Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
8 Mar 2025
Reply rate
95.3 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
26
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
We are a friendly mature couple who need help with DIY Projects such as the renovation of the shed into a communal area, as well as our organic gardens, help around the house and odd tasks. We have a small acreage at Beenleigh, Queensland. Beenleigh is situated halfway between beautiful Brisbane and the Gold Coast with its golden beaches. It has express trains going either way (half hour each way). Beenleigh itself has quite a lot to offer as well for bird enthusiasts, wetlands and the internationally renowned Tamborine Mountain. Our property is surrounded by hectares of parkland and two rivers, yet very central to town.
We will provide accommodation and meals, but also have room on the property for your own van/camper. If you would like to stay with us and lend us a hand, we will do our best to make your stay with us a happy and educational one.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Peter and Lydia
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We enjoy healthy, international meals which are mainly vegetarian, but occasionally have fish or chicken. Lydia would appreciate someone who loves to create tasty vegetarian dishes as she is keen to learn as much as she can about vegetarian cooking. We love musical and creative people as well as those that can tackle all aspects of DIY renovations. If you have your own transport, Beenleigh is close to many tourist spots s.a Tamborine Mountain, Springbrook, Canungra, O'Reilley's Mountain Resort, Hinterland, Ipswich, Yatala sugarcane fields, Pimpama mudflats and Moreton Bay, fishing and boating on the Logan and Albert River. If you're into birdlife, there's lots of local wetland areas with birdwatching booths. Daisy Hill has the Koala Sanctuary with lovely walks. Have you ever been to a Drive-in Movie? We have one :) 20 mins drive/train to famous theme parks s.a. Dreamworld, Movie World, Outback Spectacular, Seaworld and Wet n Wild.
Help
There are tasks in the raised organic gardens, DIY and general maintenance and some help in the house. Experience in permaculture, carpentry/ renovations and vegetarian cooking would be amazing. If you would like to stay with us and lend us a hand, we will do our best to make your stay with us a happy and educational one.
We are ALSO currently looking for a 'Man Friday' (the main assistant for garden maintenance) who is interested in staying with us for at least 2 months. This may interest someone who has a part time job and can spend up to 3 hours, 5 days pw, taking care of the garden only, s.a maintaining the irrigation system and garden tools, fertilizing and mowing using a ride-on mower. Other Workaways will be assisting as well. In return, we offer comfortable accommodation, covered car parking (if required), wifi, private kitchen facilities. You can also join us for the daily English lessons. If you are interested, please refer to 'Man Friday' when replying.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
German: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
Lydia is a retired Senior English teacher and has worked in China for 5 years at an International School in Shanghai. She enjoys giving fun English lessons to all the interested volunteers every night. Their English levels improve quickly which helps them to enter the work force with more confidence.
Accommodation
Workaway short term: There is a room in the house for a couple and a single person. (2 to 4 weeks)
MAN FRIDAY long term (2+ Months)
You'd have your own large
bed/sitter +TV, your own kitchen and
fridge to cook your own food. You'd only need to help up to 3hrs p. day, 5 days a week. If meals are included, up to 4 hours p.day
All are free to join our daily English classes!
What else ...
As you can see, there's heaps to do in the local and surrounding area in your spare time. We'll help you out whenever we can to get to trains and buses or hop on one of our bikes and we'll direct you to local places of interest.
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 decent wifi connection and workplace. If we're happy with each other after a couple of weeks, you're welcome to stay on for a few months. You'd have your own large bed/sitter +TV, your own kitchen and fridge to cook your own food. You'd only need to work 2 - 3 hrs pd, 5 days a week.
Space for parking camper vans
Campervan welcome. You'll have access to a shower/toilet/laundry close by.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (16)
Lydia is generous, cooks very well and in quantity, you will always have what you need.
She helped me a lot with English with the English lessons, plus there are always several backpackers at the same time which allows you to progress.
I had a room for myself.… read more
Staying with Lydia was my very first WorkAway experience, and I couldn’t have imagined a better host. From the moment I arrived, she welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like part of her family.
Lydia has such a warm and kind heart, and I truly cherish the time we spent together. Her… read more
I truly enjoyed spending time with her, her lovely dog Hendrix, and the other Workawayers (Andrea, Omar, Rafael, and Moe). During my stay, we worked on various tasks like cleaning the living room and some bedrooms,… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Lydia is generous, cooks very well and in quantity, you will always have what you need.
She helped me a lot with English with the English lessons, plus there are always several backpackers at the same time which allows you to progress.
I had a room for myself.… read more
Staying with Lydia was my very first WorkAway experience, and I couldn’t have imagined a better host. From the moment I arrived, she welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like part of her family.
Lydia has such a warm and kind heart, and I truly cherish the time we spent together. Her… read more
I truly enjoyed spending time with her, her lovely dog Hendrix, and the other Workawayers (Andrea, Omar, Rafael, and Moe). During my stay, we worked on various tasks like cleaning the living room and some bedrooms,… read more
as simple as that.
Lydia is sensational, kind, unbealible chef, she teaches you with english ( used to be a teacher...and a good one)...
she makes you feel at home...at a real home...
the time just past at this House has been unforgetable...and the time i'll pass, because i'm going to repeat.
i could say a thousand things of… read more
My tasks were gardening (weeding and watering), cleaning and in the evening we cooked together. Lydia is such a good cook and I really enjoyed the delicious meals we prepared together.
I loved taking Hendricks for… read more
On weekdays, I worked for 3-4 hours doing cleaning, gardening, and cooking. Lydia always gave clear instructions. The… read more
I stayed with Lydia for a long period, and it was an incredibly fulfilling experience. Lydia is such a wonderful person, and living with her brought so many valuable lessons and became a deeply important chapter in my life.
The interaction with other Workawayers was also amazing. I met… read more
The place is cozy and has a good location - close to a train station but still far from the city hassle right near the park and the river.
I enjoyed taking care of lovely frankie, travel around the area, share time with Lydia and the… read more
Lydia was very nice to me, she treated me so well that my mom may not be able to do… read more
I worked in their garden where I dug holes, replanted fruit trees, took cutting and re-potted them and did weeding.
The accommodation was a simple granny flat with kitchen and shower so I had my own space.
I didn't use the kitchen as I shared all my meal times with Peter… read more
Thank you so much !
I had a really beautiful and relaxed time staying with them and their dogs for a week. Their generosity is astonishing, always happy to help in whatever way they can. Respectful of space but always always up for an interesting and stimulating conversation. I would recommend staying and helping them out their… read more
Some of the tasks we did:… read more
