Badges (3)




Profile information


Travel information
We are currently
Travelling
Our next destination:
New Zealand - from Jul 2025 until Jul 2028 View all
Description
Hi there!
We're Vaila & Shane, a couple in our 30s from the Shetland Islands of Scotland, and we're currently on Working Holiday Visas in New Zealand until July 2028. Shane comes from a labouring background, and Vaila previously worked in adult disability care.
We're outdoor enthusiasts, with a particular love for motorbikes, scuba diving and fishing. Vaila also particularly loves cooking and gardening, while Shane has a love for all animals (but especially dogs!).
What motivates us is doing useful, hands-on work and being part of a well-run household or property. We enjoy contributing in practical ways, learning new skills, and seeing tangible results at the end of the day. We’re happiest in rural settings, working outdoors, sharing meals, and winding down in the evenings knowing we’ve pulled our weight.
We have our own car for getting around, and are used to working independently. We previously worked on a 2000-acre farm in the North Island renovating small farm properties (6 in total), ranging from painting to concreting and some flooring/ joinery. We're also used to grass cutting, weeding, and some planting.
We've done quite a few odd jobs over our travels, and are looking forward to lending a hand wherever we can!
Interests
SustainabilitySelf developmentPetsFarmingCulturePlant careLanguagesHistoryGardeningDIY & craftsCooking & foodAstronomyAnimalsWater sportsSailing / BoatingOutdoor activitiesNatureMountainHikingFitnessCampingBeachAdventure sports
Languages
Languages spoken
French: IntermediateMore details about my language interests
Vaila has a bachelor’s degree in linguistics, and experience teaching English as a foreign language. She also speaks workable French and Japanese.
Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn
We're interested in:
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Animal Care
Helping around the house
House & pet sitting
Able to teach about:
Languages

More details about your skills
We’re a practical, reliable couple with experience in rural, farm, and property-based work. Between us, we bring a strong mix of hands-on maintenance, construction labouring, household management, and care support.
Shane’s skills include:
• Construction labouring and general building work
• Property maintenance, repairs, and renovations
• Painting, basic carpentry, fencing, and use of hand and power tools
• Working independently on sites and following plans
• Physical work, outdoor tasks, and problem-solving on the job
Vaila’s skills include:
• Household management, cleaning, and organisation
• Care and support work in home settings
• Animal care (cats, dogs, general farm animals support)
• Cooking, food preparation, and maintaining tidy shared spaces
• Scheduling, communication, and keeping routines running smoothly
Shared skills and experience:
• Farm work and rural living
• Working unsupervised and taking responsibility
• Early starts and varied daily tasks
• Caring for homes, animals, and property while owners are away
• Confident motorbike riders, comfortable handling bikes in rural and off-road environments
• Respecting privacy, routines, and house rules
We’re dependable, tidy, easy to live with, and happy to help where needed.
Age
32 & 37

What else ...
We’re both avid animal lovers, from livestock to pets and everything in between. Can’t beat some good old motorcycling/ dirt biking either, and we adore the water. Diving especially, although it’s been a little while! Anything outdoors is a given.
Vaila also loves cooking, both healthy and fattening on occasion! Meanwhile Shane likes to kick back with a good movie now and then, and the occasional PC game.
Some more information

Smoker

Driver's licence

Allergies

Special dietary requirements
Feedback
