Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
30 Apr 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
61
Email verified
Badges (3)
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Details
Description
We have a beautiful 7 acre lifestyle block in Hira, which has a large patch of native bush and wonderful birdlife. We're in the process of regenerating about two thirds of the land back to native forest and would love help to develop and maintain the project. The property overlooks the valley and also has a fruit orchard, bee hives, vegetable garden and some friendly Gotland and Wiltshire sheep, and our lovely Rosie, a Golden Retriever. It's about 15-20 minute drive from Nelson City, with no public transport, so it is essential that you have your own vehicle.
For accommodation we have a beautiful purpose built cabin, built on the edge of the bush with stunning views down the valley. There is a compost toilet and outdoor shower room. If this does not appeal, or during the cooler winter months, you are welcome to stay in our home with us. If you are travelling with friends, the cabin can accommodate up to two couples. We prefer to take couples, rather than solo traveller's.
John is a retired registered nurse and Fiona is a social worker, we have an avid interest in the natural environment and conservation, and love meeting interesting people!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Plant care
Gardening
Farming
Movies & TV
Pets
Culture
Sustainability
Cooking & food
Outdoor activities
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Beach
Cycling
Camping
Adventure sports
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Taking part in conservation and regenerating bush is a rewarding process, especially amongst the birdlife that is already flourishing from the existing work. We can teach how to identify the native plants and birds, how to control pests, and how to develop and maintain planting projects. We love to hear about travellers adventures and their cultures and have travelled extensively ourselves. We're also happy to help you practice English if you're learning.
Help
Conservation help, weeding, trap maintenance, track building and maintenance, planting, fruit thinning and picking, general gardening and maintenance.
The majority of tasks is outdoors so a reasonable level of fitness is preferable, and we're happy to teach skills if required.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Seperate cabin, or in house. We've got an awesome outdoor bathtub and shower as well as our indoor facilities.
We cook excellent healthy food, with lots of produce from the property, and wild game. Also happy to cook vegetarian meals if preferable.
What else ...
There's so much to do in the Nelson and Marlborough region, especially if you like the outdoors - there's three stunning National Parks within less than 2 hours drive! We'd love to give you recommendations for tramping/hiking trips, and general sight-seeing, as well as the great food places to check out in the city.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We've got a good wi-fi connection and a study you can work in. If you want to work from the cabin instead of the house you'll have to use mobile data.
Space for parking camper vans
Plenty of room for camper vans and motorhomes up to 7 metres.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Host ref number: 452712638815
Feedback (29)
19 Apr 2025
Left by Workawayer (Mathieu & Lucie) for host
We had realised our first woofing experience with John and Fiona. We have spent a great time with them. John teach us a lot about New Zealand trees and birds. We enjoyed dinner with them, to discover their fantastic dish and talking about lots of subjects. Sometimes we played card games after dinner and these times helped us to improve the… read more
18 Apr 2025
Left by host for Workawayer (Mathieu & Lucie)
Mathieu and Lucie stayed with us for a week recently. What a wonderful young couple! They were a great pleasure to have around and did some amazing work on our conservation project, weeding a particularly overgrown area to the highest standard that even we would not have achieved. They also weeded the vegetable garden, washed down the exterior of… read more
(Excellent
)
10 Mar 2025
Left by host for Workawayer (Nila & Samuel )
Nila and Sam stayed with us for just over a week recently. They are a wonderful and friendly couple who are very hard workers. They did an utterly amazing job of scrubbing down and prepping our large deck and then painting it, which was a major undertaking. The result is outstanding! They restacked a seasoned firewood pile into the woodshed and… read more
(Excellent
)
10 Mar 2025
Left by Workawayer (Nila & Samuel ) for host
We had a wonderful time staying at Fi and Johns. The two are very kind and generous, every Workawayer that will stay with them is in for a treat. They have a lovely property which they regenerated with a lot of care. The cabin we stayed at felt like a retreat. Both of them are really good cooks and when it was hot they made sure we have enough ice… read more
12 Feb 2025
Left by Workawayer (Ella-Louise & Thomas) for host
John and Fi provided us our first work away experience and they've certainly set the bar very high!
From the beginning to the end of our week long stay we felt very comfortable and welcomed into their homely slice of paradise.
Our tasks were engaging and rewarding and we felt more than reimbursed for our efforts with excellent cooking, hosting… read more
From the beginning to the end of our week long stay we felt very comfortable and welcomed into their homely slice of paradise.
Our tasks were engaging and rewarding and we felt more than reimbursed for our efforts with excellent cooking, hosting… read more
9 Feb 2025
Left by host for Workawayer (Ella-Louise & Thomas)
Ella and Tom stayed with us for one week recently. What a wonderful , hard working and easy going couple! We put Tom's arborist skills to work and he gave several of our old plum trees the serious "haircut" they well deserved. This, along with removing a claret ash that had outgrown it's space, was a massive task. Meanwhile Ella dragged all the… read more
(Excellent
)
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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)
19 Apr 2025
Left by Workawayer (Mathieu & Lucie) for host
We had realised our first woofing experience with John and Fiona. We have spent a great time with them. John teach us a lot about New Zealand trees and birds. We enjoyed dinner with them, to discover their fantastic dish and talking about lots of subjects. Sometimes we played card games after dinner and these times helped us to improve the… read more
18 Apr 2025
Left by host for Workawayer (Mathieu & Lucie)
Mathieu and Lucie stayed with us for a week recently. What a wonderful young couple! They were a great pleasure to have around and did some amazing work on our conservation project, weeding a particularly overgrown area to the highest standard that even we would not have achieved. They also weeded the vegetable garden, washed down the exterior of… read more
(Excellent)
10 Mar 2025
Left by host for Workawayer (Nila & Samuel )
Nila and Sam stayed with us for just over a week recently. They are a wonderful and friendly couple who are very hard workers. They did an utterly amazing job of scrubbing down and prepping our large deck and then painting it, which was a major undertaking. The result is outstanding! They restacked a seasoned firewood pile into the woodshed and… read more
(Excellent)
10 Mar 2025
Left by Workawayer (Nila & Samuel ) for host
We had a wonderful time staying at Fi and Johns. The two are very kind and generous, every Workawayer that will stay with them is in for a treat. They have a lovely property which they regenerated with a lot of care. The cabin we stayed at felt like a retreat. Both of them are really good cooks and when it was hot they made sure we have enough ice… read more
12 Feb 2025
Left by Workawayer (Ella-Louise & Thomas) for host
John and Fi provided us our first work away experience and they've certainly set the bar very high!
From the beginning to the end of our week long stay we felt very comfortable and welcomed into their homely slice of paradise.
Our tasks were engaging and rewarding and we felt more than reimbursed for our efforts with excellent cooking, hosting… read more
From the beginning to the end of our week long stay we felt very comfortable and welcomed into their homely slice of paradise.
Our tasks were engaging and rewarding and we felt more than reimbursed for our efforts with excellent cooking, hosting… read more
9 Feb 2025
Left by host for Workawayer (Ella-Louise & Thomas)
Ella and Tom stayed with us for one week recently. What a wonderful , hard working and easy going couple! We put Tom's arborist skills to work and he gave several of our old plum trees the serious "haircut" they well deserved. This, along with removing a claret ash that had outgrown it's space, was a massive task. Meanwhile Ella dragged all the… read more
(Excellent)
11 Feb 2025
Left by Workawayer (Vincent) for host
I had the chance to stay at Fi and John's little paradise for one week and what a stay ! The property is wonderful and a lot of bush regeneration work had already been made over the years. In addition to be amazing hosts, and good cookers, Fi and John are very kind, generous and incredible human beings. The cultural and human exchange was always… read more
9 Feb 2025
Left by host for Workawayer (Vincent)
Vincent recently stayed with us for a week. He is a kind and generous and easy going person. He worked hard weeding our vegetable garden and weed whacked the bush pathways. He is an excellent cook and his dessert of fresh mango and coconut chia was AMAZING! My advice to any potential hosts is this should be his number one job! Vincent even conned… read more
(Excellent)
9 Feb 2025
Left by host for Workawayer (Sarah)
Lilo stayed with us from the 20th of January until the 7th of February. The last 9 days were as a house and dog sitter while we were away on our annual holiday to the Marlborough Sounds. Lilo showed a very keen interest in conservation and got stuck into weed whacking, clearing paths for us, hand weeding our gardens and cutting and treating the… read more
(Excellent)
21 Dec 2024
Left by Workawayer (Robyn) for host
Had a really lovely week on John and Fi's place, an inspiring time learning about land regeneration from pasture back to native bush. The land is a real oasis and John and Fi's enthusiasm for conservation and the natural world at large was a joy to share. Had some ace dinners and shared evenings, hope to cross paths again and catch up! Thankyou… read more
15 Nov 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Robyn)
Wow! What a Workawayer Robyn is. Such a wonderful, thoughtful and all round pleasant person. Super easy going. She is an awesome worker and really got stuck in. The weather was unfortunately pretty marginal, but Robyn just happily did some great indoor jobs and washed down and sanded all our house internal doors ready for painting. She mowed… read more
(Excellent)
10 Oct 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (MINAMI)
What a delightful person Minami proved to be! We absolutely loved her company while she stayed with us. She has a bright and happy disposition and is a very keen and willing Workawayer who just gets on and gets the job done. She meticulously weeded our large vegetable garden, cut and treated "Old Man's Beard" and blackberry in our native bush and… read more
(Excellent)
9 Oct 2024
Left by Workawayer (MINAMI) for host
John and Fiona are very friendly and very knowledgeable, and the food they cook is the best. The view from the cabin is also amazing, and Roise is really adorable. I loved spending time playing with her.
They shared their daily life very naturally, and also letting me meet many of their friends.
My main job was weeding, but it wasn't… read more
They shared their daily life very naturally, and also letting me meet many of their friends.
My main job was weeding, but it wasn't… read more
25 Aug 2024
Left by Workawayer (James & Tom) for host
We had the most amazing time staying in Nelson with John & Fi, Incredibly friendy and very welcoming from the moment we arrived. Staying in their cabin, waking up to the most beautiful views of the valley and listening to the birdsongs was wonderful.
It was great to get stuck in and help with their regeneration project and learn about all the… read more
It was great to get stuck in and help with their regeneration project and learn about all the… read more
24 May 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (James & Tom)
Tom and Jimbo stayed with us for a wonderful two weeks. What a great couple of guys. They were very keen and willing workers, super polite, helpful and fun to have around. They have awesome cooking skills and cooked many meals and treats for us which was just soooo nice! They showed a real interest in our flora and fauna on the property and ripped… read more
(Excellent)
11 Aug 2024
Left by Workawayer (Katelyn) for host
We stayed with John and Fi for two weeks and had an amazing time. John and Fi made us feel so welcome with delicious meals, a warm fire always burning, and cozy cuddles with their sassy puppy Rosie. The property is stunning and we loved waking up every morning to the valley views and birdsong. We were happy to learn about and help with John's… read more
4 Aug 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Katelyn)
Katelyn and Michal stayed with us for two weeks. They are wonderful, very hard working people who just get on and get the job done to a very high standard. Tasks they accomplished included weeding around our young native trees, weeding in the established native forest, planting and guarding native shrubs in our new skink and gecko garden, and… read more
(Excellent)
7 Aug 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Michal)
Katelyn and Michal stayed with us for two weeks. They are wonderful, very hard working people who just get on and get the job done to a very high standard. Tasks they accomplished included weeding around our young native trees, weeding in the established native forest, planting and guarding native shrubs in our new skink and gecko garden, and… read more
(Excellent)
17 Jul 2024
Left by Workawayer (Caitlin & Nathan) for host
John and Fi were so wonderful to us throughout our stay. We had a fantastic time working for them, caring for the veg garden, planting and cooking (and, of course, looking after the wonderful Rosie!) We could not recommend them enough - the cabin has stunning views over the valley and was lovely to stay in. Being Brits, we were slightly cautious… read more
12 Jul 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Caitlin & Nathan)
Caitlin and Nathan stayed with us for 10 days. What a lovely hard working and pleasant couple to have around! They got stuck in to any task with enthusiasm and skill. They are awesome cooks and cooked us several fabulous meals that were such a treat. They are both very relaxed, reliable and interested in sharing experiences. We would definitely… read more
(Excellent)
1 Jul 2024
Left by Workawayer (Sandra) for host
I had a great time at John and Fi's - it was my first workaway experience and I couldn't have asked for a better one! They are amazing hosts, Rosie's absolutely lovely (will miss her cuddles), and their place and project are incredible. It felt so welcoming from the start, with the homely feel and delicious meals. It was super interesting to learn… read more
30 Jun 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Sandra)
Sandra stayed with us for a week and it was a pleasure to share her company. She is very easy going and just got stuck in to any task including planting native trees, gardening tasks, cooking and baking (Chocolate studded blondie, mmmm!), spending time with our pooch and cleaning. Thank you for sharing your time with us and all your great work.… read more
(Excellent)
30 Jun 2024
Left by Workawayer (Carola) for host
What an amazing experience at the end of my travel on the south Island! Can't describe how easy and welcoming it felt to stay with Fiona & John. From the first message until to say good bye it felt such possitiv!
This new, beautiful cabin in this peaceful area. WOW! Loved it and the Tui & Bellbird!
I really enjoyed my week and the task i did. For… read more
This new, beautiful cabin in this peaceful area. WOW! Loved it and the Tui & Bellbird!
I really enjoyed my week and the task i did. For… read more
30 Jun 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Carola)
Carola stayed with us for a week and was a wonderful, cheerful person to have around. She was an energetic and very keen Workawayer, always eager to take on any task with enthusiasm including weeding our rather neglected vegetable garden, planting native trees, cooking beautiful meals (oh, the German dumplings!), caring for our beloved pooch and… read more
(Excellent)
1 May 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Letizia & Carlos Alfonso)
Wow, what a wonderful couple Letizia and Carlos are! We just enjoyed their company so much. They are wonderful communicators, cooks and hard workers. With their bright and sunny dispositions, they were a joy to share our place with and we would not hesitate to highly recommend them to any host. You will not be disappointed. Many thanks for the… read more
(Excellent)
29 Apr 2024
Left by Workawayer (Letizia & Carlos Alfonso) for host
We spent two wonderful weeks with John and Fi (and little Rosie 🐶). We wouldn't know where to begin to explain what a wonderful experience this has been for us. They are two wonderful people, and being able to help a little with the fantastic project they have has enriched us a lot.
We would come back without hesitation.
Thank you very much for… read more
We would come back without hesitation.
Thank you very much for… read more
18 Apr 2024
Left by Workawayer (Elizabeth & Freark) for host
We had the best time at John & Fiona's place in Hira! They are very kind, open, trusting, interested, easy going & welcoming people that made us feel really at home. The cabin that they offer to Workawayers is truly amazing and offers a spectacular view over their garden and the rest of the valley. We did a variety of work tasks such as tackling… read more
11 Apr 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Elizabeth & Freark)
Liesbeth and Freark stayed with us for around 10 days. They were absolutely wonderful and we would have been very happy for them to stay longer with us. They both had beautiful, friendly and easy going personalities and we enjoyed many lovely conversations around the dinner table. They were tireless workers on and off the land. They destroyed many… read more
(Excellent)
17 Mar 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Jett)
Jett spent a couple of weeks at our place and proved to be excellent company and a great Workawayer. He just got on and got stuff done and was very reliable and resourceful. He is great with animals and Rosie our dog will miss him greatly! Jett house sat for us while we were away one weekend, which was greatly appreciated.
We wish Jett all the… read more
We wish Jett all the… read more
(Excellent)
31 Jan 2024
Left by Workawayer (Luisa) for host
Our first work away at Fiona’s and John’s place was an unforgettable experience! John and Fiona are really open and easy going hosts and they made us feel like home from day one. We had great conversations, amazing food and lovely cuddles with Rosie the puppy! Their project to regenerate native bush inspired us a lot! Therefore, we were happy to… read more
17 Jan 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Luisa)
Luisa and Philipp stayed with us for 10 days in December/January. What an absolutely wonderful couple! They fitted in seamlessly with our family and routines and were a pleasure to have around. They had calm and chilled demeanours and made the best of their time in our region. Luisa and Philipp had a wonderful work ethic and just got stuck into… read more
(Excellent)
4 Dec 2023
Left by host for Workawayer (Noa Milou & Rocco)
Noa and Rocco stayed with us for 10 days recently. What a lovely, hard working young couple! Super pleasant and fun to have around and not afraid to get stuck in on our property. They did some wonderful and much needed work getting the Old Man's Beard and blackberry back under control, stacked firewood, cared for our pup and cooked us some… read more
(Excellent)
30 Nov 2023
Left by Workawayer (Noa Milou & Rocco) for host
Our work exchange was primarily focused on tasks like clearing out the old man's beard and foxglove, as well as the physical work of carrying and chopping firewood, which, admittedly, wasn't exactly our best skill :)
John and Fi, our hosts, were absolutely delightful. Staying at their place felt like a second home, and their culinary skills were… read more
John and Fi, our hosts, were absolutely delightful. Staying at their place felt like a second home, and their culinary skills were… read more
29 Nov 2023
Left by host for Workawayer (Tom & Hannah)
Hannah and Tom were excellent Workawayers - respectful, eager, open to new challenges and fun to have around. They tackled the Old Mans Beard and Blackberry that would otherwise have overtaken our native plantings. Our Golden Retriever puppy, Rosie enjoyed spending time with Hannah and Tom. It was great to learn that these guys had taken on the… read more
(Excellent)
18 Nov 2023
Left by Workawayer (Tom & Hannah) for host
We had a wonderful time with John, Fi and Roise (the adorable retriever puppy!) We stayed in their purpose built cabin, which was in a gorgeous setting, overlooking the valley. It had everything we needed and was a truly memorable place to sleep.
Hannah and I were tasked with looking after native trees, and removing invasive species which were… read more
Hannah and I were tasked with looking after native trees, and removing invasive species which were… read more
25 Nov 2023
Left by Workawayer (Innes & Joanne) for host
We feel so lucky to have stayed with John, Fi and Rosie at their incredible home in Nelson. As soon as we arrived we felt very welcome and at home. We stayed in a beautiful hut on the hill just five minutes from the house, and spent our time taking care of Rosie the puppy, gardening and cooking. We were also treated to the most delicious meals,… read more
6 Nov 2023
Left by host for Workawayer (Innes & Joanne)
Ines and Jo stayed with us for two weeks and it was such a pleasure to share their company. They both worked very hard on our property independently and we are still noticing gems of work that they completed. They are both excellent cooks and treated us on multiple occasions. They were wonderful carers of our wee golden retriever puppy while we… read more
(Excellent)
25 Oct 2023
Left by Workawayer (Daniel) for host
John and Fi are amazing hosts, of course Rosie (their lovely dog) was a plus. We spent great time together sharing good talks, experiences, laughs and food. We can not be more grafetul with them for sharing their space and their time with us. Great atmosphere, beautiful home, tasty food and amazing project with native plants. At that time we felt… read more
21 Oct 2023
Left by host for Workawayer (Daniel)
Lily and Danny are fantastic Workawayers. Hard working, and wonderful fun to have around. We shared many stories and we got inspired to travel to their homeland of Mexico. They cooked wonderful Mexican dishes for us, took on any tasks with enthusiasm and showed great initiative and care. Can't recommend them enough! Thank you Danny and Lily for… read more
(Excellent)
15 Sep 2023
Left by Workawayer (Phoebe) for host
I feel so lucky to have been able to stay with Fiona and John at their gorgeous place. They are so kind and made me feel welcome from the start, which I really appreciate. I already miss spending time with Rosie the puppy! There is also lots to learn here about natives and gardening/composting if you have an interest in that. Thank you for having… read more
13 Sep 2023
Left by host for Workawayer (Phoebe)
Phoebe stayed with us for 3 days before she was needed back home due to family illness. She is a wonderful young woman and we were so disappointed to see her leave. She has a very relaxed and easy going manner, is caring and a very hard worker. She is a great cook (still enjoying the honey, almond and cardamom drizzle cake!) and was a wonderful… read more
(Excellent)
8 May 2023
Left by Workawayer (Esme) for host
My time spent with John and Fi, in their beautiful home and bush in Hira, was an experience I will hold close to my heart for a very long time. They are incredibly kind, giving and caring people - full of wisdom and great stories. Living in their slice of paradise was the highlight of my trip to New Zealand so far and I was made to feel so welcome… read more
27 Apr 2023
Left by host for Workawayer (Esme)
Wow, what a wonderful person Esme is! She ended up staying with us for a month and was an absolute pleasure to have around. She got stuck in around the property weeding in the native bush and our vegetable garden, was a fantastic conversationalist, AND wow what a cook! It was such a treat to come home from work to gourmet vegetarian delights.… read more
(Excellent)
27 Apr 2023
Left by host for Workawayer (Jake & Hannah)
We totally enjoyed having Jake and Hannah stay with us. They were such lovely, warm and fun people to have around and we would have happily had them stay longer if their itinerary had allowed. They weren't afraid of hard work and humped heavy timbers to the top of our hill to reinforce a track wild pigs had damaged, weeded the vegetable garden and… read more
(Excellent)
19 Apr 2023
Left by Workawayer (Jake & Hannah) for host
Our stay with John and Fi was absolutely incredible. Their property and place is truly a slice of paradise, and both John and Fi are such great company - they made us feel at home and welcome right away! The work was extremely fair. We enjoyed the tasks helping them weed their garden and repair some of the pathways on their beautiful property, and… read more
29 Jan 2023
Left by Workawayer (Julia & Brent ) for host
Working and staying with John and Fi was the highlight of our entire trip to New Zealand! They are the warmest people with the most comfortable and beautiful home. They are so knowledgeable about native plants and conservation and we learned a ton about the native bush and how to help preserve habitat for the beloved native birds. John and Fi are… read more
20 Jan 2023
Left by host for Workawayer (Julia & Brent )
Julia and Brent stayed with us for 3 weeks over Christmas. What a fantastic dynamic duo! These guys were so much fun to have around and share our home with. They have a real give anything a go attitude and worked hard and would then go off and explore the region. They showed awesome initiative and were skilled at all tasks they took on. It was a… read more
(Excellent)
22 Jan 2023
Left by Workawayer (Düzgün ) for host
"I really enjoyed my stay with Fiona and John. They made me feel at home and it was fun to work in the garden. Thanks for the lovely 2 weeks
20 Jan 2023
Left by host for Workawayer (Düzgün )
Grab this lad! He is an utter gem and a true "gentle man". He was always asking how he could be of help and was a very hard worker and diligent. He was keen to learn new skills and even tackled giving hand shearing our sheep a go. He worked independently and would do extra tasks without even being asked. He has a very kind and sincere nature and… read more
(Excellent)
9 Jan 2023
Left by host for Workawayer (Kai)
Kai stayed with us for two weeks in November 2022. Kai is an awesome hard worker who we would gladly recommend. He got stuck in with me and we ticked off some very hard jobs including shovelling and wheelbarrowing course river shingle (9 ton!). He also cooked us a wonderful meal. Many thanks for your great efforts Kai and I hope you continue to… read more
(Excellent)
9 Jan 2023
Left by host for Workawayer (Angelina )
Angelina, Emma, Nina and Leona are wonderful young women who spent eight days with us in December. They got involved in a variety of tasks and were hard workers and great fun to have around! They cooked some wonderful meals for us and made a beautiful Christmas cake which we have just finished. Thank you so much for your efforts and lovely… read more
(Excellent)
7 Jan 2023
Left by Workawayer (Angelina ) for host
Me and my friends, Nina, Leona and Emma stayed for a week on their beautiful property. We were really surprised by the cute and cozy cabin we could stay in and definitely the best highlight was the outdoor shower with view of the nature. John and Fiona were both very open and we felt really welcomed. They cared us very lovingly and cooked such… read more
1 Nov 2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Philip & Carrie)
Philip and Carrie were a great young couple to have in our lives during their stay with us. Philip is a great cook and shared his passion with us in the form of delectable treats including butter chicken and a very special decadent French toast. Carrie is an absolute "live wire" and full of zing and zest. They were both hard workers and keen to… read more
(Excellent)
31 Oct 2022
Left by Workawayer (Philip & Carrie) for host
If you are thinking about reaching out to John and Fiona about a workaway...DO IT! :) My fiance and I had just moved to New Zealand and had never tried a workaway before. We stayed with them for about 2 weeks and had the absolute best time. We learned so so much about the native flora and fauna and it was so cool to see their vision of a native… read more
31 Oct 2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Daniel)
Daniel stayed with us for 10 days. He was an enthusiastic worker who was very keen to learn new skills and also about the world around him. Daniel took pride in what he did on the property. He has a very inquisitive mind and was a pleasure to have around. He made an awesome chocolate dessert which impressed our friends! Many thanks Daniel for your… read more
(Excellent)
25 Oct 2022
Left by Workawayer (Daniel) for host
Posting this very late as I was busy in Queenstown the last week!
Thank you so much John and Fi for the amazing 8 days I’ve had with you! Even though it was quite short, the both of you really put in a lot of effort to make my stay, experience, and learning as comfortable and fruitful as possible and I really really enjoyed myself. I hope the… read more
Thank you so much John and Fi for the amazing 8 days I’ve had with you! Even though it was quite short, the both of you really put in a lot of effort to make my stay, experience, and learning as comfortable and fruitful as possible and I really really enjoyed myself. I hope the… read more
11 Jun 2022
Left by Workawayer (Leonie) for host
Fi and John were lovely workaway hosts. I stayed in a small cabin less than five minutes away of the main building with the most amazing view of the hills. In winter I would recommend bringing some fluffy socks and a hot water bottles as it can get a bit chilly at night - but then I am someone who freezes easily.
The work hour distributions… read more
The work hour distributions… read more
14 Jul 2021
Left by host for Workawayer (AnnaTimothy)
Tim and Anna were excellent workawayer's who provided us with great company, fantastic food, awesome exercises (for John's dodgy back!) and great work. It was such a pleasure to come home from work and to find Anna hard at work in the kitchen cooking us beautiful vegetarian meals and other treats such as granola. They just got on and did tasks… read more
(Excellent)
13 Jul 2021
Left by Workawayer (AnnaTimothy) for host
John & Fi are amazing hosts who embrace the spirit of the WorkAway philosophy. They are both warm and friendly and welcomed us into their home. We shared wonderful dinners together full of laughs and great conversations and were always included when they had friends come to visit. We elected to stay in the cabin (which we would highly recommend),… read more
26 Jun 2021
Left by host for Workawayer (Linda)
Linda was a pleasure to share our home with. She has a very easy going manner and worked independently very well, which was great for us as we both work away from home four days of the week. She accomplished some awesome work on our place maintaining our native plantings and planting additional plants. She spoilt us with fresh baking and desserts!… read more
(Excellent)
13 Jun 2021
Left by Workawayer (Linda) for host
John and Fiona are excellent hosts; friendly, easy going and will make you feel right at home. The property is peaceful, full of birdlife, with beautiful views of the valley and an awesome brand new cabin! Tasks are mainly outdoors and involved weeding and maintaining native trees, planting, invasive weed removal, raking leaves etc. They are… read more
