Help us with projects in our home in a beautiful historic building near Dunedin City centre, New Zealand

New Zealand

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Favourited 107 times

Host rating
Feedback
26
Last activity
19/11/2020
Reply rate
100.0 %
Average reply time:
within 1 day
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Availability

2020

Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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What's this?

Details

Description
We are looking for help in our private household, at times that suit your own schedule. We live in a beautiful historic building at 3 km from Dunedin City centre.

AVAILABLE 21 SEPTEMBER ONWARDS

The property is in a quiet location. You will get full board (meals), your own private room and use a shared bathroom. The rooms are old and beautiful. On colder days, in the evenings we light the fireplace in the living room, and play games or listen or play music. On warm days, we have lunch in the garden.

We're happy to cook for special wishes – we have had several vegetarians and vegans, and generally succeed in making everyone happy! Also, our kitchen is very healthy, as we mostly use fresh fruits and vegetables, and we make our own bread, yoghourt and hummus.

Visitors help 21 hours per week, scheduled by yourself.

When you need to go to town, you can catch a bus, or you can ride along with us.

We love history, architecture, music, film and dance and are interested to hear stories and opinions from around the world.

Do not hesitate to email or call for more details.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
General Maintenance
Help around the house
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We foster learning new skills, and we support people develop their own help methods. We like to talk about history, the arts, and about the people of this world. We welcome new ideas and perspectives.
Help
We can use your help whether it be in the garden, restoring the house, or assistance with the household. We try to fit you in tasks that you like to do. If you have little experience, you are still welcome if you are eager to learn new skills.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
This host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
Please contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
You will get full board (meals), your own beautiful private room and use a shared bathroom.
What else ...
Dunedin is 3km away. Bus stops are closeby, and the bus will take you to the town centre in 10 minutes. There are 2 buses per hour. Dunedin city has plenty of historic buildings, is a hub for artists and classic trades, and is a great spot for walking and hiking.
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
Hours expected
21 hours / week

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Feedback left by and about host (26)

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:
(4.9)

Communication:
(4.9)

19/11/2020

Left by Workawayer (Morgana & Ian) for host

Tim and Sofie's home is gorgeous and huge! The location is wonderful for exploring the city as well.
We mostly did garden work, along with some sanding and renovation work. They provide work clothes and all the tools you need to get the job done.
The house rules are laid out very clearly so you can stick to them.
Sofie's cooking was just… read more

(Very good )

22/10/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Mario)

Mario has been a delight to have at our project and in our house. He is very considerate and friendly, and concerned about his work. My wife and I are going to miss him and the interesting discussions we had. We wish him the best at his new job in Queenstown. We were so pleasantly surprised how neat he has left his room with us, and how concerned… read more

(Excellent )

21/10/2020

Left by Workawayer (Mario) for host

This was my second experience as a workawayer and I had a lovely time. Me and the other workawayers worked together mostly in the garden, which it was a new experience for me. Tim and Sophie patiently explained what we needed to do and provided us with proper tools and clothes to work. The surroundings are beautiful and you can be working while… read more

(Excellent )

07/07/2020

Left by Workawayer (Valentin) for host

Sophie and Tim are very good hosts and good people. During my stay with them I felt like I belonged to the family, they shared all the meals with the volunteers, we also watched movies all together a few times and they even took us to the bar for a jam session.
What Sophie and Tim are doing in this place is beautiful. Hosting people from all over… read more

(Excellent )

21/06/2020

Left by Workawayer (Nicole) for host

Just amazing! I planned on staying for two weeks with Tim and Sofie, ended up staying for a month! They made me feel welcomed since the day I arrived, the work was really interesting and very well organized. They always made sure I was enjoying the work and gave extra effort to make sure everyone is happy and comfortable.
I got a private room for… read more

(Excellent )

20/06/2020

Left by Workawayer (Florian) for host

This was my first workaway and it couldn't have been better! The work was really interesting and varied, like sanding, painting, working on a stone wall or handle a leave blower. It was really organized, everyone could choose their hours per day and write it down on a schedule. And the dishes of Sophie were delicious. I'll miss them. The rooms are… read more

(Excellent )

20/06/2020

Left by Workawayer (Ninon) for host

A lot of things to say for this workaway not very common, for start we staying in a house who looks like a castle, very beautiful. Also there is often a lot of other worker who come from of other very various countries, it's a perfect culture exchange. Tim and Sofie try make their best for us, help (sewing) or organize activities in the house… read more

(Excellent )

16/06/2020

Left by Workawayer (George & Katie) for host

This was our first workaway experience and we had a great time! The work was interesting and we both learned some new skills (including restoration of some outside walls) and developed existing skills (such as garden work and painting). It was very organised too, and we were able to decide the day before what hours we would like to do (average of… read more

(Excellent )

12/06/2020

Left by Workawayer (Carla & Sebastian) for host

How could we begin? We spent 4 months in this beautiful house, working, learning and sharing. Tim, Sofie, Melissa and Bianca made us feel part of the family, and we enjoyed all kind of activities, not just working! Even though the house is cold, the evenings in the living room watching a movie, playing cards or playing music made it up.
The… read more

(Excellent )

06/06/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Ilakkiya Mariya)

Lucky has been with us for 4 months. She has been most considerate, kind and observant during her time here, and she has a positive, cheerful and helpful attitude. She is a somewhat reserved person, but she takes initiative to help, participates keenly and is always open for an interesting discussion. We were sad to see Lucky leave us, and wish… read more

(Excellent )

15/03/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Robin)

Robin has been a nice guest at our place. He has some good technical work. He is interested to learn, and is keen to finish the job. Robin is modest, friendly and willing to work. It was a pleasure to have him with us. Thanks, Robin! (and welcome back!)

(Excellent )

10/01/2020

Left by Workawayer (Robin) for host

Highly recomended. Tim's family is very welcoming and friendly. Food is delicious interesting and healthy. Accomodation is luxury in the beautiful historical house with all you need. Work is interesting and fun i helped with restoration works on the historical house. I realy enjoyed it.

(Excellent )

15/03/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (L.A.)

It was good to have L.A. with us. In her short time with us, she did some very good painting work and some carpentry. She has a varied work experience, and is keen to learn more. She is very sociable and has lots of stories to tell. Enjoyed her company!

(Excellent )

15/03/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (LOIC)

Loïc was a good experience for us. He is a quiet person, and helpful, friendly and skilled. He did some good carpentry repairs, very independently, and it was a joy to work with him. Thanks, Loïc, for being with us!

(Excellent )

27/01/2020

Left by Workawayer (LOIC) for host

I spent a week at Tim and Sophie's house. The house is gigantic and has several rooms to accommodate several woofers at the same time.
I was very well received, and the rules are clear and precise from the beginning. Everyone can organize his working time as he wants.
The work is mainly about the maintenance and renovation of the house, there are… read more

(Very good )

15/03/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Joanne)

Joanne has been our workawayer of the year! She is an absolutely fantastic person, helpful, friendly, and sociable. She brought lots of extra life into our family, and took her work seriously and with much care. She loves penguins, nature, and healthy food. Notwithstanding her being a modest person, we particularly liked her thorough insights on… read more

(Excellent )

27/01/2020

Left by Workawayer (Joanne) for host

Wow! What a privilege to spend time at this place with Tim, Sofie, Melissa, Bianca and of course Socks. The heritage house and gardens are immense and beautiful, requiring lots of work. I love being outdoors so worked mostly in the gardens and had a blast powerhosing the paths. This is a very social place with lots of workawayers and close to… read more

(Excellent )

15/03/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Lisa & Caroline )

Lisa and Caroline are the perfect workawayers! Both are sociable and friendly, and Caroline is good with working with hand tools through previous experience. It was great to have these girls as part of our team here, and we recommend them strongly!
Welcome back any time, Lisa and Caroline!

(Excellent )

08/02/2020

Left by Workawayer (Lisa & Caroline ) for host

We stayed with Sofie, Tim and their two girls for a week and had a great time. The work was very fair and enjoyable so the time went by very fast. Part of our work was plastering, sanding and gardening. Sofie is an awesome chef and we loved her vegan/vegetarian food so much.
We would have stayed longer if we could. Thanks again for… read more

(Excellent )

15/03/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Julen)

It was nice to have Julen as a visitor. He's interested to learn new techniques and skills, sociable, friendly and respectful. Thanks, Julen, for being with us!

(Excellent )

15/03/2020

Left by Workawayer (Julen) for host

I had a very good and positive experience during my two weeks with Tim, Sofie, Bianca and Melissa. The project that they are carring out is very interesting and the work it’s fine. You can do very different tasks and learn lot of new things. I help them in different and interesting works as the restoration of one of the rooms. sanding and… read more restoring the window and wood pieces and in the garden, chipping branches and putting gravel and sand in the paths of the garden.

The working Method is very good and flexible. You can completely plan your working time. They have one schedule in the kitchen and you basically have to write when during your stay want to do your working hours. Tim is a great “boss”, he takes his time to explain each task, always takes into account your preferences and skills. He is as well concern in teaching new skills to the coming workawayers and trying that your work it’s not too boring or repetitive. So, I would say that the work part it’s just perfect.

The atmosphere in the house is great. All family members are very nice and open. They normally have several workaways so it’s a great opportunity as well to meet other travelers. The food is really good and Sofie is a good cooker. They have comfortable and private rooms for workawayers. So, the food, accommodation and atmosphere side it’s very good too.

Dunedin is very interesting city to visit and spend some time. There are lot of things and activities that you can do in your free time. There are lot of historical buildings and street you can visit. You can as well visit for free the very interesting settlers museum and the Otago museum. As student city you can as well enjoy a great night life in the weekends. There are lot of nice beaches in the area to chill. The Peninsula of Otago is a perfect spot for wildlife sightings (Sea lions, seals and if you are lucky some Pinguins). There is a good and regular bus service linking the house and the city.

If you like outdoors activities Dunedin is a great place with many options for tramping, biking, Kayak, surfing. If you like tramping they have a very complete book with all the information of hikes in the area. You can as well check the information in the Doc site (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/otago/places/dunedin-area/?tab-id=50578) Therefore, this workaway it’s a good opportunity to enjoy the free time.

So to sum up, I would say that this is a very interesting experience for anyone in all sides and I would really recommend it.

(Excellent )

17/02/2020

Left by Workawayer (Jon-Gunnar) for host

Wow! An amazing house and family.
The work is fair and will be described in detail, food is amazing and healthy. I got my own private room, hours are flexible. I would have no worries recommending this place!

Thanks for having the one armed bandit.

(Excellent )

12/02/2020

Left by Workawayer (Isaac) for host

You will have a great time here! This family is absolutely lovely and incorporates and welcomes you into their home immediately. The work was fairly easy and there was lots of flexibility and understanding regarding how and when the work should be done. The food was plentiful and delicious, accommodating very well to all dietary needs. The house… read more

(Excellent )

12/02/2020

Left by Workawayer (Lea) for host

I really enjoyed staying two weeks by Tim, Sofie, Melissa and Bianca. My work there includes gardening like weeding and I helped cleaning the holiday house. The concept planning your working time in advance is perfect. So you can plan your free time and with a short walk or by taking the bus you are soon in the city centre of Dunedin. I really… read more

(Excellent )

12/02/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Nikolaj)

It was great to work with Nikolaj. He has keenly taken on several projects around our house - He is both strong and hands-on for rougher works, and he is observant and precise for the works that require some finesse. He has also happily participated in the many interesting discussions. We're sad are sad to see this intelligent and friendly young… read more

(Excellent )

09/01/2020

Left by Workawayer (Helen) for host

I had such a lovely stay with Tim, Sofie and the girls. They were so welcoming and kind and Sofie cooked the most wonderful vegan food for me which I appreciated so much.

The house is gorgeous and such a pleasure to work on. I mainly did gardening, sanding and filling and helped with the ironing - all of which I could organize with Tim and Sofie… read more

(Excellent )

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Host ref number: 851697783271

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