Creating a home in the forest near Omotumotu Valley, New Zealand

Details

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  Description

  ** We are currently both in Wellington for work, but will be home at the cabin from November 2025, so can host people again then onwards **
  
  As friends, Annelise & Tom co-bought a 30-acre section of native forest at the top of the Omoto valley, with the intention of creating a space where ourselves, friends, and family can freely use and feel at home. From the road end, it’s a 5-minute walk along a graveled path to reach our land, which creates the feeling of being isolated from civilisation, despite not actually being far away. We have two small cabins sited there, up on an old river terrace, under a canopy of rata and rimu trees, with a view out to the east across the valley. We have built /renovated both cabins ourselves using mostly recycled materials, with plenty of visible timber and we have certainly cut no corners on finishing touches. There is no road noise at the cabins, and we have no utility services connected, so it feels nicely remote and is pretty simple living.
  
  Since coming into ownership of the land, there has been an ongoing stream of projects to create a home that is mostly outdoors living, where things are kept simple, but comfortable at the same time. Such projects have included building a garage / carport area, the path up to the cabins, planting over 100 fruiting trees/berry bushes, establishing a herb/vegetable patch, installing solar power, putting in water supplies, cutting ~10 kilometers of tracks through the forest, setting up a trapping network for pests in the area, installing climbing routes up trees, building the 23m2 cabin from scratch, making a composting toilet, setting up a fire bath, etc, etc. Current/future projects include further renovations to the old cabin, building a tunnel house, cutting more tracks for trapping lines, and making a pizza oven, to name a few.
  
  In regards to us, we are both easy-going, active people who love the outdoors. We got to know each other through making long trips in the mountains together, and this is where both of us truly feel at home . Independently, we had both always dreamed of living on the west coast and are very much in love with the landscape the coast offers, along with the local community here. We have both spent a lot of time overseas and have volunteered in many places around the world - so we certainly know what it’s like to be a helper in a new place. We both also still spend a lot of time away from the cabins and so apologies in advance if we are unable to host you because neither of us are currently there.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Help around the house
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  The West Coast is one the most untouched, remote, and beautiful parts of New Zealand. In the middle of this, our home offers the opportunity to live in what feels like a very remote location, whilst also being close to town & the coast at the same time. Reading our references would also give a nice answer to this.

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  Help

  As with any venture, many hands and friendly faces make tasks easier and more enjoyable, so we're warmly welcoming anyone enthusiastic to come and join us. Practical building skills, self-initiative and creativity would be great assets for anyone to bring with them, but regardless of your background, if you're keen to help / learn, then your time will be valued here.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate
  French: Beginner
  Russian: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  For anyone motivated to stay with us, we ask that you stay for one week or longer and we can offer food and shelter for a half day's help in return. As described above, living here is simple; electricity is a small solar system, water is from the roof, the toilet is a compost loo, and (hot) showering is outside under a rimu tree. Sleeping options are constantly evolving, so ask us if this may be a concern for you, but generally what we offer to helpers is a 3-man tent with a thermarest + bedding, and a tarp over top to create an awning. Surrealy enough there is good cellphone coverage around the cabins and we can occasionally give you a hotspot if you don't have a working SIM card. If you're coming with a vehicle, then the last 1km of road is private (with a locked gate), and there is a large, flat area at the end of the road to park up. If you have a van / camper and wish to sleep there, then this would be no problem at all, as there is a large carport to park under, a compost toilet & a hot shower there to use as well.

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  What else ...

  We are about 10-minutes drive from Greymouth, which is the closest place for shops, supermarkets, petrol stations, a hospital, and all the usual supplies in a small local town. There's no bus service to our place, so if you're arriving without a vehicle then we can happily pick you up from town.
  
  We also have a volunteer page on Helpx, and Tom has a page on Bewelcome & Trustroots.

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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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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

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