Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
28 Feb 2026
Reply rate
89.5 %
Usually responds within 5 days
Feedback
9
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Developing a food forest, organic growing, perma culture principles, finishing the new dwelling are part of the daily grind here in, where the sun makes diamonds in the water and the views are breath taking.
We are looking for mature people who can work independently as well as in a team. People with experience and a genuine interest in the projects.
PLEASE CONFIRM you are a NON Smoker and are happy to volunteer 5 Hours a day. We provide you with a comfortable bed, great food, a hot shower and internet access.
WE DO NOT TAKE BOOKINGS. If you want to spend time here, contact us and we will let you know if we can welcome you to the rebuilt of the Gardener's Cottage!. The original cottage was unrepairable after substantial earthquake damage and in its place is a new dwelling which needs some finishing touches.
Only 7 minutes by ferry or a 40 minute drive and you are in the sunny side of the harbour.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We like to teach you about the particular way we develop our garden according to perma-culture principles, so if you are interested in living sustainably and have skills we require, come and check us out. We are always open to new ideas how to reuse, up-cycle and do with less and are particularly interested in how different cultures solve the sustainability challenges we have.
Help
If you are experienced and handy with a hammer, or know about water systems feel esp welcome At the moment. And the perma-culture food forest needs maintenance. Tasks include gathering seaweed, pulling out grass, planting seeds and seedlings, mulching, building beds, making liquid manure, digging trenches, worm farming, composting, pruning, There is firewood that needs to be gathered, chopped and stacked and there are general clearing help after the big build there are quite some building materials left for building a new chicken coop and fire wood storage.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
German: Beginner
French: Beginner
Accommodation
You may be staying in the Cabin which has a comfortable king single bed or inside which has comfortable double beds. We provide good meals and are happy to cook for any diet including GF, DF, vegan. We offer one hot shower a day and internet access for emails. We provide mainly organic food and cook with vegetables from our garden.
What else ...
Diamond Harbour is a small village on Banks Peninsula, 30kms from Christchurch at the sunny side of the harbour. It can be reached by bus (there is a direct service from the airport) and ferry or by car. There are several vegetable patches, fruit trees, chickens, a cottage garden, a glasshouse and a little artichoke grove on the property . It's quiet and peaceful here and your entertainment would include walking, running, biking, swimming, reading, using internet at the library, meeting the locals, attending a class, getting a coffee at Soulful or a curry at the local, fishing off the jetty, climbing Mount Herbert, exploring Orton Bradley Park with its high ropes course, cafe and many walks to Rock, Waterfall and Mount Bradley and Herbert. We are only a 7 minute ferry ride away from Lyttelton, the port, with its cafes and shops and Farmers Market on Saturdays, then a bus ride to the centre of Christchurch with it huge array of attractions, from the Cardboard Cathedral to the Museum, from the Art Gallery to the Botanic Gardens, all its Community Gardens, the inviting Public Libraries and the library fridges on the way.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (5)
She welcomed me in her nice cottage with her beautiful garden and chickens. I could use her cabin in the middle of the garden, so I had my own cosy place to rest and chill during my shift off.
We used to take our… read more
The work was very varied including weeding, gardening, picking up fruits and vegetables, moving things and painting. We also had the chance to do some more creative projects… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
She welcomed me in her nice cottage with her beautiful garden and chickens. I could use her cabin in the middle of the garden, so I had my own cosy place to rest and chill during my shift off.
We used to take our… read more
The work was very varied including weeding, gardening, picking up fruits and vegetables, moving things and painting. We also had the chance to do some more creative projects… read more
entertainment. She has… read more
Thanks for the good food and great company! And good… read more
