
We recommend her to any host and wish her all the best on her journeys.
What a great place to stay!
Elaine is super nice and really interesting, she knows so much about nature and conservation.
The tree house is lovely and very cosy.
During a week we removed a garden bed, cut down some trees and took time to discover the beautiful area.
Thank you for having us and for showing us around :)
I abdolutely loved having Tom and Noemi at our place. They are such beautiful souls, great conversationalists, fun, hard working and super trustworthy. A delight to have around. Tom is so skilled I felt blessed and he was so willing to share his trade. Noemie plugged away at any task making sure all was safe and tidy. What a team!!
It was
… read more wonderful to exchange skills. I learned from Tom how to look after my chainsaws and how to chop down a tree.
Thank you guys. I wish you both the best in your journey through life together. Your welcome here any time.Weitere Bilder
Lots of hikes around local national park - Great Dividing Trail
Inside tiny house. Sofa is a fold down Murphy bed
Sugar gliders in our nest box
Feedback
Dies sind zusätzliche optionale Bewertungen, wenn Mitglieder Feedback hinterlassen. Es wird die im Schnitt hinterlassene Bewertung für jede Option angezeigt.
Korrekte Angaben im Profil:
(5.0)
Kultureller Austausch:
(5.0)
Let's start off by saying, thank you Elaine! I was supposed to stay for two weeks which ended with me staying for three months! It was a joy staying at your place and work together with you. All the way from simple gardening to building fences and welding made the work varied and enjoyable. Especially the more complicated things, even though it
… read more could take longer to finish them. Molly and Derek were also a joy to have around and I had a blast looking after them when needed :).
Elaine is very thoughtful and caring, she wants the best for you when you're staying there and makes sure you're all set and of course that you're enjoying it!
She's very helpful whenever you need anything and gave me freedom to use whatever tools I needed during my stay.
She's also very knowledgeable within Australia's ecology which we talked a lot about (among many other things) and I got many tips on where the best places are to go in Australia as a fellow ecologist and nature enthusiast!
There's so much to say about this experience and this place but if you're interested in a host that's caring but still likes to work hard, this is a place for you!
The final thing I want to say is that both the garden and orchard are amazing and during my stay I never had to worry about having vegetables or fruits which was both eye opening and luxuroius :).
Once again, thank you Elaine!
I highly recommend Andreas as he is hard working, self managing, lovely company,, interesting and intligent.
Andreas booked in for two weeks but stayed three. He is very easy going and will have a go at anything. He loves a challenge and thinks through problems strategically (our irrigation problems!).
He is easy going and just enjoyed chilling
… read more here. He likes his own space but is a great conversationalist and conservationist. Do we had some great chats over cups of tea.
Thank Andreas and all the best.
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to stay with Elaine for four months on her beautiful property.
Elaine is abundant with kindness and instantly made me feel welcomed and comfortable - like staying with a friend and it really felt like a home away from home.
It was such a privilege to learn about sustainability, eco systems and
… read more conservation from such knowledgeable and passionate people and I left feeling extremely inspired by their lifestyle.
Elaine is easygoing but always made fair and clear agreements. The work was varied, enjoyable and interesting with tasks like pruning, making compost, weeding, whipper snipping and planting.
It was also lovely to have been invited to dinner parties with Elaine's friends and to see how well integrated and involved she is with the surrounding community.
Castlemaine is a great town and Elaine made sure to take us to the best spots and give advice/recommendations wherever she could- even for our further travels.
I cannot thank you enough for such a fulfilling and memorable experience!
P.s Please give Derek and Molly a cuddle from me!! :)
Darcey stayed with us in central Victoria for four months in late 2024. Darcey is a kind, gentle, considerate and thoughtful young woman who is a pleasure to work with.
Darcey helped us with all aspects of gardening and building jobs you do on a hobby farm from making compost, planting vegetables, weeding, walking dogs, cutting lawns, preserving
… read more food etc etc. she would have a go at anything and is keen to learn.
We recommend her to any host and wish her all the best on her journeys.
What a great place to stay!
Elaine is super nice and really interesting, she knows so much about nature and conservation.
The tree house is lovely and very cosy.
During a week we removed a garden bed, cut down some trees and took time to discover the beautiful area.
Thank you for having us and for showing us around :)
I abdolutely loved having Tom and Noemi at our place. They are such beautiful souls, great conversationalists, fun, hard working and super trustworthy. A delight to have around. Tom is so skilled I felt blessed and he was so willing to share his trade. Noemie plugged away at any task making sure all was safe and tidy. What a team!!
It was
… read more wonderful to exchange skills. I learned from Tom how to look after my chainsaws and how to chop down a tree.
Thank you guys. I wish you both the best in your journey through life together. Your welcome here any time.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Adam & Nikka Damkjaer)
Nikka and Adam stayed with us for two weeks. We immediately connected and had an honest, open sharing experience for the whole visit. They are a lovely, considerate, honest, friendly and intelligent young couple. They worked hard at every task and with a smile (including a stinky task) and minimum instructions..
We shared a few meals and dined
… read more out in town . They went on every adventure I recommended and many more. Every day they headed off, they are so motivated and adventurous. Never a dull moment.
Any host will benefit from having them visit and to share life’s journey for a little bit.
You guys are welcome back anytime. I hope your adventures are epic!
Vom Workawayer (Adam & Nikka Damkjaer) für Host
We stayed with Elaine for 2 weeks, and we had the best time ever! When I say this is the best Workaway; it's true! We felt so so welcome from the minute we walked in, and she took good care of us the whole time we were there. We would have loved to have stayed more than 2 weeks if we could!
The accommodation is so so cosy, and the outdoor shower
… read more was amazing 🥰
We loved how easygoing Elaine was, and really appreciated her taking us out to eat, giving us recommendations on where to go during our stay (which really helped, and she was also a very good help for when it came to hikes, camping and stuff like that), and showing us cool ways on how to be more sustainable! (That juice machine!!)
We only have good things to say about this work away, and would 110% recommend it to others.
Thank you for having us, Elaine!
Give Molly and Derek some pets for us;)Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Elisa) für Host
Elaine and Damien are everything you could wish for in a host! I had wonderful 9 days. They shared a lot of inspiring stories and were always making clear agreements, which I highly appreciated! The treehouse I stayed in was fantastic! Even though I didn't stay long, I learned a lot from them, that I'll take home with me. I hope to come back some
… read more time and I absolutely recommend staying with them!Vom Host für Workawayer (Elisa)
Elisa stayed with us for 8 days. She was like having an old friend visit, so easy going, lovely company and we had many lovely, open sharing chats. She is 19 going on 30 as she is so wise and mature.
Work wise she can work independently and will have a go at anything and get the job done with no stress or humbug. She was happy to work alone as
… read more our work was busy, she just got on with it.
We would have Elise back anytime .
Vom Workawayer (Isabelle Mary) für Host
Elaine and Damien were wonderful hosts, they provided everything I needed and more. They are both incredible kind, enjoyed listening about my life and shared their stories too.
Their house is a mini paradise with a huge variety of fresh fruit and vegetables you're able to help yourself to. As a backpacker I was so excited by this as I could
… read more finally make better meals than pesto pasta or noodles!
Molly and Derek, their two dogs, were great companions/supervisors. They would wander over occasionally and "check" on the work then ask for a cuddle or belly rubs in return!
The house is situated a little outside of town but you can easily get there by bike. Castlemaine is a great place to explore with lots of little cafes and bookshops, and if you like a drink definitely check out Love Shack. Damien and Elaine were both very happy to pick me up or drop me off anywhere, which made getting to and from town/the reservoir a lot more feasible. Furthermore, they recognised doing gardening in the heat is hard work so checked up on me and said if I wanted to swap jobs I could. This made me a lot more comfortable as I knew I could complete my hours by doing something less laborious if the heat was too much. Overall I would definitely recommend this workaway, I can't fault it.
I am forever grateful for them for everything Damien and Elaine provided and taught me in the week I was there. I truly felt at home and would love to go back sometime in the future.Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Isabelle Mary)
Issy stayed with us for 8 days. She is a lovely,, mature, hard-working, young woman who was a pleasure to be around.
She is interested in all sorts of things and will have a go at anything. She can problem solve without direction to get the job done.
She’s adventurous and can entertain herself. She took every opportunity to go on long walks,
… read more bike rides etc to make the most of her time in oz. . She will jump into anything and put her heart and soul into it,
Issy is great company and we had great chats together. An old soul in a young body.
We would host her again in a flash.
Vom Workawayer (Tyfenn) für Host
We spent 3 weeks with Elaine and Damien, for our first work away experience, we couldn't have hoped for better. They are lovely people, very generous and welcoming. We felt like part of the family. We had a wonderful time with them, laughing and, above all, eating very well.
It was a pleasure to work with them in their garden. Their house is a
… read more little corner of paradise in the middle of nature. They have two very affectionate dogs who will be missed.
We are very happy with this first work away experience and can only recommend them.
We wish them all the best for the future.
Tyfenn and Anne-Rose.Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Tyfenn)
Tyfenn and Anne-rose are lovely, hard working, considerate and appreciative company. They stayed on our hobby farm for three weeks and immersed themselves in everything we had to offer. They will have a go at anything and do it well with minimal instruction or supervision.
They are self motivated and fun, giggling during even challenging tasks.
… read more They are also independent and keen to be set off on adventures. We really appreciated their company and beautiful hearts. We wish them all the best on their journey and hope they come back soon.
Vom Workawayer (Isabela & Bruna) für Host
I could say I have no words for this experience, but I do. It was MORE THAN AMAZING! Elaine Damien and Simba made me fell part of the family since the first moment. They are so open minded, ecologycal, young, healthy and talentous. I was so gratefull.to have a chance to exchange experiences with them. I stayed in their lovely cabbana for 3 weeks
… read more and all the time was extremely productive and inspiring. I loved so much that Im definitely coming back before leaving australia! By there I made beds, gardening, yogurt, olives, planted garlic , broad beans, took care of green house, helped with the animals, changed berries, cleaning, cooking. We made exercises together most everyday, went for bush walks and camping. Their house is lovely and the its amazing to be around a park where you can just explore around. Muito obrigada por tudo !!!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Isabela & Bruna)
Isabella is delightful company, highly intelligent and hard working. Isabella stayed at our home for three weeks. In that time she helped with gardening, making compost and digging over large beds, making yogurt bread, soap, olives etc. Isabella is a very honest and fair person who you can trust to work independently and helps without being asked
… read more with cooking, cleaning up etc. She is always bubbly and energetic and motivated us to do workouts and other fun stuff. She is heaps of fun to have around and interested in everything and open to learning about cultures and customs. We highly recommend her.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Emilie)
Emilie was a hard worker and really lovely young woman.. she has great principles and values about how to tread gently on the earth through sustainable food production and is open to discussion and learning/exchange of ideas.
She is hard working and will have a go at anything. She is very considerate and aRound the kitchen she is always the first
… read more up to put the dishes away or chopping veggies .
We thoroughly enjoyed her stay with us and wish her well in her mission
Vom Workawayer (Meghan ) für Host
You know you've had a wonderful stay when its difficult saying goodbye and I was quite sad to leave Elaine and Damien's after two short weeks. Staying with them felt like staying with family for me, I felt so welcomed and at home there. They have built a beautiful cottage for guests that is really cozy and comfortable to stay in. Based on what
… read more they have going on at the house the work varies but is always fun and rewarding. The house is only about a 30/40 min bike into Castlemaine where there are cute shops to explore, gardens and a brewery.
If you get the chance to stay with Elaine and Damien I wouldn't pass it up. They are both so wonderful and filled with stories and knowledge/passion about the environment.Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Meghan )
Meghan was fantastic to work with and hang out with. She is passionate about the environment and sustainability. She is delightful company and keen to laugh, so made all around her feel good (especially about their jokes). Meghan was willing to try any jobs like fencing, hanging gates, gardening, pruning etc. She is a hard worker and strong.
… read more
Meghan was keen to explore and was our first visitor who borrowed a bike and headed off into the bush alone, we were very impressed.
I really enjoyed hanging out chatting and wish her all the best in the future. Come back anytime.
Vom Workawayer (Rosie) für Host
Damien and Elaine are both extremely generous with their time and knowledge, and their great food too! They're super people to be around and I've learnt so much from staying with them, all about the real Australia, and a sustainable and healthier way of living. The surrounding area is beautiful to explore after work hours which is always a bonus!
… read more Wish I could have stayed longer but know I'll be back- thank you guys! XDu kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Rosie)
Rosie is a lovely young woman and it wAs a pleasure getting to know her. She is very considerate, ethical and community minded,
She just jumps in and cleans up and helps out. Rosie works hard and has a go at anything, even if it’s bucketing horse poo!
We hope to keep in touch with Rosie and that we host her again later in her trip. All the
… read more best Rosie.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Pierre-Antoine )
Pierre-Antoine was with us for a month. In that time he proved to be lovely company and a hard worker. He had a go at everything and wasn’t even phased by a large tiger snake! He is easy going, low maintenance and I wish him all the best for the rest of his year in Oz. He’s a great cook too!
Vom Workawayer (Pierre-Antoine ) für Host
I had the most wonderful time with Elaine and Damien. If you love nature this is the place to go, you will learn so much about Australian wildlife and nature that you’ll be able to show off to your backpackers friends for the rest of your trip ! I miss their dog simba already !
Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
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