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Come Explore the hills, rivers and mountains of the West Coast, New Zealand

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: No minimum

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    (1 helper) Most of my adult life has been working in the area of social justice. I am currently retired and enjoy my hobbies and interests which include contributing to the community, writing and producing theatre. I have an ebike which makes it very easy to get around town. I dabble in sculpture and I sew. In fact if you have ever made a concrete outside sculpture I'd be keen to learn from you. I want to make a straw bale seat outside.
    I am a New Zealander but have lived is many places. Five years ago I began traveling in a camper van which lead me to where I live now. Reefton is a small town in the West Coast of the South Island. Visitors to the town come to ride the trails, tramp, hunt or fly fish. Or if not they are passing through to Christchurch or north to Nelson. Reefton is a quiet peaceful town with more than it's fair share of creative people.
    New Zealanders are generally very easy going people who are interested in the world as we are a very small country.

    I have a TESOL qualification and would be happy to help with your conversational English.

    I need help with with my garden. I'm starting to think it is too big for me (lol). It's wonderful to have Workaway helpers to get things done. It is such a big help.

    You can suit yourself as to when you would do the work, e.g. 8 hours one day and nothing the next.
    This is a non-smoking house.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Reefton (SOUTH ISLAND) is a town of 1,000 people. It is very easy to get to know people. The life-style is relaxed, no city hustle or bustle. We have the Reefton Club with was the RSA. I'm happy to take you there where you'll find a different group of people. If you have lived in a city all your life, you will find this small town quite different. Reefton has attracted many creative people.
    The Inangahua River runs beside the town. The town is in a valley surrounded by hills. It is 1 hour to Greymouth and 1 hr to Westport. So that's 1 hr to the the wild west coast. Both routes are stunningly beautiful.
    An important aspect to New Zealand is Maori culture. I have studied Maori history and am always keen to talk about what makes New Zealand unique.
    I run a small production company that produces New Zealand plays, including ones that I have written, in the Oddfellows Hall (on the committee for this too), which is one of Reefton's oldest buildings. If there is a play in production you would be welcome to come along and lend a hand.

  • Help

    Help

    I live in a small house (50 sqm) with a large deck and suburban sized a garden with fruit trees and vegetables.
    Having someone to help with basic gardening tasks would be a big assistance to me.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    The house is small with two bedrooms. I have no pets.
    I love to cook. I am gluten free myself and I'd be happy to accommodate food preferences.
    My home is very well insulated so it's always a comfortable temperature. I have air conditioning and insect screens (the South Island is famous for its sand flies but my home is far enough from the river for this not to be a big problem).
    The street is a 50 km/hr road. There is a park on the other side of the road and another at the back door.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Staying in a small town is not for everyone. Things are quiet here for the most part. Reefton is often on the route for motoring and biking clubs. On the weekends or holidays during the summer and spring the main street is full of these visitors. The Paparoa ranges are at our door and in the season you can hear the deer bucks roaring. Weka wander about if you live near the race course or the river. Kereru feed on the fruit trees. Reefton itself is flat so it is easy to walk everywhere. The surrounding hills are criss-crossed with walking and bike trails. There is no public transport but you can get to Christchurch by a private minibus that runs in the warmer months. There are limited services during summer Otherwise I can pick you up from Westport, Greymouth or Inangahua Junction.
    The temperatures vary but summer is very warm. We occasionally get snow in winter. There is very little wind so we can get mists in the mornings which makes things seem mysterious.
    Race days (in January) are very popular and the A & P Show (I'm on this committee) is the highlight of the year, oh except for the Christmas parade which is a hoot.
    If you are interested in NZ history, Blacks Point has a fascinating museum that is chock full of our past and papers for researching possible family links.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    The internet is unlimited and is generally stable (fibre)

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    The driveway is available to park on. It is near the road, which while not busy is still a road with the occasional large trucks.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    We can discuss. The yard is not contained.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    One

  • ...

    Hours expected

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

Host ref number: 475476736826

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