Profile information
Host rating
65 %
Last replied
1 Jan 2024
Feedback
-
Email verified
Badges (1)
Details
Description
We’re a recently retired couple, originally from the UK who have lived all over the globe as expats (Alaska, Russia, Indonesia, Singapore & Bahamas) and have grown up children along with Grandchildren too. Nearly 2 years ago we moved to the beautiful Dorrigo Plateau area in NSW (recently featured in episode Two of the Australian Odyssey). Our new home sits on top of a mountain 1000m above sea level, surrounded by 300 acres of protected native rainforest bursting with birds and wildlife. Around 8 acres are gardens including veggie patches, a pond, fire-pits, a swimming pool and outdoor areas that need daily attention, hence our reaching out.
If you can offer any type of garden focussed skills, such as horticulture, landscaping or general gardening knowledge that would be a great advantage. We have most of the tools, ride ons and machinery to help with the workload. If this appeals to you, you will need to be fit, as everything is uphill in a variety of weathers and have a hands on approach.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Our vision is to bring back as much native fauna and flora as possible and we're currently working with a couple of local native nurseries who are helping us with this. This really would be an incredible opportunity to learn and discover the many different varieties of the local native plants, trees and edible varieties to this unique region, along with the chance to meet and work with some fascinating and passionate people who's knowledge base on the above is immense!
Help
Gardening: There are always beds that need weeding, bushes and trees to prune, Veggie patch maintence, making compost, mulching, fertilising, fruit trees to keep weed free, fruit picking, planting, no dig gardens to maintain etc. I volunteer with a couple of native nurseries so you can come along and meet some truly amazing people doing amazing things in our unique environment.
Landscaping: Repair old stone walls and wooden raised beds for repair, pathways to make and maintain, areas to be planted with natives, pond to re-landscape, steps to fix and build and an ongoing ideas to bring to fruition.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This would be such an amazing opportunity to practise your Australia-English and we'd love to learn yours too!
Accommodation
Our mountain retreat has holiday accommodation separate from our main house; 2 x two bed units with a kitchenette, bathroom, separate loo, log burners and one bedroom with a communal kitchen and rumpus room with wifi (Telstra 4G works very well here). Each are well equiped, comfortable and include bedding. We will expect this area to be kept clean and tidy during your stay and offer the use of two washing machines and dryers.
As to food we can sort that out once here, as diets vary. We try to be as inclusive as we can but you have space and facilities should you wish to look after yourselves too.
What else ...
A vehicle is needed as our nearest town is Dorrigo, about 20 minutes away and there's no public transport from here, however we do go into town regularly and there's a bus service to Coffs and Armidale. Dorrigo is an up and coming, super friendly country town offering a full range of goods and services, (the hotel is always looking for staff if you wanted to earn some cash), along with some stunning walks, treks, swimming holes and waterfalls to discover. There are a lot of social events plus a tennis club, golf club, RSL and gun club should you wish to join. Bellingen is just under an hour away along with some of the most beautiful beaches such as Urunga, Sawtell, Mylestom and Numbucca Heads. Coffs Harbour is our nearest big smoke that has an airport too. The whole area is very unique and offers a huge range of outdoor activities and incredible views over prehistoric landscapes.
Being on the tip of the tropics, we have healthy rainfall, and this helps to keep temperatures down by as much as 10 degrees from our coastal neighbours (most welcomed on those hot Aussie summer days!) however our reward is lush and green scenery. We can supply some wet weather gear and coats but might be useful if you have boots and warmer clothes for the cooler months.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
The communal area has a large table, or when can always find you a quiet spot with really good wifi connection.
Space for parking camper vans
We have plenty of space should you wish to bring your camper van or motorhome
Can possibly accept pets
Well behaved pets as we have a variety of wild marsupials and it's their turf!
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
