Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
11 Oct 2025
Reply rate
77.8 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
7
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
I live in New Zealand in a town called Leigh on the Matakana Coast. Leigh is part of Auckland but still an hour's drive from the centre of the city. I am semi-retired and live on my own in a smallish house with 3 bedrooms near the sea. I have a fully equipped tiny house attached to the house for guests and workawayers. My house is a 1 minute walk from the Leigh Coastal Walkway. I have a large garden of which about half is native bush. I have four married children and eight grandchildren who live in Auckland and Wellington and enjoy coming to stay from time to time. There are many beaches around Leigh, as well as a well-known marine reserve - Goat Island. Plenty of opportunities for walking, snorkelling, fishing, surfing, and swimming.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Sustainability
Plant care
Cooking & food
Nature
Beach
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Travellers will learn about aspects of New Zealand life and living. This includes knowledge about swimming at NZ's beaches and water safety, as my home is right by the sea. A marine reserve is nearby so snorkelling and diving are always popular activities. Outside of the marine reserve, fishing is also very popular. Anyone who stays will learn about aspects of organic gardening, composting, pest control and growing and harvesting vegetables. For those keen to head south but who still want to see the northern tip of NZ, I can give advice on a 3 day road trip to Cape Reinga.
Help
gardening/clearing weeds, finding firewood and preparing it for fireplace, small maintenance jobs, household tasks (e.g. cleaning windows); many small jobs requiring lifting heavy items etc,
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Accommodation
A choice of 1. a bedroom (double bed) inside house or 2. a fully equipped (toilet, bathroom and small kitchen) tiny house accessible by a deck.
What else ...
Leigh is situated 85 km north of Auckland (about 1 hour's travel by car or bus) and is close to Goat Island Marine Reserve (snorkelling,diving, glass bottom boat), a bird sanctuary (Tawharanui), Matakana Village (farmers market) and numerous beaches (surfing). Leigh is known for its fishing industry (Leigh Fish) and has a well known cafe (Leigh Eats) that sells the best (fresh) fish and chips.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Desk is available. I am connected to fibre; wifi and internet. Reception is generally good.
Space for parking camper vans
A smallish camper van can be parked directly off the road on a concrete driveway.
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (7)
Diti is a person who has lived a thousand lives 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:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Diti is a person who has lived a thousand lives and… read more
I stayed with Diti for a month, near the very end of my 8 month stay in New Zealand, and I wish I had met her sooner! This was one of my very best experiences doing workaway in NZ and I would HIGHLY recommend her as a host! Xanthe (the cat) is sweet and has the cutest personality and Leigh is beautiful (and… read more
