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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
8 Jan 2025
Reply rate
94.7 %
Usually responds within 8 days
Feedback
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Description
We are a family of four who run a boutique alpaca stud in the Western Bay of Plenty. We are about 30 minutes drive from Tauranga and the beautiful beaches at Mount Maunganui and Waihi Beach. Our house is high in the Kaimai hills nestled against the bush line, with fabulous views of the sea and easy access to bush walks. There's also a beautiful swimming hole down the road. As well as about 25 alpacas, we have two dogs.
We both work, one as an engineer and one running a copywriting business from home. We were English Language teachers in the past so happy to help anyone looking to practice their English! Our two children will also talk the hind legs off a donkey, so heaps of opportunity to pick up a Kiwi accent :)
Our days are busy, the house is "slightly" chaotic but we love having people stay and to share this beautiful part of New Zealand with our guests!
You will have a wing of the house that that has its own large bathroom. The bedroom offers a 55" TV, wifi and a king size bed.
You may be required to feed out the alpacas, halter train them, help with shearing, or keep an eye on the pregnant ladies, depending on the time of year. We have slowly been renovating our property for the last ten years, and are in the midst of a concerted push to landscape the garden and do up the sheds.
On occasion you may have to cook for yourselves (or defrost if you aren't into cooking!) as the girls have a busy sporting schedule but mainly we sit down as a family for meals.
Must be over the age of 22, have own vehicle, like big bouncy dogs. Suits couples/two friends as we have a few two-person jobs. Strictly no smoking.
Please note - you must have your own car. We are rural. There are no buses and it is a 40k walk from town.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Anything and everything about alpacas, farming generally, English Language, NZ flora and fauna, Bay of Plenty. Lots of our workaways go tramping (hiking) and/or surfing, as well as visiting nearby attractions.
Help
Animals: feeding out and moving alpacas, halter training alpacas, shearing - all depends on time of year
Gardening: weeding, planting, digging some tree roots out, fertilising paddocks and plants, burning off
Maintenance: painting the deck and sheds, water blasting and painting fences
DIY: laying a concrete pad - we'll show you how!
Inside jobs - only if terrible weather: things like washing the walls, painting, cleaning out cupboards, odd jobs...
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Wing of the house with king size bed, TV, wifi and sole use of the bathroom next door. Access to all amenities in the house.
Food will be provided.
What else ...
Volunteers will require a vehicle as there is no public transport.
With a vehicle there is access to heaps of outdoor activities:
- surfing at Mount Maunganui or Waihi Beach (and cafes and shops)
- bush walking - there are tracks direct from our house as well as further afield
- mountain biking/cycling
- visit the local swimming hole
- head to Omokoroa for a stroll and fish and chips
We are also 1hr 15 from Rotorua, 1hr 30 from Whakatane and 1hr from Hobbiton.
Quite a few workaways start their journey around New Zealand at our place - we are happy for you to use our tools to do up your vans and our internet to plan your trip!!
We are a non-smoking house.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Huge drive so heaps of space
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (17)
They approached each task with enthusiasm and a strong work ethic. Their attention to detail in gardening ensured that our plants are all now thriving and the property looks like it has… read more
We loved our work experience here as there was a variety of different tasks to do such as;… read more
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Feedback
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Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
They approached each task with enthusiasm and a strong work ethic. Their attention to detail in gardening ensured that our plants are all now thriving and the property looks like it has… read more
We loved our work experience here as there was a variety of different tasks to do such as;… read more
Jenny was always clear with the jobs for the day and was also really flexible by giving me total control… read more
Working there was really great, plenty of things to do and it was truly challenging and satisfying, we were able to manage the work the way we wanted to, and had a lot of freedom about the all the job part.
The accommodation… read more
Work was great everyday and we thoroughly enjoyed helping them complete projects such as the retaining wall and compost heap. Our favourite job was of course going to be… read more
The house is modern, comfortable and the landscape around the house is amazing!
We did either some painting and taking care of alpacas what we really enjoyed!… read more
Jenny was an absolutely wonderful host in all aspects. Kind, funny, appreciative and caring. She helped us… read more
As for the work Katie did on… read more
Their place is perfect for animal lovers as they have… read more
We felt very much at home from the moment we arrived, Jenny is such a lovely lady and Peter has a great sense of humor, they were incredibly welcoming and we loved hearing about their travel experiences and anecdotes.
Their girls are… read more
