Help with tree maintenance at my small family-owned olive grove in Pataua South, New Zealand

New Zealand

Favourited 182 times

Host rating
Feedback
19
Last activity
07/06/2021
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2021

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Description
Hello. I am a widow with a small family based olive grove and olive oil press in Pataua South and need help working with the trees. Pruning work is urgently needed as well as removing weeds under the trees to get ready for harvesting in May. Of course, additional help during harvesting time is also very welcome.
Pataua is a small unique coastal village in the Whangarei Heads area and the olive grove is across the road from Pataua Estuary and a beautiful surf beach nearby. A short walk away is a footbridge which takes you acrosss the estuary to the north side where there is another great surf beach. If you enjoy peace and quiet and the sea, you will appreciate what the grove has to offer visitors.
As Pataua is a thirty minute drive from town I can collect and return you to downtown Whangarei. I have a private small one bedroom sleepout with a kitchenette available for you to use during your stay. I am happy to provide meals but as outside of the holiday season there is no local store (the nearest is a ten minute care drive way), therefore you may wish to stock up with any supplies you may require.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
General Maintenance
Help around the house
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
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What's this?
Help
My small family owned olive grove is in desperate need of tree maintenance. Work would mainly be pruning and weeding as well as some mowing (ride on mower
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
I have a one bedroom sleepout within the grove for accommodation. It is suitable for 2 people with its own bathroom and kitchenette. I supply all bedding, towels and meals.
What else ...
The grove is located 30 minutes outside of Whangarei in Northland and is just minutes walk from beautiful beaches. A short walk across the bridge to the Northside of the river is 'Surfpad' where you can learn to surf or paddle board. They also have surf and paddle boards for hire. There are many great walks and beaches in the Whangarei Heads area to visit if you have transport. Also there are a number of artists and potters in the Parua Bay and Whangarei Heads area. The weather is hot in summer and temperate in winter, so the time of year will determine if you bring your swimsuit or wet weather gear! I am happy to collect people from Whangarei and bring them out to the grove.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Photos

Feedback left by and about host (19)

28/05/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Emma & Dan)

Emma and Dan were excellent workers and tackled each task in the Grove and with enthusiasm. They took an keen interest in the Grove and in the processing of the Olive Oil and I was most interested in their experience in Nepal. Because it being harvest time there is a bit of juggling when it came to picking the fruit and getting it ready to be… read more

(Excellent )

27/05/2018

Left by Workawayer (Emma & Dan) for host

We feel so grateful to have had our week-long experience with Max, Bowie and the rest of the clan at the olive grove in Pataua South.
We learnt some of the basics of the process of making olive oil and were lucky to be working in the Harvest period. We were mainly picking - but the work was never monotonous or dull. We had different types of jobs… read more

(Excellent )

26/11/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Juliette & Baptiste)

Juliette and Baptiste were very keen to learn about olive trees and making olive oil. They made a great job of cutting back
the shoots on the olive trees., Baptiste was very helpful with repairs in the grove, clearing gutters and pruning back the branches from the roof. Juliette also did a great job helping in the house. They were great workers… read more

(Excellent )

25/11/2017

Left by Workawayer (Juliette & Baptiste) for host

That was a real pleasure to meet and help Max ! She is a very Nice lady with a lot of stories from her expériences all around the world ! She lives in a little peace of paradise, and working among the trees and the birds was a very interesting expérience. We really like our stay, and she provided us great food and accommodations. Definitely an… read more

(Excellent )

26/04/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Hannah)

Mowl and Hollie were a joy to have. They tackled each task with eagerness and enthusiasm both in the olive grove and my home.
The pruning young shoots of the olive trees is not the most exciting job in the world but both girls just ploughed ahead and when finished were all ready for the next challenge. I was sorry to say goodbye they were such… read more

(Excellent )

22/04/2017

Left by Workawayer (Hannah) for host

We had the most wonderful time with Max and Bowie at the olive grove, we feel very lucky to have been able to stay in such a beautiful place with an amazing host! Thank you for all the yummy meals and fantastic stories about your interesting life, we loved your company. Hollie would love to bring her future daughter, Olive, back one day! It was… read more

(Excellent )

02/04/2017

Left by Workawayer (Elisabeth) for host

This was my second stay with Maxi. Two years ago we had a wonderful time together. So I wanted to come back to this place where you are surrounded by a beautiful landscape. The olive grove is situated in the middle of an undiscovered paradise. Wonderful beaches are nearby.
My work was sometimes hard, but I enjoyed it very much and I was proud to… read more

(Excellent )

24/11/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Sander & Iris)

Sorry for the delay in writing your recommedation. Sander and Iris were a pleasure to help. Every task was carried out with enthusiasm and eagerness to start the next chore. They were most interested in learning about the olive industry and workings on the processing plant for olive oil. It was my pleasure to show them the sights round Pataua.… read more

(Excellent )

21/11/2016

Left by Workawayer (Sander & Iris) for host

Thank you so much Max, we really enjoyed our stay at your place. It was our first experience with Workaday and it was a really good one. Working in the olive grove and all the other jobs were fun to do. And even though you said that you didn't like cooking the food was absolutely amazing! An amazing host that knows everything about the place. And… read more

(Excellent )

26/03/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Lucie & Aymeric )

It was a pleasure to meet Lucie and Aymeric and have them work in the Olive Grove. They were very obliging and hard working. They have left behind areas in the grove where they have cleared the undergrowth whichwill always be a testimony of their hard work. They will always be remembered because of the cleared areas in the grove. Thank you both… read more

(Excellent )

22/03/2016

Left by Workawayer (Lucie & Aymeric ) for host

We past ten days in Max 's place and it was great! Thank you for this moments Max and we hope you will have a good harvest this year (even if it's giving you too much work :) ). We loved to spend our dinners together because you always had interesting stories or advice to share. Pataua south is a lovely place to stay too and we already miss Bowie… read more

(Excellent )

27/02/2016

Left by Workawayer (Jess) for host

I spent two wonderful weeks in Max's olive grove. The work was enjoyable and was also different every day, which kept things from ever getting dull. Pataua is an incredibly beautiful place and I would strongly recommend seeing it; I was constantly amazed by the beauty that surrounded me in every direction. Max is great and I would definitely… read more

(Excellent )

15/11/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Annie & Mark)

Many thanks to Marc and Annie for all the work you have both undertaken in the olive grove. Marc it is a joy to see your pruning skills on my trees, they look fantastic. Annie and Marc took every chore in their stride. From digging tenches for water pipes, cleaning the sun room which was very neglected. Waterblasting after repairing all the joins… read more

(Excellent )

14/11/2015

Left by Workawayer (Annie & Mark) for host

Just finished our first workaway with Max at her wonderful olive farm. An absolute delight to meet this wonderful woman who fed us well and passed on so much knowledge. A stunning place of tranquility and a pleasure to work at. We would highly recommend this to anyone. Thank you Max and we wish you a bountiful harvest in May.

(Excellent )

14/11/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Marc-Willy & Vivien)

I have been most fortunate to have Vivien and Temo to work in the Olive Grove. They made huge inroads into pruning the trees which were overgrown and badly needed attention Besides this they both helped clear areas of weeds and leaves which had been neglected for years. There were a number of other chores they did which they carried out dilegently… read more

(Excellent )

12/11/2015

Left by Workawayer (Marc-Willy & Vivien) for host

We stayed for 2 weeks with Max and her crazy puppy Barry and it was wonderful!

Pataua South is such a beautiful place with impressive beaches and nice natural environment. The olive grove is a magic place and exudes nice peaceful feelings, and the best thing is, that you live inside this grove.

Max herself is a strong independent lady and such… read more

(Excellent )

12/03/2015

Left by Workawayer (Nini & Daniel) for host

Maxs place, Pataua, the Heads as a whole are like a forgotten paradise. They have managed to hide from the major tourist influx.

We had more than enough to keep us busy after are jobs were done, with the beach and beautiful walks a stones throw away.

The work was all as stated on profile, explained well and enjoyable.

Max herself is an… read more

(Excellent )

06/03/2015

Left by Workawayer (Katrin) for host

I really enjoyed my stay with Max, it was like being with my own grandma. She treated me like family and i think we both learned a lot from each other.

(Excellent )

28/01/2015

Left by Workawayer (Celine & Sylvain) for host

It was such a pleasure to stay at Maxi's place. Maxi is very welcoming. We loved the place, the food and the talks. Bowie the puppy is adorable.
There are several beautiful and quiet beaches around the olive grove.
Thank you so much Maxi for this wonderful week.

(Excellent )

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