Experience family life along the coast in Waikanae, New Zealand

Details

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  Description

  We’re a lively Kiwi-German family — two adults and three spirited kids (6, 4, and 2) — who believe life’s better when it’s full of laughter, language, and a little bit of adventure. Our home buzzes with English and German conversations, spontaneous dance parties, and plenty of backyard discoveries.
  
  We live between mountains and sea — just a short train ride from Wellington, with beaches, bush walks, bike trails, and wildlife right on our doorstep. One moment we’re baking bread or building forts, the next we’re chasing waves or spotting kererū in the garden.
  
  If you love nature, children’s laughter, good food, and cross-cultural stories — and don’t mind a bit of delightful noise — you’ll feel right at home with us. Expect great conversations, outdoor adventures, and a genuine slice of Kiwi family life (with a German twist!).

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house
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  Interests

  

  Politics / Social justice

  

  Sustainability

  

  Culture

  

  Events & social

  

  Plant care

  

  Languages

  

  Gardening

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Hiking

  

  Cycling

  

  Beach
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We are a bilingual (German & English) family with three little kids (6, 4 and 2 years old) - so there is always laughter, chaos and lots of language around, especially when the kids are back from school or daycare.
  
  Living in New Zealand for 1,5 years we are keen to share our experiences and learn from other cultures.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  We’d love a helping hand with everyday life — things like light meal prep, a bit of gardening, and picking up the kids from daycare or school. Nothing too serious — just joining in with the family rhythm. We both work from home, so you’ll never be on your own; mornings start together, evenings end with family dinners, and there’s always time for a good chat (or a laugh over coffee).

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  We’re a bilingual (German–English) household — and we love adding more languages to the mix! The kids are always thrilled to hear stories or have books read in new languages — it’s like opening a window to another world.
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  Accommodation

  You’ll have your own cozy room with a fold out double bed and small wardrobe, and share a bathroom with the kids.
  
  We welcome couples of any orientation or people traveling together. Please be aware you will need to share a bed, or put on mattress on the floor.
  
  We enjoy sitting down together for meals — dinner is usually warm and home-cooked, breakfast changes daily, and the kids have packed lunches for daycare and school. We don’t eat pork or shellfish, though we sometimes have fresh fish. And if you like to cook, we’d love to try your favourite dishes from home!

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  What else ...

  Waikanae is a lovely coastal town with a safe, sandy beach, a few local cafes and pubs, a small cinema, and a regular farmers’ market. There are plenty of walking and biking trails, as well as nearby parks and wetlands to explore. For nature and bird lovers, Kapiti Island is not far away -home to many New Zealand native birds including the Kiwi.
  
  Wellington is close by, with trains running every 20 minutes, making it easy to enjoy both the city and the coast. We also have a bike you’re welcome to use to get around or ride to the beach.
  We’re a strictly smoke-free household and enjoy sharing the simple pleasures of coastal life with our guests.
  
  If you enjoy nature, kids’ laughter, good food, language exchange, and a touch of cheerful chaos, you’ll feel right at home with us. Expect warmth, fun, and a real slice of Kiwi-German family life — with a fully open and inclusive atmosphere.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  My animals / pets

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