The image shows a family of four in a vehicle, with the parents and two children wearing hats, posing for a selfie in a grassy field with hills in the background.
The image depicts a young boy riding a bike on a gravel road, accompanied by a dog standing nearby, with a house and palm trees visible in the background.
The image depicts a serene landscape with rolling hills, frost-covered grass, and a clear sky, evoking a sense of tranquility and natural beauty.
The image depicts a child in a barn, stacking firewood on a small blue table, with a wheelbarrow nearby, surrounded by wood chips and a corrugated metal wall.
The image shows a baby in a car seat with two lambs standing next to it, and a dog looking out the window from the backseat.
The image depicts a woman and a child sitting on the grass, with a baby in a stroller and a dog nearby, surrounded by two bags of apples.
The image depicts a serene rural landscape featuring a large tree, a red house, and a dirt road, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and a cloudy sky.
The image depicts a serene landscape with a grassy area, bushes, and a metal structure, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and a cloudy sky at sunset.
The image depicts a man holding a child in a forest setting, surrounded by lush greenery and tall grasses, with the man wearing a camouflage jacket.
The image depicts a serene landscape from a covered porch, featuring a lush grassy field, distant hills, and trees, set against a blue sky with white clouds.
The image shows a young boy sitting in the driver\'s seat of a dirty off-road vehicle, with a man behind him, set against a rural landscape.
The image depicts a small, one-story building with a wooden deck and corrugated metal walls, situated on a grassy area with a blue sky and white clouds in the background.
The image depicts a compact kitchen with white cabinets, a window, and appliances, featuring a refrigerator, microwave, and sink, set against a grey tiled wall and dark floor.
The image depicts a small, white room with a single bed, featuring a white wicker headboard and mattress, situated on a dark blue carpeted floor.
The image depicts a woman and two children standing in front of a waterfall, accompanied by a dog on a leash, amidst lush greenery and rocks.

Home life surrounded by farming and native forest in Owaka, New Zealand

Profile information

  • rating

    Host rating

    80 %

  • Last replied

    Last replied

    1 Apr 2025

  • feedbacks

    Feedback

    3

  • Email verified

    Email verified

Badges (2)

Email verified
Give the gift of Workaway
read more

Find your perfect host

View the full host list

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: 1 week or less

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

What's this?

Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are situated in a picturesque valley completely surrounded by farmland and native forest, close to the wild and stunning coast. My husband is a farmer, and I work in conservation. We enjoy being outdoors, including hunting wild game and horse riding. We have two young children, Ihaia and Jade. We love the community in the Catlins and being surrounded by wild beauty. There are many opportunities to get outside and explore the area, with a short drive to beaches, rivers, estuaries, and walking tracks in both directions.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Babysitting and creative play
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We are surrounded by nature, so cultural activities are more limited here than in other places.
    We are a friendly home that enjoy our solitude but also love to laugh with others and learn new things.
    We have a lot experience in conservation and control of pest animals in New Zealand. We have travelled extensively in our own country and have a lot of knowledge we would love to pass on. We have both travelled overseas prior to having children.
    We hope to raise open minded children that are linked with the world and different kinds of people. It can be socially isolating living here at times, and we wish to keep meeting new people so we can keep learning and enjoying our life.
    There is a friendly community at Papatowai just 15 minutes' drive away, with excellent food, coffee and a quirky gallery to view in the months of November to April. There are numerous conservation projects in the area which are often on the lookout for extra hands with predator control (trapping), planting, animal surveys, weed control, track maintenance, among other work. There are many people in the community that would love to share their knowledge and stories of conservation.
    We are 40 kilometers to the nearest small town (Owaka), 70km from the nearest larger town (Balclutha), and 120km from the nearest city (Invercargill).

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    We are looking for help with the tasks that it takes to run a home, including entertaining children, house work, food preparation and any maintenance or outdoor tasks such as gardening and feeding domestic animals. You would be here to relieve pressure of home life with small children as well as increase our enjoyment of life by meeting people from all around the world.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Italian: Beginner
    Maori: Beginner

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Accommodation is separate container house which has all the facilities, it is warm and has a beautiful outlook .

    We will provide you with the three main meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) but you will need to bring your own snacks for between meals. We eat mostly wholesome, simple food so if you enjoy your luxuries, you'll need to bring those too. We are a meat-eating household so if you are vegetarian, please disclose this in plenty of time so we can ensure we have enough to provide you with.

  • 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

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    There is a large area of secure parking near the house

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

Host ref number: 936795294329

Website Safety

Feedback (2)

View all 2 feedbacks

Photos

Feedback

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)

Cultural exchange:
(5.0)

Communication:
(5.0)

Homestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in New ZealandHomestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in OceaniaHomestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in OtagoFamily New ZealandLast minute Homestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in New Zealand
Help us with native planting on the water’s edge of Lyttleton Harbour, New Zealand
Help with petsitting and gardening by the river in Gisborne, New Zealand

Your next adventure begins today

Join the Workaway community today to unlock unique travel experiences with over 50,000 opportunities around the globe.

Join Now