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Host rating
85 %
Last replied
19 Apr 2025
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100.0 %
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Details
Description
We are currently looking for helpers over Easter weekend (approx 13th -21st April), please get in touch if these dates work for you.
Come and stay by the beach at Helena Bay- 45 mins from Whangarei. We are a (grown up) kiwi/danish family ( Greer, Esbern, Oriole and Erling) and share our batch with our extended family in Australia. We are passionate about gardening, the environment, meeting new people and having fun.
We are looking for workaways to help us maintain our 65 year old classic kiwi batch and garden. We are right on the water with a medium sized garden and lots of mature fruit trees.
We are queer friendly 🌈
This workaway is probably best suited to those with cars as the property is 45 minutes drive from Whangarei and at least 15 minutes to the nearest shop.
We often have busy work/ volunteering schedules so availability is a bit random.
Please do reach out if you have specific dates in mind but understand we can't always accomadate :)
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Greer works in climate change and community projects. She loves knitting, making compost and reading.
Oriole is a retired audiologist who works as a volunteer in the pacific islands supporting community hearing projects. In her spare time, she loves cooking and playing mahjong.
Erling is a retired professor in employment relations. He still supports research and developing scholars in his area. He always knows the latest current events and enjoys playing golf.
Esbern is a chef interested in garden to table cuisines. He is currently living in Canada but may be around depending on the season.
We all love bike riding.
Oriole, Esbern and Greer grew up visiting or living in Northland and know lots of the local history and information about the area.
We are interested in environmentalism and keen to meet likeminded travellers. We can share our (growing!) knowledge of gardening and learn together.
In your spare time at the beach, you can experience swimming, paddle boarding or kayaking. The property is close to Te Araroa as well as lots of other nice spots to walk/hike.
For those with cars, you can explore the Oakura coast and Russell.
Help
We mostly need with light outside maintence tasks (cleaning walls, painting, decluttering) and gardening help (moving mulch, weeding, planting, pruning trees). We are doing a food forest style garden on the property.
A few light cleaning jobs inside such as wiping walls/ceilings and decluttering.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Danish: Intermediate
Accommodation
You have your own room with a double bed or single bed.
The batch was built 65 years ago, it has had several renovations however it still has some rustic aspects.
It's generally cozy but its always good to bring warm clothes for night time.
We are on tank water in an area with unpredictable rain fall so we ask that anyone staying limits their water use where possible.
There is a septic system so need to mindful of what goes into drains and toilets ( we will explain more in detail)
I ( Greer) will cook for workaways. We are a food loving family and eat a variety of cuisines such as Italian, Vietnamese and Indian. Please be aware: there are no shops nearby to buy food. If you have allergies or strong preferences, please let us know.
Vegetarians can be accommodated but please let us know ahead of time so we can shop appropriately.
We don't have pets but the property is not fenced and the local (friendly!) dogs do roam around the bay freely so you need to be OK with dogs.
What else ...
You can search Helena Bay, Northland online to see more information about this area 🌊🏞⛰️🌄
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a really good wifi connection.
Space for parking camper vans
We can definitely host those in campervans. There are some nice shady spots on the property and an outdoor water source. (toilet is inside house)
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (1)
They had a great attitude to everything about the experience.
We really appreciated their ability to manage tasks independently while we were at work and they were great contributors to the household. While they were here, they worked on moving mulching, cleaning, chicken care, moving and making… read more
This was my first workaway experience in New Zealand and was amazingly sweet 😄
Greer and Dane are great! They make me feel comfortable from the start, and sharing time with them increase the experience. They are so funny!
Also they take care of me, sharing all the tips and information to make easier my days in Auckland.… read more
Photos
Feedback
They had a great attitude to everything about the experience.
We really appreciated their ability to manage tasks independently while we were at work and they were great contributors to the household. While they were here, they worked on moving mulching, cleaning, chicken care, moving and making… read more
This was my first workaway experience in New Zealand and was amazingly sweet 😄
Greer and Dane are great! They make me feel comfortable from the start, and sharing time with them increase the experience. They are so funny!
Also they take care of me, sharing all the tips and information to make easier my days in Auckland.… read more
