Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
21 Jul 2025
Reply rate
81.8 %
Usually responds within 3 days
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Details
Description
We live on 60 acres 40 min out of whangarei, two thirds of it is native bush and some grazing and our space has our house, a big workshop and a sleepout for the volunteers and huge gardens. There are two single beds in the sleepout and beautiful big windows looking into the bush.
We have a little baby, 2 dogs, a cat, ducks, chickens, some goats that are super friendly, sheep, cows, bees we have a big organic garden with lots of fruit trees and planting more all the time.
We want to create a fully self sustainable forest system that has any resources we can possibly grow 😁 There is no phone reception but there is limited wifi.
Work includes but is not limited to, gardening, building, painting, handyman work if you have the skills, track making, digging, wood chopping, tree planting and cleaning, maybe some help with the baby. We are living off-grid with solar & rainwater so we need to be conscious and conservative of water and power usage.
We love creating with our hands, we love to do anything creative. I love to weave and work with wool and plant fibres in any way possible. I love sharing skills and crafting together is something I really enjoy. However with a new baby it's hard to do much. I can guide you through projects you wish to do with my materials though.
I feel like every part of our life is art, our way of life is trying to make this piece of paradise more beautiful and bring happiness and healthy abundance to us and our community.
However with a newborn baby it's not always possible to get around to it.
There is a beautiful stream so a swim there is always a daily option. This is a very private and secluded property and we are also quite introverted people that enjoy a peaceful environment, so best suited to anyone who enjoys spending time alone in nature. Me and ytai both need quiet time in the evening to wind down so we ask that that is respected. ❤
Preferably you are able to find your own way to us. We dont drive into town very often.
We eat a lot of meat, that we raise and process ourselves so you might be here when we slaughter and butcher our animals.
If that's something you're interested in, we can share those skills and knowledge with you but if you don't wanna see any of it that's also totally fine and you don't have to be around for it.
We can host vegetarians and vegans as long as you are able to cook from our garden.
Ytai & Louisa
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
House sitting
Interests
Sustainability
Self development
Pets
Farming
Plant care
Music
Hitchhiking
History
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Books
Art & design
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Outdoor activities
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Beach
Camping
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are very down to earth and love creating art and working with whats on our land especially. Ytai is really into natural ways of hide tanning, Bush craft and survival skills and I love doing anything creative with my hands, especially with wool, spinning, weaving, felting, stitching, sewing, making jewellery, wallhangings or virtually anything I can think of hats, ponchos, socks. Natural dyeing and eco printing are a big passion too. With the new baby i dont have as much time for it anymore but happy to share some knowledge.
Help
We would love to host someone with building, gardening, woodworking skills. maybe you could teach us something :)
We mostly have projects that involve building, gardening, reporting, fertilizing (with homemade fertilizers), landscaping and fencing, processing and cutting down trees into slabs and firewood. Also getting into tree planting season, so planting out syntropic agroforestry systems.
We always to get on top of the weeds in the garden and food forest.
We'd love having some skilled woodworker that could help with some projects regarding making a big dining table and bookshelf with some wood from our farm.
We live a lifestyle where we don't like to use heavy and expensive, noisy machinery. We prefer doing things here by hand so jobs require some kind of physical strength. However if you're not used to this we can also find work thats suitable for your skills.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Accommodation
You'll stay in your own sleepout with lots of big windows looking out into the new zealand native bush and you'll hear kiwis outside every night.
We would ask for 4-5 hours of help a day/5 days a week, in exchange for 3 meals & accommodation.
What else ...
There's heaps of bush to explore in our place and beautiful kauri bush walks 15 min drive from our place too with huge trees.
We have a creek you can swim in and lots of animals to hang out with.
Crafting (we have sooo many craft supplies), reading (we have a big book collection), yoga, meditation
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Plenty of parking space for 4WD access vehicles, limited space for 2WD But usually when we have people over in 2WD we drive them in with all their stuff and the car is at the front gate safely parked a couple of minutes walk away from the house on private land.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Kiwa
Rhodesian Ridgeback X
Aurora
Turnip
Feedback (7)
Not only are they the sweetest little family, surrounded by incredibly friendly animals on their… read more
There’s a lot going on at this… read more
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Not only are they the sweetest little family, surrounded by incredibly friendly animals on their… read more
There’s a lot going on at this… read more
The tasks are not difficult and varied enough. You will have peaceful nights in a nice cabin. (You can hear the kiwis at night).
The food they provide is just the best you could need, all local, natural, and organic.… read more
We learned a lot about living off the land, crafting, animal care, producing your own food and much more. :)
They are very knowledgeable about… read more
They performed all the tasks super… read more
They are really lovely people.I was able to learn a lot about gardening, cooking, natural clothing dyeing and make your own cheese, Butter, Vinegar and wine.
They have a beautiful garden in the middle of a wonderful nature you can explore.
Thank you for this experience.😊
She was constantly cleaning the floor and the kitchen without anyone asking if she could do it and didn't even see it as work.
She understood instructions and asked questions if she didn't which I believe Is a rare skill these days. Therefore she performed all… read more
Their home is like paradise, so beautiful and peaceful! The bush around is perfect for a walk, the two dogs are friendly and will attack you with hugs!
I worked with Louisa and we had real fun and good talks the whole time. The food was amazing, and Louisa took the… read more
