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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
23 Aug 2025
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100.0 %
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Description
Welcome to beautiful Waimate North! With stunning views of rolling hills and farmland, we are located just 15-20 minutes from Kerikeri. You'll need your own vehicle to make the most of your stay, as public transport does not come this way! 😊
We are husband and wife, Ralph and Nicola. I (Nicola) can speak a little French, although it's been a long time since I practised. Recently, I have been learning Ancient Hebrew and Greek to gain a deeper understanding of biblical manuscripts, as I am a master's student in Theology. It would be fantastic if you have any experience with Hebrew or Greek! Ralph works on the nearby dairy farm. Both Ralph and I play musical instruments—guitar and piano—and we enjoy singing.
We ask for about four hours of help from you, five days a week, and you will have your weekends free to explore! In exchange, we provide cozy accommodation in a separate cabin. The cabin includes heating, a bathroom, Wi-Fi, and a TV! You will find a small fridge and basic cooking facilities, including a microwave, a countertop oven/air fryer, and a plugin stovetop—perfect for preparing your breakfasts and lunches. You are also welcome to join us for dinner when it suits us both. We will have cereal, freshly laid eggs, tea, coffee, and milk ready for you in the cabin.
We keep chickens, along with a large vegetable garden, avocado trees, and various fruit trees that I enjoy planting!
I've had a rough time with my right shoulder for the past three years, which has made it difficult for me to get out into the gardens by myself. Ralph is busy working down at the dairy farm, so he doesn’t really have the time to lend a hand. But when I have workawayers stay, they’re fantastic! They help bring the gardens back to life by planting, weeding, and sometimes even giving me a hand with cleaning inside. I love to treat them with morning tea or lunch! We enjoy old-fashioned tea with lovely scones or cakes that I bake myself.
For everyone’s peace of mind, while references are excellent, we understand that you may be new to this. If you do not have any references, we ask for ID verification. Please feel free to share a little more about yourself when you reach out. Thank you so much, and we look forward to hearing from you!
We are excited to meet you! :-)
Nicola and Ralph
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Nature
Farming
Music
Books
Cooking & food
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We're excited to share our journey towards being self-sufficient in fruits and vegetables! We invite our guests to join us in learning how to use garden tools, plant seedlings, and tackle any challenges that come our way. Our outdoor projects change with the seasons, so there's always something new to explore. Plus, we have 2 cheerful beehives and 8 lovely chickens! In the spring and summer, guests can get hands-on experience with beekeeping. We can't wait for you to be a part of it!
Help
Hey there! If you’re interested, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn how to use various gardening tools if you haven't used them before.
There will also be some weeding and perhaps planting in the flower gardens, plus we can tackle a few indoor house tasks together. I’m looking forward to having some fun helping alongside you! If the weather is good, we can even open the beehives!
Languages spoken
Greek: Beginner
French: Beginner
Hebrew: Beginner
Accommodation
You’ll be staying in a cozy cabin that’s separate from the main house, complete with heating and its own bathroom! Inside, you’ll find a small fridge and some handy cooking gadgets like a microwave, air fryer, bench top oven, and a hot plate. We’d love for you to prepare most of your own meals, but feel free to join us for dinner whenever it works for everyone! We’ll make sure to provide you with eggs, cereal, tea/coffee, and milk to get you started. Looking forward to meeting you!
What else ...
Hey there! If you’re looking for some fun things to do, check out the historical Te Waimate North mission house—it's just 5 minutes up the road!
Don’t miss the Stone Store, the oldest store in New Zealand, along with Kemp House.
How about a lovely walk to Rainbow Falls? You can even stop by the Honeypot Café near the Stone Store for a treat!
If you're in the mood for some beach time, head to Paihia Beach for kayaking or a delicious lunch. And why not take the ferry from Paihia to Russell? You can visit the oldest church in NZ and explore other historical sites.
We’re also super close to Ngawha Springs hot pools—perfect for a relaxing soak! On your day off, consider driving up north to Cape Reinga and make a pit stop at Te Paki Sand Dunes.
Lastly, don’t forget to visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Museum for a bit of history. Enjoy your adventures!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have unlimited wifi access.
Space for parking camper vans
There is a parking area that is easily big enough to park a campervan or a motorhome if needed.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
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(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
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(5.0)
The place is beautiful, the garden is magnificent and has a splendid view of the valley. I slept in a small outbuilding which has everything you need.
Nicola was very helpful and flexible, I could help her in the morning in the garden and have my afternoon to… read more
I really enjoyed Kimberly's company, she is an intelligent young lady and we had very interesting conversations. She… read more
