Elvira

New Zealand
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Profile information

Reply rate

66.7 %
Travel information

I am currently

Travelling

Activities i am interested in:

Hiking, exploring and eating :)

My next destination:
Nepal - from Sep 2026 until Nov 2026
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Description

Hello!

I'm a 26 year old New Zealander who is looking to spend a year or more abroad to gain new experiences and learn more about the world and myself.

I'll be starting out in Australia, doing a mixture of backpacking, workaway volunteering and casual work in hospitality, events and anything else I can find.
After that, I'll head to Asia and do a circuit through Nepal, Japan, South Korea and SEA.

I've lived 12 years on a organic farm with goat, pigs, sheep, cows and chickens (plus the occasional peacock). I've helped out in vegetable gardening, habitat restoration work, water quality monitoring and field days. I was also responsible for looking after our chickens, goats and pigs. Plus a couple Flemish Giant rabbits that were solely pets. We also had dogs and cats in our mix too.

My main hobbies are reading, drawing, hiking and board/card games.
Interests

Beach

Cycling

Sustainability

Self development

Politics / Social justice

Pets

Movies & TV

Farming

Events & social

Culture

Charity work

Plant care

Writing

Photography

Music

Languages

Gardening

Drawing & painting

DIY & crafts

Cooking & food

Books

Art & design

Animals

Outdoor activities

Nature

Mountain

Hiking

Fitness
Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent

More details about my language interests
I speak English fluently and it is my only language, though it's not my first. I am very interested in re-learning Russian as it was my first language before I came to NZ. I know how to read the Cryllic alphabet and have a grasp of beginning vocabulary. My grammar, speaking and listening is very lacking

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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:

Charity Work

Being an elderly companion

Light gardening

Some knowledge of:

Art Projects

Eco Projects

Animal Care

Life at a Farmstay

Helping around the house

Hospitality/Tourism

Light maintenance

Able to teach about:

Languages

Teaching

House & pet sitting
More details about your skills

I've developed a lot of skills in my most recent role and worked on my pre-existing ones.

I'm great at interacting with children, caring for pets and farm animals.
I'm fully hands on with outdoor work, either in the garden, an orchard or farm.

I can help with fine work painting tasks, home help (decluttering and reclamation of spaces is very satisfying to me) as well as cooking/food preparation and cleaning.

At my most recent job, I was known for being a highly engaging individual with co-workers and customers alike. My banter and wit was my signature style across many situations and I made many great friends across all levels of this environment (except the CEO, I made sure not to show too much personality there!).

I'd say that my biggest skill is my curiosity and willingness to learn. I'm very interested in the world around me. I love to ask questions, reading about questions I have, and now that I have the time and some savings, to experience it.

Below I have included some additional skills that I believe I possess

○ Highly adaptable
○ Communication
○ Creative thinker
○ Collaboratiom
○ Pro-activeness
○ Self-awareness
○ High work ethic
Age

26
What else ...

Passions
I am very passionate about a few things that I know I have not had enough exposure to and this is something I am looking to develop.
Having grown up on a farm for my most formative years in NZ, I am constantly drawn to animals and their care. One day, I will raise my own and grow vegetables and learn to be self-sufficent when the world continues to become more topsy-turvy.
I am also very interested in the rehabilitation and monitoring of wild animals and being involved in any efforts that allow them to occupy their natural environments with as little human influence as possible.

I would also like to get involved in community endeavors. However, I don't profess to have a lot of experience with this so I will be joining in wherever I can. I suspect it will become a large building block in my life.

Hobbies
My most accessible hobby at the moment is reading. I have a trusty kindle that I read a wide range of literature on. My favourites are Fantasy and Sci Fi but I also cycle through Mystery, Thriller, Autobiography, Non-Fiction, Classics and Contemporary.

While I am on this trip, I am also looking to reconnect with my artistic self so I have brought one drawing book and the barest of supplies to make drawings and paintings. I love to draw animals in a number of mediums but also make designs and landscape art as well.

I also love being outdoors, particularly in hiking uphill with amazing views (preferably in alpine environments).

Favourite games are Catan, Monopoly deal, 5 cCrowns and Nines.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  No
- Special dietary requirements
  No

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Feedback

31 Jul 2026

Left by host (Create a secret garden and ...) for Workawayer ()

Elvira is incredibly easy going, and absolutely determined to make the most of every destination. She saw and did more in a week than I have undertaken in seven months! Even showing me a new favourite look out point in Leura. She built a beautiful pathway, weaving through the bush, which I know many will enjoy. You will enjoy her company and down … read more

(Excellent )

28 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Create a secret garden and ...)

My week in the Blue Mountains with Olivia and her two cats was a pretty unforgettable experience.

Olivia is a firecracker of a lady, always on the go with plenty of conversation and passion projects. I got to choose my project and ended up gravitating towards the upgrading of a path and steps by regravelling and lining it with gabian rock. It … read more

(Excellent )

25 Jul 2026

Left by host (Help with daily life and live ...) for Workawayer ()

We absolutely loved having Elvira stay and would have her back in a heart beat. her primary role was to be a carer for Beanie our Border Collie as there was no one at home all day for the week and we have no fences and she is used to company. It was a match made in Heaven! It was just so delightful to come home to a beautifully manicured kitchen, … read more

(Excellent )

22 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help with daily life and live ...)

Debra was so kind to me on my birthday even though it was the day after I arrived. It meant a lot as a solo traveller away from family and friends for the first time and in a new place.

My birthday present, including flowers and a beautiful dinner, was exploring the Bargo river for the first time with Beanie. It is the best river I have seen in … read more

(Excellent )

12 Jul 2026

Left by host (Join us on our property and ...) for Workawayer ()

Elvira was the pleasure to have around. She is very friendly, polite, has a good sense of humour, and willing to do what was asked. .Elvira cooked meals for us, and did a great job pruning and tying up our berries in the berry patch. She took care of her chickens well and did a good job cleaning out their home. We all enjoyed the games and the … read more

(Excellent )

12 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Join us on our property and ...)

Toni and Dave were fantastic hosts!

While there, I mainly pruned, tied up and mulched berry vines, cleared out the chicken coop and cooked evening/social meals.
In exchange, Toni and Dave were very flexible with what meals were cooked for dinners and when I did my tasks.

I loved their dynamic and Toni's love for laughing. Dave has a fantastic … read more

(Excellent )

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These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Communication:
(4.9)

Skills:
(4.9)

Observed house rules:
(5.0)

31 Jul 2026

Left by host (Create a secret garden and ...) for Workawayer

(Excellent)

28 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Create a secret garden and ...)

(Excellent)

25 Jul 2026

Left by host (Help with daily life and live ...) for Workawayer

(Excellent)

22 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Help with daily life and live ...)

(Excellent)

12 Jul 2026

Left by host (Join us on our property and ...) for Workawayer

(Excellent)

12 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Join us on our property and ...)

(Excellent)

5 Jul 2026

Left by host (Community life in the hills ...) for Workawayer

Elvira was a wonderful person to get to know. We only had 5 days and it was rainy so we enjoyed a couple of walks and a lot of cleaning inside. I appreciated Elvira's self awareness, her story and her self disciplined rhythms while allowing flexibility in our activities. Thank you Elvira for coming to stay and best wishes for your travels.

(Excellent)

24 Jun 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Community life in the hills ...)

Annabelle is an incredibly gracious and caring host. She shared with me many parts of her community; a play rehearsal that she is acting in, a Solstice campfire event, a school play, tea with the neighbours, dinner with a friend and walking up Wombat mountain during a very dramatic rainy day.
All in 5 days.

I got to see my first koala just down … read more

(Excellent)

18 Jun 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Food and wildlife wonderland ...)

I had an amazing 8 days with Elaine and her two dogs.
Elaine is highly conversational, with lots of insights to offer and a great sense of humour.

We did lots of interesting tasks, some that I hadn't done before but wasn't much of a challenge to learn.
I helped set up three trellises for berries and planted two trees. We took apart and … read more

(Excellent)

17 Jun 2026

Left by host (Food and wildlife wonderland ...) for Workawayer

Elvira stayed with us for just over a week. In that time she did a range of tasks like whipper snipping, installed gutter leaf protection, helped collect wild willow, cleaning, set up new berry trellis. She gave everything a go successfully and was honest in her time keeping.
As well as all that she is a very interesting , intelligent snd … read more

(Excellent)

14 May 2026

Left by host (Cooperative community on ...) for Workawayer

We couldn’t recommend Elvira highly enough. We had a great week with her. She worked hard and competently on all the tasks we undertook. Her rural farming experience combined with her sharp intelligence equipped her to undertake tasks with minimum supervision. She is fun and sociable, and we enjoyed cards and games after dinner. We missed her when … read more

(Excellent)

14 May 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Cooperative community on ...)

My time with Peter and Sandra at Moora Moora Co-operative Community was an incredibly enriching and rewarding experience.
I got to experience a piece of the social fabric of a community where co-operation is a central ethos.
I worked alternating days between three hosts, all of whom are direct neighbours to each other. I was wonderfully looked … read more

(Excellent)

15 Apr 2026

Left by host (Help us on our farm in ...) for Workawayer

We loved having Elvira. She was keep to help, did a great job, loved to have a chat and was especially kind to our pets. She loves animals! Her drawings are exceptionally good!!!
May your travels go well and you keep having adventure and new experiences which inspire you.

(Excellent)

12 Apr 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Help us on our farm in ...)

I've just finished my two weeks and it has been absolutely wonderful!

Joan, Urs and Kym are very hard-working people who are fantastic at intergrating young people into their way of life. They have a warm and welcoming home.
I felt very much like a helper rather than a worker which has made a big difference in how I enjoyed my time with … read more

(Excellent)

22 Mar 2026

Left by host (Join our family and discover ...) for Workawayer

Info notice: Workawayer cancelled stay or there was a no show at the last minute

(Member cancelled stay at the last minute)