Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
27 Jun 2025
Reply rate
94.4 %
Usually responds within 7 days
Feedback
32
Email verified
Badges (3)
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Details
Description
Rambling organic garden and old villa with chickens, ducks and cats in Portobello, Otago Peninsula. We are located near to wild and beautiful beaches, walks, penguins, seals, bird life, adventures!
I have extensive organic vegetable gardens which provide year round produce.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Help with Eco Projects
Help around the house
Animal Care
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will learn about dynamic backyard farming of chickens and vegetables!
Help
I need help with general garden maintenance, lawn mowing, weeding, trimming shrubs, planting and harvesting vegetables, looking after the chickens. Housework, cleaning, painting.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Accommodation is a room in the charming old villa. I have a large spare room with two beds and a second room with a queen bed.
I can provide all meals. Mainly vegetarian. But farm meat when available and eggs. Happy to do other dietary options.
What else ...
Portobello is located 20 mins from Dunedin central. Having your own car allows access to the sights on the peninsula otherwise there is a good bus service.
We have a couple bikes and a kayak for your use.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Host ref number: 687481919362
Feedback (20)
28 Jun 2025
Left by Workawayer (Josefin) for host
My time at Stefanies home was great! Stef was a great and kind host, and her garden and heritage chickens were lovely.
My work consisted of feeding the chickens in the morning, and then some form of help until lunchtime, either gardening (I dug out lots of potatoes and did weeding), building (I fixed a bed, put up some curtains and fixed up… read more
My work consisted of feeding the chickens in the morning, and then some form of help until lunchtime, either gardening (I dug out lots of potatoes and did weeding), building (I fixed a bed, put up some curtains and fixed up… read more
1 May 2025
Left by Workawayer (Einav) for host
I had lovely time at Stefanie's house.
I felt welcome to take part in the life of the family. I was even invited to a birthday party and to Easter, which was the first holiday I celebrated since I started traveling.
help started every morning with feeding the chicken, followed by various help around the garden and house.
The food was really good… read more
I felt welcome to take part in the life of the family. I was even invited to a birthday party and to Easter, which was the first holiday I celebrated since I started traveling.
help started every morning with feeding the chicken, followed by various help around the garden and house.
The food was really good… read more
15 Jan 2025
Left by Workawayer (Federica) for host
I stayed with Stefanie and her welcoming family for 5 days. She was very flexible in accommodating my plans and giving me some work to do. Her garden will always need some helping hands! It was very inspiring for me to see how she runs her project(s) and I also enjoy the wonderful otago peninsula, beaches, landscapes and wildlife.
A rich exchange… read more
A rich exchange… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.4)
Communication:
(4.7)
28 Jun 2025
Left by Workawayer (Josefin) for host
My time at Stefanies home was great! Stef was a great and kind host, and her garden and heritage chickens were lovely.
My work consisted of feeding the chickens in the morning, and then some form of help until lunchtime, either gardening (I dug out lots of potatoes and did weeding), building (I fixed a bed, put up some curtains and fixed up… read more
My work consisted of feeding the chickens in the morning, and then some form of help until lunchtime, either gardening (I dug out lots of potatoes and did weeding), building (I fixed a bed, put up some curtains and fixed up… read more
1 May 2025
Left by Workawayer (Einav) for host
I had lovely time at Stefanie's house.
I felt welcome to take part in the life of the family. I was even invited to a birthday party and to Easter, which was the first holiday I celebrated since I started traveling.
help started every morning with feeding the chicken, followed by various help around the garden and house.
The food was really good… read more
I felt welcome to take part in the life of the family. I was even invited to a birthday party and to Easter, which was the first holiday I celebrated since I started traveling.
help started every morning with feeding the chicken, followed by various help around the garden and house.
The food was really good… read more
15 Jan 2025
Left by Workawayer (Federica) for host
I stayed with Stefanie and her welcoming family for 5 days. She was very flexible in accommodating my plans and giving me some work to do. Her garden will always need some helping hands! It was very inspiring for me to see how she runs her project(s) and I also enjoy the wonderful otago peninsula, beaches, landscapes and wildlife.
A rich exchange… read more
A rich exchange… read more
10 Apr 2024
Left by Workawayer (Claire) for host
I had a lovely time at Stefanie’s and felt very welcomed by her whole family. I stayed for 10 days and the work was fair. Stefanie was patient in showing me how to look after the chickens and was clear on what other tasks she wanted completed. She is also a very good cook and the meals were delicious! Thanks you for having me Stefanie!
17 Jan 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Clara)
Clara stayed with us a couple of weeks. She was a delight to have around. We loved her.so helpful and cheery and hard working we would have her back in an instant! Please come back if you are ever passing!
(Excellent)
17 Jan 2024
Left by Workawayer (Alexander) for host
Staying at Stefanie's place was a delight! I will definitely remember this work-stay for a long time. The tasks that I had to do was great. I learned how to feed the chickens and learned something about the behavior of the funny three ducks and ducklings (We even started the operation: Duckling Wrap......some poor ducklings were drowning), I… read more
20 Oct 2023
Left by Workawayer (Kate) for host
Thank you so much for having me Stefanie! I will remember my stay at Portobello for a long while to come. I learned to look after chickens, fed them daily and also did various other jobs like weeding, lawn mowing (thanks for your patience showing me how to use it ha!), wood stacking, and some house help. And fix a chicken coop which was a very… read more
26 Jul 2023
Left by Workawayer (Nane Christine) for host
I had a great stay at Stefs place. In the morning I fed the chicken and ducks and if the weather was dry, I mostly did some weeding in the huge garden. The Otago Peninsula is beautiful and Stef told me the best places to visit. I even did some walks with her mom and also met the rest of the family. Thank you :)
22 Mar 2023
Left by Workawayer (Ryan) for host
I really enjoyed my two weeks at Stefanie's place. I didn't know very much about taking care of chickens and ducks when I started, but Stefanie taught me everything I needed to know. The work, taking care of the animals and general yardwork, was straightforward, and I had plenty of time to explore the highly scenic surrounds. In addition, Stefanie… read more
10 Jan 2023
Left by host for Workawayer (Vivian05)
We had Vivian stay for a couple of weeks. She was a brilliant worker and did her very best at everything I asked. She was great with the anilina and fabulous at weeding! Loved to have her around thank you Vivian
(Excellent)
9 Jan 2023
Left by Workawayer (Vivian05) for host
My time with Stefanie was really good. I enjoyed spending time on my own feeding the chickens and ducklings (that very quickly learned to come running to me when it was feeding time), weeding and picking beans. Stefanie works a lot and even when she‘s home she is always busy, so I didn’t get to see too much of her, but I had a great Christmas… read more
23 Sep 2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Maya)
I loved having Maya around she was awesome! Such a sweet caring young woman with great gardening skills. The broad beans you planted are up and flowering I think of you every time I walk past them 😊 I hope you are having a lovely time wherever you are go well.
(Excellent)
22 May 2022
Left by Workawayer (Maya) for host
What a beautiful home!! Thank you Stefanie for having me and making me feel so welcome, I had a wonderful time. Hopefully when I'm next back down in the area I'll be able to stay again!
So good to have met you and your lovely family!
Cheers,
Maya :))
So good to have met you and your lovely family!
Cheers,
Maya :))
23 Sep 2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Leonie)
Leonie was awesome I loved having her around! Very helpful and considerate. I can recommend!
(Excellent)
1 Mar 2020
Left by Workawayer (Eleanor) for host
Dearest Stef, you amazing super human :-)
Thank you for everything! For opening up your beautiful home to me and always taking such good care of me.
You truly are an inspiring lady and I'll be forever blown away by the way you juggle everything in your life. What a special person indeed.
This place is very special. The nature walks are gorgeous,… read more
Thank you for everything! For opening up your beautiful home to me and always taking such good care of me.
You truly are an inspiring lady and I'll be forever blown away by the way you juggle everything in your life. What a special person indeed.
This place is very special. The nature walks are gorgeous,… read more
10 Dec 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Eleanor)
Ellie was an absolute joy to have around! Sweet, considerate and intuitive she fixed so many of those little things you never get around to! She tackled every task with intelligence and without hesitation and did a lovely job. She worked so hard and always finished what she started. I will never forget Ellie and will be forever grateful for the… read more
(Excellent)
18 Jan 2020
Left by host for Workawayer (Theresa)
Theresa was a joy to have around. She worked diligently and cheerfully and always had a smile! She always did her best and I’d keen to learn new things. She always appreciated my cooking. I would have her back any time!
(Excellent)
18 Jan 2020
Left by Workawayer (Theresa) for host
First of all: to any workawayer that is interested in organic farmwork, sustainability, great company and incredible nature- do not hesitate to come to this place in Portobello.
After 3 months of travelling with and without workaway, I found a place like home for the first time at Stefanie's house.
To the work: most of the time another workawayer… read more
After 3 months of travelling with and without workaway, I found a place like home for the first time at Stefanie's house.
To the work: most of the time another workawayer… read more
10 Dec 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Grace)
Grace and her friend Lucy stayed with me for about a week. They were great to have around and did a great job of gardening and Feeding the chooks milking the sheep and helped to build a hen house run. I can recommend Grace and Lucy!
(Excellent)
10 Nov 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Olivia & Garrett)
Olivia was fantastic to have around! She was super easy going, cheerful and fun. She did everything I set out for her to do perfectly and beautifully. I highly recommend Olivia!
(Excellent)
10 Nov 2019
Left by Workawayer (Olivia & Garrett) for host
Stefanie is awesome! I stayed just about a week and I wish I could have stayed longer. Communication was fast and clear, the accommodation was clean and comfortable, food is delicious.. what more do you need? The work was easy and flexible, I did things like feeding the animals, weeding, planting, mowing, and light cleaning. Stefanie is really… read more
18 Jun 2019
Left by Workawayer (Jonas) for host
Hey Stefanie, sorry for the late feedback!
Thank you for staying at your place !
I really enjoyed to fix all the things, also being more on my own has made me more self-confident!
I hope you gonna have great time, and all the best to you chickens and your booth cats :)
Cheers
Jonas
Thank you for staying at your place !
I really enjoyed to fix all the things, also being more on my own has made me more self-confident!
I hope you gonna have great time, and all the best to you chickens and your booth cats :)
Cheers
Jonas
13 May 2019
Left by Workawayer (Lena) for host
Stefanie has a great place. Beautiful garden with all her colourful chicken. A uge vegetable garden which she uses for delicious food and a big comfortable room for you :)
She is very friendly and welcoming!
Thanks a lot for staying at your place and all the best for the competition!
She is very friendly and welcoming!
Thanks a lot for staying at your place and all the best for the competition!
22 Apr 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Leonardo)
Leonardo was lovely to have around. Quiet and hard working and tidy. He cut our lawns beautifully and the hedge to perfection! Nothing was a problem. I would definitely love to have him back again.
(Excellent)
22 Mar 2019
Left by Workawayer (Leonardo) for host
I spent one week in Stefanie’s house and it was a very nice experience; she is a good person, kind and she know how treat her guests. The house is in a wonderful position that permit you to explore the Otago peninsular and all its beauties nimbly. I checked and feeded “my chicken friends” and I learned a lot of new things about it and I did other… read more
20 Apr 2019
Left by Workawayer (Rita & Natalie) for host
We stayed with Stefanie for a week. We mainly fed the chickens and worked in the garden. The work was not hard and mostly outside with amazing views of the Otago Peninsula. The meals were good with ingredients from her garden. We recommend to volunteer here.
6 Apr 2019
Left by Workawayer (Hilary & Stephen) for host
Stefanie is an inspiring hard working knowledgable person, a talented cook, and offers glorious homely hospitality. The work was clear, appropriate, and appreciated. We can highly recommend staying here.
15 Mar 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Axelle)
Axelle stayed with us for about a week. She was a lovely person to have around. Very sweet and kind, tidy and a great worker. I can highly recommend Axelle.
(Excellent)
7 Mar 2019
Left by Workawayer (Axelle) for host
It was a really nice experience, I have feed the chickens and do some gardenning tasks.
The house is peaceful and Stephanie is really nice.
There are also two lovely cats !
Thank you again for welcoming me :)
The house is peaceful and Stephanie is really nice.
There are also two lovely cats !
Thank you again for welcoming me :)
16 Jan 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Moritz)
Moritz stayed with me for a week. He was lovely to have around. He fed my 100 chickens diligently everyday and did some gardening tasks - weeding and trimming. I can recommend Moritz.
(Excellent)
16 Jan 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Natalie )
Natalie stayed with us for a couple of weeks. She was a real delight to have around! So helpful and cheerful, kind and tidy. She could do any task with minimal guidance. We really enjoyed her stay and can highly recommend her.
(Excellent)
24 Oct 2018
Left by Workawayer (Carolina) for host
I had a lovely stay at Stefanie's home. She made me feel really welcome with plenty of delicious, fresh food and a really comfortable and sunny room. I enjoyed caring for her chickens and doing some gardening, no hard work and plenty of free time to explore. She lives in the beautiful area of Portobello, close to amazing beaches, penguins,… read more
