Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
20 Apr 2025
Reply rate
53.9 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
18
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
We (Natalie and Gavin) are in the outer Pelorus sounds, boat access only.We eat a lot of seafood and locally caught wild game, our own sheep and try to grow our own veg. We use solar power. Love of the remote quiet life is essential. We are not fully organic as Wakatahuri is a boat building bay with a working slip way.In the bay are: Gavin (4th generation owner of the land), fisherman and boat builder, Natalie, cook, gardener and worker organiser,Polly the dog, Mog the cat, fat sheep : Smurfette, Doris, Dolly, Rowlock, Starboard, Fairlead and some lambs, Goats : LillyPing and her babies and some chooks.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We live off grid, partly self sufficiently. I hunt and butcher all our meat, and for people with the right attitude am prepared to take helpers hunting. I make my own bread and can offer spinning and knitting skills to learn. We are also boaties, so rowing, sculling and fishing are on offer. We have kayaks and canoes and in summer swimming and diving.
Help
Who we are looking for:
People who are fit energetic and love the sea, and who can handle remoteness and our clutter and that the goats eat breakfast inside.
Most of our work is fairly physical - Scrub cutting, fencing, digging, fire wood, tree planting and there are some lighter work like wood borer treating timber, weeding, painting and general maintenance work.
My current projects are: firewood , Firewood, using the digger to make new roads, Cottage restoration and a big beach erosion project. And building new gardens.
Internet is very limited- not enough to download movies, but enough to send emails and do a little social media.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Double beds in sleepouts, sharing the family house for meals and general living. I do most of the cooking as I only shop every couple of months.
What else ...
Sorry but at the moment we can not cater for vegetarians or other special dietary requirements.
We expect 4 hours work in return for a bed (double rooms in the comfy outside sleepout), 5 meals a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning (if your up early enough) and afternoon tea),the odd glass of homebrew beer and the use of our recreational gear - sea kayaks, canoes, dingies, fishing gear. We have little blue penguins in the bay. Minimum stay needs to be at least 10 days as its a 5 hour round trip to Elaine bay. The Havelock mailboat on its Friday round is also a transport option and is $5
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can possibly accept pets
So long as they aren't going to eat my animals.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (10)
I think the remoteness of our bay may have been pushing them a little, especially when we had an unexpected wild pig to deal with 😉 but they coped and we enjoyed having them around.
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:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.8)
I think the remoteness of our bay may have been pushing them a little, especially when we had an unexpected wild pig to deal with 😉 but they coped and we enjoyed having them around.
I really enjoyed her company and would not hesitate to host her again. I highly recommend her 😍
He's level expert at clearing water ways and ditch digging 😊.
Dan is easy to feed and happy to try his hand at any task given to him.
I highly recommend him to any future hosts
She was happy to do whatever I asked and clarified tasks when needed.
I highly recommend her and would be very happy to have her come for a second visit 😄.
Add to that all the great activities in and outside the bay, all animals with their own personalities and the incredibly delicious food, made everything even better.
I had the best first hosts you could wish for… read more
He's a skilled builder.
Stan is a VERY keen fisherman and spent most of his free time out fishing. He makes delicious fish soup.
I recommend future hosts are very clear from the start about the hours of help expected.
We unfortunately had a few misunderstandings with regards to the rules with… read more
All of them are amazing humain beings and they will take care of you as long as you care about what you're doing and enjoy spending some time in a remote place ! Natalie recommended me many walks above the house and i used to spend every night going up the… read more
We saw dolphins, learned how… read more
