House-sit and pet-sit in Hokianga, New Zealand

Details

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  Description

  Looking for a peaceful summer retreat surrounded by nature and native bush?
  Our quiet 80-acre property in the Hokianga is home to regenerating forest, wetlands, birdlife, and long views across rolling farmland. It’s a calm, restorative place — perfect for someone who enjoys solitude, slow living, and being close to nature.
  
  We’re Emily and Shay, a nurse and an online developer. For many years we ran a small animal sanctuary here, supported by wonderful Workawayers who became like family. These days, due to health challenges, we’re focusing on restoring our home and caring for the land.
  
  We will be away 18 January – 18 February 2026, and we’re looking for a kind, reliable person (or couple) to look after our two sweet cats, one re-homed possum, and water our gardens and nursery. You’ll have the house to yourself and lots of quiet space to read, write, create, or simply enjoy a slower pace of life.
  
  We’re usually a vegan household, but while we’re away you can prepare whatever food you like.
  
  No Smokers please
  
  Please send a short message with:
  
  - A bit about yourself (or both of you)
  - Experience with animals
  - Any garden or watering experience
  - Confirmation you have your own vehicle
  - Why the dates work for you
  
  We’re friendly, easygoing, and happy to answer any questions. We truly appreciate the help, and we want this to be a lovely, peaceful stay for the right person/s.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  Animal Care

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  House and pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Sustainability

  

  LGBTQ

  

  Plant care

  

  Gardening

  

  Carpentry

  

  Animals

  

  Nature

  

  Pets
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  - A peaceful rural retreat surrounded by native bush
  - Plenty of privacy — house to yourself
  - Great for digital nomads, writers, artists, remote workers
  - Slow, simple routines and lots of free time
  - A chance to stay in a unique, tranquil part of Northland
  - A perfect base for exploring the wild west coast, beaches, walks, and local culture
  - Opportunity to experience real rural Aotearoa living
  
  This is ideal for someone who wants a quiet summer with purpose: caring for animals, tending gardens, and enjoying a calm, nature-filled environment.
  
  Location & Surroundings
  Old Coach Road Walkway – Just a few km away, perfect for scenic strolls.
  Opononi Beach & Sand Dunes (40 mins away) – Stunning views, boat tours, and a touch of history.
  Hokianga Harbour – Said to be the first landing place of the Māori in Aotearoa, with cultural experiences in Opononi.
  Waipoua Forest & Tāne Mahuta – Visit the largest Kauri tree and explore incredible native bush walks.
  Surf Beach (30 mins away) – A great spot to catch some waves.
  Kai Iwi Lakes (1hr 20mins away) – Crystal-clear freshwater lakes, perfect for swimming and kayaking.

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  Help

  Who You’ll Be Caring For
  
  🐱 Two affectionate cats
  
  - Friendly and gentle
  - Daily feeding + fresh water
  - Kitty litter care
  - Optional cuddles if you’d like
  
  🐾 One rehomed/orphaned possum
  
  - Daily feed
  - Quick enclosure check and clean
  - Calm, kind presence appreciated
  (We’ll show you everything — it’s very simple.)
  
  🌱 Garden & Nursery Care (2–3 times per week)
  
  We have several garden beds and a small nursery of native seedlings.
  Tasks include:
  
  - Watering garden beds
  - Watering the nursery area
  - Keeping an eye out for obvious wilting, plant pests and diseases
  - No specialist knowledge needed
  
  Additional Weekly Tasks
  
  🥦 Weekly Fresh Vege Pickup (Paid Task)
  
  Each Monday after 12pm, we need one fresh vege order collected from the Four Square in Waimamaku (20–25 minutes away).
  
  You’ll be:
  
  - Reimbursed for the shop
  - Paid a petrol contribution per kilometer
  
  This also gives you a chance to do your own shopping while you’re in town.
  
  Daily & Weekly Care Summary
  
  - Feed & care for the two cats (daily)
  - Feed & check the possum (daily)
  - Water gardens & nursery (2–3 times weekly)
  - Weekly vege pickup (paid)
  - Keep the house tidy and lived-in

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  French: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  You’ll have full private use of our comfortable rural home. It’s simple, peaceful, and fully equipped with:
  
  - Unlimited Wi-Fi
  - A queen bedroom
  - Cosy living area
  - Gas oven and cooker (bottles provided)
  - Beautiful rural views and night skies
  - Plenty of quiet spaces indoors and out
  
  Note about Renovations (Important to Know)
  
  The house is in the middle of some gentle, ongoing renovations:
  - The hallway flooring has been taken up, so it’s currently plywood/subfloor underfoot.
  - A back bedroom window is being replaced, the room is still usable, the window looks a bit odd that's all.
  
  Everything you need is fully functional, but the house won’t be in a “perfectly finished” state. Most sitters find this totally fine once they arrive — it’s honest rural living with a project or two still underway.
  
  We’ll show you everything before we leave so the house and routines feel familiar and easy.
  
  Cooking – Gas stove & oven (cooks faster than expected), plus an extra plug-in stovetop.
  Cell Signal – Limited at the house; good signal just down the road. Wifi calling is possible if phone is able
  Water – From a stream, so we provide large drinking bottles that we refill in Omapere.
  Laundry – Washer, dryer, and a covered clothesline on the deck.
  Deck & Views – Our large wrap-around deck is perfect for relaxing, eating, and soaking in the stunning scenery.

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  What else ...

  Rural Location
  - You must have your own vehicle
  - No public transport
  - Shops are a 20–40 minute drive away
  - Best suited for someone who enjoys solitude and nature
  
  Drinking Water
  
  We collect our drinking water from Omapere (40 minutes away).
  A good supply will be kept at home, but if you’re heading that way, topping up bottles is helpful.
  
  Gas Bottles
  
  The cooker and oven run on gas. Bottles will be full, and we’ll show you how to switch them — it's simple and not something that happens often.
  
  Stream Water System (Rare Issues)
  
  Occasionally the stream pressure dips or air gets in the line.
  We’ll show you how to check and reset things — past sitters had zero issues, but we include it for transparency.
  
  Former Land Tenants
  
  - They may come by to collect belongings stored at the top of the property.
  - They keep to themselves
  - They do not come into the house
  - They notify us first, and we will notify you
  
  Who We Welcome
  
  - Single sitters or couples
  - Responsible, reliable, animal-loving people
  - Those comfortable with rural living and quiet surroundings
  - People wanting a peaceful place to rest, work remotely, or recharge

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  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We utilize Star Link.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Loads of off-street parking for large vehicles.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  Cleo

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