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Host rating
80 %
Last replied
5 Nov 2024
Feedback
21
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Details
Description
My wife and I live in Aongatete in the beautiful Bay of Plenty, 30 minutes from Tauranga and 10 minutes from Katikati. The beautiful sandy beaches of Mount Maungangui and Waihi Beach are about half an hour away.
Our property is a 28 hectare grazing block, where we run beef cattle. The land is rolling to steep so has character. We look out to the Kaimai range on one side of the property and to the coast on the opposite side. We have been on this property for 18 months and it was in poor condition when we arrived so there is lots to do!
My wife and I live on the property and have two lovely dogs, our cattle dog Cloud, who is mainly collie, and the family pet Taylor who is a Maltese/bichon cross.
Our property is a very peaceful and relaxing place to be. There are walking tracks nearby in the Kaimai ranges and a hot pool complex 10 minutes away. There is not much public transport near us so having transport would be advantageous. We can offer lifts to Tauranga first thing on most weekdays, returning in the late afternoon.
We are seasoned travellers and always enjoy the opportunity to share travel stories with our guests!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Farmstay help
Animal Care
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will get to live in a typical Kiwi family environment which is pretty relaxed and friendly. Our place is a great base for exploring the Central North Island and the Coromandel Peninsula on days off.
We both love to chat and so this is a great opportunity to improve your spoken English and learn about the Kiwi way of life and our native environment. We try to introduce typical Kiwi food that you may not have experienced in your country.
We are happy to take our guests on a tour around the local area, weather permitting.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We are looking for guys or couples who can help with work around the farm - fixing fences, preparing a building site, moving fence posts and wire, doing weed control, gardening and general maintenance. The physical outdoor work can be strenuous so some physical fitness is needed.
We appreciate help with the evening meal - either helping to prepare the food or helping with the clearing up afterwards.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Beginner
Accommodation
Accommodation is in your own room in our Lockwood home. We have 2 double bedrooms so can cater for a couple or two individuals in a room each. There is a small 2nd lounge area available if you wish to relax in your own space but you are most welcome to join us in the main living area. There are shared toilet and bathroom facilities. The bathroom needs a bit of a makeover but is perfectly functional.
Breakfast and lunch will be 'help yourself'. Dinner will be a main evening meal which we generally eat together. We eat meat regularly and will need help from you with cooking if you have special dietary requirements such as vegetarianism.
What else ...
We are pretty relaxed at home. Our main expectations are about keeping the kitchen clean and tidy, reasonably tidy bedrooms and shared living spaces, doing your own washing and recycling what you can.
On the farm we expect people to take care of our equipment and put it away when they have finished with it.
We have a capped monthly internet allowance so streaming is not available unless you are happy to purchase more data from our internet provider.
Public transport is limited so having a car is highly recommended. My wife works in Tauranga Monday to Thursday and can drop you off first thing in the morning and bring you home in the late afternoon. Tauranga has a reasonable bus service for getting about locally.
There is a supermarket, a pub and a library in nearby small town of Katikati, as well as takeaways and cafes. There are nice walks in the area and several lovely beaches including a surf beach at Mount Maunganui, which is known as one of New Zealand's most popular destinations.
Rotorua with its thermal attractions is only just over an hour away, Taupo 2 hours. Auckland is 2 hours 30 minutes straight up the road and the stunning Coromandel Peninsula can be reached in 90 minutes.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (11)
I got a great insight into Kiwi lifestyle and they had many stories to tell and good advice to share. Work in their backyard was very relaxing and pleasant (hopefully I didn't weed out too much of the flowers) and often I… read more
Ros and Cranleigh are the friendliest and most pleasant people I could wish to come across on my travels.
Very sociable and relaxed people it was always a pleasure chatting and spending time with them and having a good laugh around the dinner table, I was booked in to spend 2 weeks and ended up spending… read more
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I got a great insight into Kiwi lifestyle and they had many stories to tell and good advice to share. Work in their backyard was very relaxing and pleasant (hopefully I didn't weed out too much of the flowers) and often I… read more
Ros and Cranleigh are the friendliest and most pleasant people I could wish to come across on my travels.
Very sociable and relaxed people it was always a pleasure chatting and spending time with them and having a good laugh around the dinner table, I was booked in to spend 2 weeks and ended up spending… read more
There were so many things we loved… read more
They had boundless energy and enthusiasm for all the work that needed doing, (and there was plenty!) and nothing was a problem.… read more
This welcoming family is extremely generous and supportive and really made me feel like part of the family. They’ll keep you busy with fulfilling jobs and fun leisure activities - boredom won’t be a thing at all. The room is beyond… read more
They are nice people, they do everything to make you feel like at home.
I really enjoy all the works (it's always different, and there is always something to do ) , even if sometimes the cows are bit rude.
It was my first Kiwi experience and I will never forget it. Thanks another time for… read more
Cranleigh and I enjoyed our… read more
I cleaned some feeds with Cranleigh during three full days, because a lot of woods failed here. It was really nice and not so hard! I did some weeding too with my wife, and some cleaning in the house! Really good experiences and… read more
They helped us a lot about opening the bank account and gave us some advices for buying a van and about New Zealand.
Rose is a very good cook, she fed us with great food ( and a lot of… read more
