Gardening in Waikawa, Picton and explore the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

New Zealand

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26
Last activity
06/01/2021
Reply rate
100.0 %
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within 1 day
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Availability

2021

Min stay requested: at least a week

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Description
During NZ lockdown due to the Covid 19 pandemic, we reserve the right to review potential workaways Covid history before they come to stay.

We are a couple with cat and dog who moved to Waikawa, Marlborough Sounds in 2015. We have a 36 foot launch and a very small racing yacht and love to get away to enjoy the Marlborough Sounds.

The Marlborough Sounds in summer is warm and in winter is lovely, no wind and generally perfect days. Come and explore the Marlborough Sounds with free accommodation (your own room) and food. We are a few minutes walk from Waikawa Bay and 40 mins walk from Picton. We can sometimes arrange sailing, racing and boating if you are interested.

Thank you for looking at this listing. Please email me if you are interested.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
Help around the house
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
While my husband is out on the water many days a week, I love to garden and cook. I'm keen on food self sufficiency and regenerating NZ bush. In Picton and Waikawa we have an interesting pest eradication project that I am part of.
Help
We are planting native trees in an area in Waikawa and need help doing this. The tasks involved are weeding, cutting back and planting natives. Our preferred length of stay is a week with 4-5 hours work per day, 5 days per week. House work may be an option if its raining.

These tasks involve physical work and require an ability to use gardening tools, to work hard physically and use your muscles. You need to be fit. Over clothes can be provided.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
A double bed or twin room with your own bathroom (shower/bath with separate toilet), unless there are others staying when you may need to share the bathroom. 3 substantial meals a day provided, eating with the family. We'd love you to cook a meal from your homeland one night. We have a non smoking policy.
What else ...
We have enjoyed having workaways, backpackers and cultural exchange students visit us. Its great meeting people from around the world and sharing ideas, recipes and general knowledge. We enjoy showing people the Marlborough Sounds from our launch if we are going out and can sometimes arrange sailing and yacht racing on certain days.

There are great local walks in generating native bush, swimming at the beach (5 mins walk away) and Kaipupu Reserve can be visited by taking a trip on a local mail boat.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Van can be parked at the top of our drive and plugged in if required.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days per week

Photos

2016 Rusty waiting for a ball to be thrown

2018 Rusty still waiting for a ball to be thrown

2015: Regenerating natives in introduced gorse.

2016: Native plants starting to grow

October 2017, plants getting bigger

October 2017: Mass new plantings

October 2018 natives growing well

Show all photos

2020 view from road

2020 Akeake path

2020 5 year old Kauri

Our 36 foot launch for exploring the Marlborough sounds

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:
(5.0)

Communication:
(5.0)

22/02/2020

Left by Workawayer (Mella ) for host

I had the most wonderful week with Mandy and Rob. Working with Mandy in the garden was such a delight and I learned a lot about the native plants. The days were very enjoyable, with working until mid morning and then having the rest of the day to explore around Beautiful Picton. Mandy is a brilliant cook and we had so many lovely fruit and… read more

(Excellent )

04/02/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Christine)

Christine was a delight to have in our house. Always smiling and pleasant and easy to talk to. She worked well at a variety of projects around the garden including taking down old unwanted structures, weeding and watering around previously planted natives and planting out new seedlings. It was very hot for a few of the days and hard to carry on… read more

(Excellent )

04/02/2020

Left by Workawayer (Christine) for host

Staying with Mandy and Rob for a week in their lovely home was a delight. They were both very welcoming and Mandy made delicious hearty food with most of the ingredients fresh from her vegetable garden and fruit trees! Her feijoa crumble was to die for and so many tasty homegrown and pickled gherkins! I and another Workawayer Mella helped Mandy… read more

(Excellent )

14/12/2019

Left by Workawayer (GUILLAUME) for host

I had the opportunity to stay at Mandy and Rob's place for a little week in beautiful Picton. They were both great hosts easy-going and nice people. Was very interesting to talk about their many sailing travels around the world. They have a lovely garden with many native plants and trees. I also had the big chance to participate a sailing race… read more

(Excellent )

03/10/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Catherine & Matthew)

Catherine was a delight to have around, easy to talk to, keen to learn and a hard worker, putting in plenty of effort in order to keep fit. We planted natives for a couple of days, then attacked the small lawn outside our living room. Catherine used the rotary hoe to cut the old lawn up, we both then stamped it flat before sifting by hand the… read more

(Excellent )

27/09/2019

Left by Workawayer (Catherine & Matthew) for host

I had a wonderful stay with Mandy and Rob! Mandy is so knowledgeable about the native plants and happy to share her knowledge. The work is very physical but not too difficult and nothing Mandy wouldn’t do herself - in fact, she was usually out busting her butt with me! She provides all the tools and protective clothing you need.

They also… read more

(Excellent )

17/03/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (laura)

Laura and her friend Jean Baptiste were easy people to have to stay. They worked well weeding, planting and a bit of housekeeping on a wet day. They helped around the house, doing dishes when I cooked, and generally being tidy and helpful. They made the most of the Picton area, finding flattish places to run as they get ready for a half marathon… read more

(Excellent )

17/03/2019

Left by Workawayer (laura) for host

We stayed one week at Mandy and Rob's place. It was a real pleasure to meet them and discover their daily life. We learnt many things about gardening, sailing, and they cooked very tasty meals (fresh fish cakes were amazing). The work at the morning was not to hard with a lot of gardening and a bit of housekeeping. The house is really peaceful… read more

(Excellent )

18/02/2019

Left by Workawayer (Ilia) for host

It was such a pleasure to stay at Mandy and Robs home! The meals they provided were delicious and their stories of sailing the world were exciting to hear. Gardening with Mandy was always fun, I learned a lot about the different native and foreign plant species and general garden care. The location is beautiful, very scenic and quiet, not to far… read more

(Excellent )

29/01/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Ilia)

Ilia was a delight to have around, he was super friendly and interesting. He loves his music and set himself goals to achieve each week regarding music. He always completed his work each day before setting off to explore or compose.
Ilia worked well, always helped with the dishes and cleaned up his room and the bathroom before leaving. Thank you… read more

(Excellent )

09/06/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Marie)

Please see our feedback policy for more info about why this review is not displayed

(Good )

23/05/2018

Left by Workawayer (Marie) for host

Mandy and Rob are great hosts. They are boths so nice, kind-hearted people. Even took care of me when I got sick. I am so thankful I could spend a week with them. I did some house work, some weeding, cleaned boats from the outside and stacked fire wood. All tasks were easy and fun to do.
Thank you so much foe everything!

(Excellent )

10/05/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Gemma & David)

Gemma and David were easy to get along with, they made it clear how many days they could spend with us and work. They did a variety of jobs from weeding, planting and digging. Gemma was good enough to help out with some housework, thanks. They also cleaned their room at the end of their stay, how great was that!

(Excellent )

10/05/2018

Left by Workawayer (Gemma & David) for host

We had a lovely stay with Mandy and Rob! They were friendly and welcoming from the start and we had some fascinating conversations with Mandy about her different environmental projects. We had great fun helping with her native planting scheme. We were also lucky enough to get the chance to explore the Sounds from their boat, which was amazing!… read more

(Excellent )

18/04/2018

Left by Workawayer (Sophie) for host

I stayed with Rob and Mandy for a week and had a lovely time. They really made me feel welcomed and at home in their house. The help in the garden was fun and you are always kept company by their lovely dog and cat.
Mandy knows a lot about the native plants of New Zealand and i was able to learn a lot from her.
She is also a fantastic cook and she… read more

(Excellent )

18/04/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Sophie)

Sophie is a friendly young woman who worked hard weeding outside both in the vegetable garden and where we are planting native bush. On one rainy day she wiped all the kitchen and living room walls down for fly spot! Sophie also planted seeds for the Spring.

Good luck Sophie for your next adventure.

(Excellent )

18/04/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Ricardo)

Ricardo is a lovely, caring and polite man. He stayed with us a week, helped a lot in the garden and was very helpful around the house with meals and dishes. He weeded one day, carted and stacked wood another and helped my husband build a shed for a couple of days. Ricardo even took our dog for a walk as we are trying to get him to lose the "good… read more

(Excellent )

18/04/2018

Left by Workawayer (Ricardo) for host

I stayed one week with Rob and Mandy and it was just excellent. They are such a lovely couple and very welcoming with their guests. I felt like I was at home from the beginning, Mandy picked me up at the ferry terminal even after my trip got delayed 3 hours that night and when we got home she had prepared lasagne for us. :) I was really impressed… read more

(Excellent )

03/12/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Darren)

Darren spent a couple of weeks with us and is a very pleasant and hardworking workaway. He always thought through a job, did it well and was very good at cleaning up after. His weeding and building were as meticulous as his filleting of fish.

Have a good time in London Darren

(Excellent )

30/11/2017

Left by Workawayer (Darren) for host

I spent my last 2 weeks with Mandy and Rob on their beautiful property and it was 10 out of 10!
Due to the spring season I did a lot of weeding, but Mandy was always endeavored to find some further task during my shift. Really appreciated it!
Also a great thanks to them for taking me on the yacht race and the fishing trip!

I already miss you… read more

(Excellent )

03/12/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Pierre)

Pierre is a wonderful caring and careful worker, always polite and extremely productive. Although he is worried about his English he is learning well and able to pick up on lots of local lingo. We had some good times and he and another workaway staying at the time were able to work and play (walk the local tracks) together.
Thanks for coming and… read more

(Excellent )

03/12/2017

Left by Workawayer (Pierre) for host

My stay with Mandy and Rob was perfect ! They are really welcoming and they made me feel at home from day one. Very nice accommodation, delicious meals and I liked working in their lovely garden.
I discovered sailing and I fished with them on their great boat. It was amazing.
I will definitely miss this place.
Thank you so much !

(Excellent )

16/11/2017

Left by Workawayer (Eve & Aly) for host

We had a great time with Mandy and Rob. They were very welcoming and have a beautiful home. We also enjoyed playing with their cat and dog! Mandy is a great cook so there were always delicious meals. The work was out in the garden and was mostly planting and weeding, so it wasn’t too difficult. We got to go out on their boat for dinner one night,… read more

(Excellent )

15/11/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Eve & Aly)

Erica and Eve were open and fun workaways. They worked hard weeding and planting out some natives in a gorse cleared area. We enjoyed Erica's family Sweddish meatballs on enight. It was great they found a local friend their own age when they went sailing one night on a friends boat.

I hope you both continue to enjoy NZ.

(Very good )

15/11/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Nadja)

Nadja was fun and a hard worker. The weeding she and a friend did still remains free of weeds, which shows diligence and thoroughness. They also added value, trimming edges and sweeping my floor without request.
Others in the yacht club enjoyed their company and we all had a good time when the NZ America's Cup team came to Picton.

Thank you Nadja… read more

(Excellent )

18/10/2017

Left by Workawayer (Nadja) for host

Mandy and Rob were great hosts. It was a big pleasure to have the chance to spend time with both of them and theire crazy little puppy. Their home is beautiful and comfortable and we felt home since the first day. Both are such adorable persons and have a warm character.
The work was quite easy going - we did weeding and replanted local plants to… read more

(Very good )

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