Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
19 Nov 2025
Reply rate
83.3 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
11
ID verified
Email verified
Badges (5)
Details
Description
Kia Ora! ¡Hola! 你好! Thank you for taking the time to check out our profile. We are Monica, Kyle, baby Harrison and Hudson the dog. We are thrilled to welcome people to our own land. Kyle is an environmental monitoring officer and carpenter, while Monica dedicates her time to raising a 1 year old baby and planting out a food forest. We have a passion for travel and have explored various parts of Asia, South America, North America, and the Pacific islands. Our experiences with woofing have been incredibly rewarding, and now we are eager to create a fulfilling hosting experience for others. We recently bought a 19 acre forest property complete with plantation trees, natives forests, glow worms and a natural fresh water spring.
We are in the process of planting a sytropic agroforestry food forest and small scale timber production forest. We could use help with establishing the food forest, mulching, planting, organizing, building, and essentially everything. It's a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives in taking the lead and showing off their creativity. We admittedly have a weakness when it comes to decorating and aesthetically planning, it would be great if people with an aesthetic eye could give us some pointers.
Accomodation is a 6m diameter canvas dome tent nestled idyllically in the forest at our future build site. We have built a guest amenities block in the forest complete with flushing toilet and hotshower. Due to the accomodation constrains we can only take 1-2 people at a time and only during summer months. We live in a tiny house about 150m away. Having your own transport is beneficial but not essential.
Monica is a talented cook, especially when it comes to making curries! We can accommodate vegetarians as best as possible, but if you prefer milder flavors, you might want to do some of your own cooking. Kyle's work schedule usually ends at 5pm during the weekdays and Monica will be home most of the week looking after our 1 year old.
If you love dogs we have a wonderful one named Hudson, our spirited and playful border collie/retriever mix. We'll make sure to take breaks and head to the beach for some refreshing swimming sessions.
We are currently open to host this summer (November 2025- April 2026). Conveniently located just 15 minutes from Whanagrei CBD and 45min to spectacular beaches, it would be perfect if you have your own car to explore the surrounding beauty during your time with us. So, if you're seeking an enriching experience in harmony with nature, come join us on our sustainable farm adventure .
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
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Politics / Social justice
LGBTQ
Pets
Sustainability
Van life
Movies & TV
Farming
Plant care
Gardening
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Animals
Water sports
Outdoor activities
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Camping
Beach
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
During your stay, you'll have the pleasure of savoring delicious and mouthwatering food, lovingly prepared by Monica. And of course, you'll get to spend quality time with our wonderful dog Hudson.
We have a fire pit and fire bath that you can enjoy during your stay. We can attempt a charcoal bbq if you want.
We have a pine and native tree forest that you can go out and enjoy. Bring along a hammock and your favorite book and enjoy the peace and quiet.. One of the highlights of our property is a pristine spring that supplies us with the cleanest and most refreshing water. You can dip your feet in the spring and have a little bath if you can brave the cold.
We'll make sure to take some beach trips during your stay, where you can unwind by the shore. Additionally, we have a paddleboard available for your enjoyment. Feel free to take it out and explore the nearby waters only 30ish minutes away from NZ's most gorgeous beach. Be warned, it does take a lot of effort to inflate.
We are happy to offer you references after your time with us.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We're excited to welcome a diverse group of volunteers from builders and gardeners to artists, painters, arborists, and even engineering enthusiasts. If you're a skilled dog trainer, we'd love your expertise too.
Your help with mulching, weed pulling in the gardens, chicken feeding, mowing, weed whacking, and planting would be greatly appreciated Checking on the cows and creating new pens. Plus, if you've got an eye for aesthetics and landscaping, we'd love your assistance in that area too!
If you are an artist we want to create a fun map of the property on a piece of wood.
We have a lot of noxious weeds in our native and pine forest that need to be pulled.
We will also need help replanting native trees so we can continue to grow a native forest for all the wonderful NZ wildlife.
You won't be asked to look after Harrison unless you have a lot of experience looking after children and actually want to look after him. We won't ever push for you to look after him unless you really want to.
Max 24 hrs a week although this can be discussed if you want to take more days/ hrs off. Higher skilled volunteers with a background in farming (especially who know how to fix a fence), arborists, builder, labourers, early education professionals etc. would be expected to volunteer less hours/days.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
We welcome all people with any level of English
Accommodation
We have a brand new 6m canvas tent with 2 king single beds. You will be able to sleep peacefully listening to the sound of the creek and the wind in the trees. The tent honestly feels bigger than our tiny house.
What else ...
While our location may not have access to local transport options I can drive you to town as I often make trips throughout the week .
We just had our organic cow slaughtered and the meat is AMAZING. So we hope you are okay with eating beef.
There are spiders, worms, misquotes, and other bugs which you will encounter during your stay although nothing dangerous. You must be okay with bugs when you go outside. ( :
Occasional 420 and tabbaco smokers welcome but please no smoking/vaping around the house/tent. Please have your own ash tray and dispose of ash butts in your own ash tray to take with you.
At our place, we embrace diversity and inclusion.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have starlink 🙂
Space for parking camper vans
There is lots of space to park a campervan.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Hudson
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (5)
Thanks heaps for helping out at Apotu forest, we loved having you around, I hoped you learnt some new skills, I certainly learnt great tree cutting/ saw maintenance skills from you. Cheers mate!
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
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:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Thanks heaps for helping out at Apotu forest, we loved having you around, I hoped you learnt some new skills, I certainly learnt great tree cutting/ saw maintenance skills from you. Cheers mate!
We helped Kyle and Monica in various jobs on the property always enjoying doing it.
Very tasty and healty meals were prepared and and we spent quality time with this beautifull couple.
We slept in high quality tent and took a break in the front deck of their tiny house, from where you can enjoy a peacefull… read more
They live on a large property and have a tinyhouse with a nice deck in front. The food they provide is amazing and they make sure you don't go to bed hungry ;)
I have been mostly doing wood… read more
