Profile information
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Host rating
100 %
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Last replied
28 Oct 2026
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Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
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Feedback
28
Total number of feedback received and left
-
Email verified
Badges (3)
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Min stay requested: at least a week
Details
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Description
Hi, we are Francois, Kate, Mateo and Max. Five years ago we built a Straw bale home, on a very special piece of land in the Waipara gorge. The home was made with as much recycled, low or no carbon foot print materials.
We have mostly finished earth building, but would love help from people in our land restoration. We are planting food forest gardens, permercultura gardens and saving a special piece of native bush from evasive weeds.
We have a big love of earthen homes and would like to share some of our experiences and knowledge with people who are interested.
Workawayers staying need to have there own car.
We are just to remote, and like independent guests. -
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Light maintenance
House & pet sitting
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Interests
Pets
Events & social
Sustainability
Movies & TV
Farming
Charity work
Music
Plant care
Books
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Art & design
Animals
Water sports
Beach
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Hiking -
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I believe we have a lot to share, and visitors could learn a wide range of skills.
Range of Earth building skills, garden planning, planting, forgaging, and preserving the produce,
We have sheep, chickens and ducks
So learning to care for these lovelies.
Weaving with flax and willow, if of interest to you. -
Help
We are looking for strong, fit, energetic people, with a real interest in growing food, and regeneration of land.
Help with cooking local/wild food meals, Preserving wild foods.
Helping with the farm animals.
And possibly some earth building? -
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
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Accommodation
We have a sweet small hut/cottage, at the gorge made from straw bale.
It has its own composting toilet, and almost finished shower /kitchen block too.
I would love to share cooking meals, I am a cook by trade and sharing great food is important to us.
We cook from the garden and paddock, organic or wild food mostly. -
What else ...
Waipara is a beautiful region with lots to see and do, we love to get to the coast for free diving, and coastal foraging. Head to the hills for a tramp, or sample some delicious wines from down the valley.
From our home, it's a short walk down the hill to the white gorge.
It's a very special place and totally worth a visit. -
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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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
Bean
Gus
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (15)
We had some interesting chats, and his knowledge with engineering was very interesting.
Recommend to other host.
Even though my English isn’t perfect, she always listened carefully and made me feel comfortable, so we were able to talk about so many different things. Every moment we shared was genuinely happy.
Waking up to the morning sunlight in her … read more
Making good use of materials, and seeing seeing how best to tackle jobs. Very considerate young men!
They fixed a number of small tricky wood jobs, and also got some planting done.
We would totally … 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)
We had some interesting chats, and his knowledge with engineering was very interesting.
Recommend to other host.
Even though my English isn’t perfect, she always listened carefully and made me feel comfortable, so we were able to talk about so many different things. Every moment we shared was genuinely happy.
Waking up to the morning sunlight in her … read more
Making good use of materials, and seeing seeing how best to tackle jobs. Very considerate young men!
They fixed a number of small tricky wood jobs, and also got some planting done.
We would totally … read more
They showed a lot of interest in earth building, and wanted to explore as many different skills as I could offer!
They completed all their work to a high standard, and could be left to work independently after being shown process.
They ended up completely finishing a small earth … read more
Such a beautiful and loving family, I enjoyed my time with them so much :)
Usually, I spent the whole day with them and helped with different kinds of tasks.
Spending time with them was very enriching - interesting and very chill people that enjoy to share their place, … read more
We had many good times together and achieved lots of jobs.
She offen just saw a task and without asking did the job.
She has a big heart and we wish her all the best in her journeys.
X best
Kate
Very keen on the earthen building side of things, and very helpful with many varying jobs we have here.
We did a range of different tasks, mainly helping Kate out with her … read more
She was keen to learn and loved the animals around home.
Amazing duck herder!! And fencher.
She loved exploring the river, and was always polite and kind.
I wish her all the best in the future
Xx Kate
Always keen to give anything a go, very polite and just a lovely human.
We worked on a small earth cabin, and his work was always to a high standard.
I have no hesitation in recommending him highly to any other host.
We wish you all the best in your studies and … read more
Both very driven with wanting to learn as much new earthern building knowledge as possible.
Coming from an architectual background was very handy for us, as they have designed a new little cabin which we are soon to build.
Giamarco is great in the kitchen whipping up tasty pasta dishes, and … read more
Since the beginning we really felt at home and welcomed from all the family and … read more
Both very driven with wanting to learn as much new earthern building knowledge as possible.
Coming from an architectual background was very handy for us, as they have designed a new little cabin which we are soon to build.
Giamarco is great in the kitchen whipping up tasty pasta dishes, and … read more
Since the beginning we really felt at home and welcomed from all the family and … read more
Such a pleasure to host and live with, always helpful in the kitchen making yummy dishes.
So great with all the animals, especially Gus our dog ( think he is still missing them)!
We will always welcome you too back here.
And wish you all the best with your travels.
Xx
Cami was a really hard worker, and cooked us a traditional dish from her home! Richard is a great communicator, with many interesting stories to tell.
We wish them all the best in their travels. Thanks Kate
Crazy times but very happy to have gone through this with Jen.
I wish her all the best for the remaining time in NZ, and can't recommend … read more
Whilst I was staying, the work was focused on the external walls which included prepping the walls by filling in holes, attaching appropriate mesh and applying earth plaster. I also helped with day to day chores with the animals and around … read more
Can't recommend enough.
Hopefully we will meet again soon.
First workaway guests and a great experience. Thankyou
