Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
30 Oct 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
26
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
We (a well traveled couple from New Zealand and Austria, our 10-year old twins, 1 hyper active, friendly GSPxVizsla dog and 5 happy chicken) live on our rural, off-grid property in the Lower Kaimais in the Bay of Plenty. The property is located about 20mins from Tauranga, 30mins from Matamata and about 1 hour from Hamilton. It encompasses 50 acres of native bush, scrub and pasture. There are private swimming holes, waterfalls, freshwater springs and more than 5kms of tracks through our private valleys and streams. There is also regenerating scrub and a native Tawa/Rimu forest.
We are living plant based (with eggs from our chicken and the occasional cheese/yoghurt), don't do alcohol or other drugs and want to keep the property free from intoxicants.
We are already looking forward to meeting you all!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You'll definitely experience how it is to live off the grid and we're happy to share all our learnings with you. We are also looking forward to provide cultural knowledge (esp. te ao Maori), share Aotearoa New Zealand history, etc. As we are both well traveled, there is never a lack of stories to share.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We are looking for helpers for our gardens, to build cob structures, develop natural building systems, off grid facilities, hydro-schemes, ... there is an abundance of opportunities to learn and experience living in and with nature.
Tasks will be about 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon - depending on the project. We provide 3 meals a day. If you stay longer than a week, you get 2 days off/ week.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Accommodation
You can park up your own vehicle or pitch a tent in summer. We provide 2 tents (for max. 4 people), mattresses, pillows and blankets and / or sleeping bags if necessary.
We have starlink internet, water and run on solar-power at the moment.
What else ...
The Lower Kaimais are known for great hikes, and we are happy to give recommendations and share our knowledge about the area as well as New Zealand itself. We are also keen on telling stories about te ao Maori, Aotearoa's history and also travel stories. We are always open for new adventures and will show you around as well, if you're interested.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
We have several spots for you to park up your van/housebus etc.
Can possibly accept pets
We have a dog ourselves, and if yours is good with other dogs, we're happy to accommodate the pup. Sorry, we cannot allow cats on our property.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (14)
We got involved in a range of tasks including weeding, clearing gorse and painting. And both Doris and Ata were great at providing clear instructions and communicating with us.
It was… read more
Asher and… read more
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:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
We got involved in a range of tasks including weeding, clearing gorse and painting. And both Doris and Ata were great at providing clear instructions and communicating with us.
It was… read more
Asher and… read more
He is a very respectful, kind, interested human being and a pleasure to be around. Rapolas offers his help wherever he can and… read more
We had a wunderful stay together with Doris, Ata, Jovee, Asher and Maia. There where very welcoming and had good communication all the way through. There knowledge about New Zealands nature seems endless and they really want to teach you if you ask. The land was like stepping in to an Alice… read more
I would recommend you to everyone because I think it is important that everyone gets to know this type of lifestyle and sees the world from a… read more
Doris and Ata are generous and considerate hosts in all areas except for cleanliness. When we were there, the washing up was being done in cold water, which was not effective at removing grease. The floor of the common area was not yet sealed, and so the whole area… read more
We had a fantastic experience with the girls, who… read more
