Lottie

New Zealand
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Profile information

Reply rate

20.0 %
Travel information

I am currently

Travelling

Activities i am interested in:

Slow travelling, spending time in nature, gaining new skills and learning about different lifestyles - e.g., life on a boat, off-grid communities, vibrant family life, cosy hotels... See you there!

My next destination:
Hungary - from Jul 2026 until Aug 2026
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Description

Kia ora koutou! I'll first introduce where I'm from - Aotearoa New Zealand - because this tells a lot about me (laidback, nature lover, tramper and coaster at heart). I am Lottie, early 20s, an Antarctic researcher with a love for volunteering and making a difference. First tried Workaway in Europe after a student exchange in the Netherlands, loved it, and am back again for more :)
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Hobbies include hiking with friends, hitting the beach, visiting nature reserves, half-marathons, and lots of other outdoor pursuits. I am looking to explore more places and lifestyles while volunteering (which also takes up some of my free time back home). I am definitely aiming to depart from the typical touristy experiences and try to create some more good in the world (personal development is a plus, too!). During my last travels in Europe I mainly enjoyed alpine and lakeside experiences - I’m keen to see so much more of this, as I'm sure I'll miss the beaches, mountains and native bush that have surrounded me in Aotearoa.
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I am vegetarian. I hope to learn a lot of new things, including more vegan recipes :) Projects with a focus on positive climate impacts, marine conservation, citizen science/research/NGOs, wellbeing, working in or with nature, and generally improving the lives of others are my cup of tea. While I love nature, I also love exploring cities and can happily walk 30,000 steps in a day exploring the cultural/museum/art scene with my camera in hand.
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To other Workawayers; please get in touch if you're looking for a travel buddy and see that we've got any future destinations in common - or if you'd rather suggest somewhere else, I'm keen for that too! If you just want to chat or have any book, music, hiking recommendations etc, my inbox is always open :)
Interests

Art & design

Events & social

Adventure sports

Music

Writing

Cooking & food

Beach

Photography

Hiking

Drawing & painting

Charity work

Astronomy

Dancing

Gardening

Mountain

Pets

Sustainability

Yoga / Wellness

Outdoor activities

Vegetarian or vegan

Self development

Performing arts

Languages

Fitness

Nature

Hitchhiking

Cycling

Books

Culture

Animals
Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
German: Beginner
French: Beginner
Italian: Beginner
Maori: Beginner
Norwegian bokmål: Beginner
Dutch: Beginner

More details about my language interests
Can't wait to improve my German when I'm in the German-speaking part of Europe :)) I love learning heaps of languages and will try to pick up everything I can along the way.

Find a language partner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:

Being an elderly companion

Life at a Farmstay

Charity Work

Some knowledge of:

Light gardening

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Eco Projects

Helping around the house

Animal Care

Hospitality/Tourism

Languages

Art Projects

Helping with Computers/ Internet

House & pet sitting
More details about your skills

Permaculture and gardening: Weeding, mulching, preparing and planting polytunnels and beds, mowing lawns, watering, pruning, harvesting.

Other creative outdoor tasks: Painting, varnishing, sanding and restoring furniture.

Help around the home: Cleaning, baking and cooking, organising, emptying rubbish, ironing, dusting.

Animal care: feeding and caring for cats/chickens/bunnies/any other pets, walking dogs, plenty of cuddles and grooming.

Child care: entertaining, reading stories, preparing snacks, supervising at the playground, encouraging creativity and curiosity.

Hospitality and events: Welcoming guests at check-in, serving tea/coffee and cake, setting tables, cleaning and preparing rooms and ensuite bathrooms, hotel laundry, weighing and packaging food items, preparing preserves and spices for sale, deep-cleaning and setting tables for events, creating floral bouquets, visitor car parking guide.

Extra skills and knowledge I can bring: yoga, arts and crafts, books and nature, photography, computer skills, event management, and above all; enthusiasm about connecting with people. I'm always up for a challenge and I always give my best. I'd love to be a host one day :)
Age

25
What else ...

And on top of all that you have just read … I can offer wonderful conversations and limitless curiosity!
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  Mild allergy to horses
- Special dietary requirements
  Vegetarian

Website Safety

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1 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Join my family for an ...)

Ergent and I stayed for the first week of June in the quaint village of Königsau with Talley's generous family. We had an entire large house to ourselves, and our first two days were spent cleaning the place since it had not been lived in for some months. Talley delivered us delicious cooked lunches and dinners on these workdays. A huge treat was … read more

(Very good )

22 Jun 2026

Left by host (Join my family for an ...) for Workawayer ()

Lottie and her new boyfriend Ergent from Albania stayed with us a whole week in Königsau at my parents large guest house and are both early risers. They were our first guests of the season after my parents returned from a long trip themselves.
Lottie is a very experienced Workawayer and did not need much explanation on how to do housework. She … read more

(Excellent )

28 Feb 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Join our Moroccan ...)

Fati, Naceur and their three kids are a fun family who want to make sure you have an unforgettable time in El Jadida. In almost no time at all, the kids had warmed up to me (they call all Workawayers “teacher”) and I was spending most of my day with them. For a few days at the start of my stay, Fati took me to the beachfront for my morning runs, … read more which I really appreciated. We even enjoyed a quiet breakfast at a cafe together without the kids for once! They were also kind to share the start of the special month of Ramadan, with traditional dishes for the family evening meal, and another pair of Workawayers arrived at this time.

Because there’s pressure to be part of the family, I found it hard to take time off and I worked long hours in my first week without much time alone or to relax, which left me tired for my second week. I typically spent the mornings cleaning up the mess from the previous night before setting up for breakfast when everyone was out of bed. Fati is very kind and well-meaning but often left me with no instructions or indication of when she might return, so I was looking after the kids alone for long stretches of time. There were also common miscommunication issues meaning I typically never knew what was going on, or what we were doing next. The pair of Workawayers who arrived later found these surprises a little stressful too. My free time was unfortunately mostly at night when I didn’t feel so safe walking around alone. El Jadida has just a few interesting things to explore - the walled Cite Portugaise, the beach, and souk/Medina area.

The whole family is very screen-dependent which increased more during Ramadan. If you love YouTube, shopping, amusement parks, it’s perfect for you. The family’s lifestyle is comfortable but as they are transitioning from their previous large villa to a smaller apartment, the kids had a limited number of toys and the kitchen was understocked so we often ate out. I tried to encourage more creative play and introduce unfamiliar English vocabulary, but the kids tended to prefer certain games on repeat, although they would become interested in something new if I was putting a lot of effort into it. They spent a little time completing homework sheets during my second week, but definitely had more energy for play than for studying. The kids gave me head lice during my stay. Since Fares, the youngest, is only around 2 years old there is a lot of screaming and often conflicts to be sorted out. I happily learned some more Moroccan Arabic in exchange for improving their English! Fati has loads of upbeat Arabic music to share during the car rides.

Overall, they are a warm-hearted family who want the best for their Workawayers, and Fati really appreciated the help as she’s understandably very tired! Thank you all and I wish you joy for the rest of the year. ❤️

(Excellent )

19 Feb 2026

Left by host (Help in our remote hotel in ...) for Workawayer ()

Lottie was a wonderful person to have around. She was happy to take on any tasks and not only full-fill them to our full satisfaction but she also was happy to bring in her own thought and ideas. Lottie did the house keeping, helped in the kitchen and was serving dinner and breakfast. Never in the foreground but always there when needed. That … read more

(Excellent )

15 Dec 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help in our remote hotel in ...)

What an absolutely fantastic time, at an unbeatable location! I spent one whole month in the cosiest hotel like no other - so this is a long review... sorry!

Eva & Adrian left for their other home shortly after I arrived, which meant I was working alongside Ollie the manager and and another Workawayer Marcel (other lovely Workawayers were there … read more at the very start and end of my stay also). So I got to take charge of a great deal of the hotel responsibilities: welcoming guests from across the world, setting out and serving meals and afternoon tea/coffee/cakes on arrival, laundry, dishes, cleaning communal spaces, and of course making the beds and cleaning en-suite bathrooms. I learned so much by 'just doing,' and even though I'd had a quick handover from the previous pair of Workawayers, most of the tasks required common-sense or initiative to respond to the needs of the guests. Though stressful at times due to the nature of hospitality, I couldn't have asked for a better first experience of hotel responsibilities. This has definitely taught me a lot of useful skills, not just proper dining table-setting, but flexibility and ensuring the comfort of guests, connecting with people the world over, and not burning toast in the grill.

SO many parts of my day were fun: showing new guests around the hotel, and inviting them to enjoy the character of the place and sip a tea/coffee by the sitting room fire. Sometimes the whole hotel is booked out by a group (or hosts events) and we can get to know people better, or there's a chance to chat with regular visitors. I even had a fun time puzzling about which garnish suits which flavour of soup, and how best to plate up the desserts (you know you've won when the guests take photos of their food).

It was important to maintain a good routine, and I found it easy to keep on top of the laundry and other tasks. Free time was mainly after rooms were finished and before new guests arrived to check-in, as well as in the lead-up to dinner. But on busy days I'd spend more time cleaning rooms or and might be tending to lunchtime guests.

Being vegetarian (and since we did not have vegetarian guests often), I got to enjoy the first course of the dinner meal - soups of different colours every day, plus a huge thanks to Ollie for the best mushroom soups - and had a whole pantry of restaurant-quality ingredients at my disposal for cooking my own meals. Marcel's porridge, Irish soda bread and various cakes were a treat too, and I enjoyed baking for the guests in my spare time.

I loved the peace and solitude of the place. Although there is only one main road, there are countless paths winding all across the Flow Country right from the doorstep of the hotel. In every direction you find something different; the craggy hills, the green riverside patches pock-marked with mushrooms, and the sandy shore of the lochs. There's little traffic or noise apart from logging trucks and occasional planes. It is a typically very windy place - which is helpful for the laundry - but we also had some stunning, calm days, and you can watch the weather coming in from all sides. There's a great selection of books available for rainy days! I was there in October, which is a brilliant time to see and hear the stags rutting, to appreciate the vibrant colours across the landscape, and keep an eye out for aurora (which we saw very clearly one night!).

Eva and Adrian are super kind and have many stories to tell. They have travelled and toured people extensively, both across Scotland and on other continents. Ollie is excellent company and showed me the sights around the area while on the weekly large shopping trip. I also appreciated the chance to join the mushroom hunters and explore more around the Flow Country with Eva. Keep up the amazing stuff!

(Excellent )

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Communication:
(5.0)

Skills:
(4.9)

Observed house rules:
(5.0)

1 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Join my family for an ...)

(Very good)

22 Jun 2026

Left by host (Join my family for an ...) for Workawayer

(Excellent)

28 Feb 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Join our Moroccan ...)

(Excellent)

19 Feb 2026

Left by host (Help in our remote hotel in ...) for Workawayer

(Excellent)

15 Dec 2025

Left by Workawayer for host (Help in our remote hotel in ...)

(Excellent)

10 Feb 2026

Left by host for Workawayer

Lottie is an extremely serious and committed worker, really nice to have her around and she was also of great help!

She approaches every task with focus, responsibility and a strong work ethic. She is also very reliable: always on time, consistent, and trustworthy. Beyond the work itself, she brings a healthy and balanced attitude, takes good … read more

(Excellent)

25 Jan 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Off-grid permaculture ...)

I had a short but wonderful stay in early January. Carlos and Becky are amazing hosts, and there was another nice Workawayer at the time, as well as more arriving in the week that I left. It is such a peaceful slice of paradise and I felt very happy there. Carlos was immediately super friendly, and we met Becky a couple of days later, and she was … read more

(Excellent)

10 Feb 2026

Left by host (Dog sitting and exploring ...) for Workawayer

Lottie was a wonderful companion at home. It was clear she had traveled extensively, and this was reflected in her mature and sociable nature. She cared for the dogs with dedication, shared with everyone in the house, and was always willing to help with extra chores. Polite, kind, diligent, friendly and always smiling. She shared fascinating … read more

(Excellent)

21 Dec 2025

Left by Workawayer for host (Dog sitting and exploring ...)

Isa and Jon are super generous hosts; it's a shame we only got to spend a week together, but it was a lovely week all the same! I really enjoyed looking after the whole crew of dogs - Argi, Sylvi, Milo, and Kai (no favourites!). This involved brushing them, taking them on 2 of their 4 daily walks, making sure the water bowls were full, everyone … read more

(Excellent)

3 Jan 2026

Left by host (Enthusiastic person ...) for Workawayer

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

(Member cancelled stay at the last minute)

21 Dec 2025

Left by Workawayer for host (Join us on a small farm in a ...)

Mariam, Jono, Monty & Anna are a fantastic host family. Their château is extremely comfortable, warm and welcoming, especially as some of Monty’s friends were also visiting during my stay, along with another pair of Workawayers - this meant there were even more fun, lovely people to chat with (and loadsss of baking). I really appreciated that … read more

(Excellent)

21 Dec 2025

Left by Workawayer for host (Help reforest a meadow and ...)

I feel very lucky that I got to learn so much from spending a few days helping Fabienne in her impressive garden. Fabienne & Claude lead quite a peaceful life and spend lots of time reading, but are super happy to have guests - they adjusted to my transport schedules and even bought special food hoping I would like it.

Fabienne is super super … read more

(Excellent)

15 Dec 2025

Left by Workawayer for host (Help us with painting and DIY ...)

Pam and Ingemar are just fabulous! For starters, Pam calls everyone 'lovely‘ and is an absolutely lovely soul herself. She is great company, with all of her wacky or wonderful stories; an incredible role model; and an impressive cook and baker, with delicious homemade preserves to top it off. They are a fun couple from the outset, with Pam being a … read more

(Excellent)

15 Dec 2025

Left by Workawayer for host (Open-minded travellers ...)

I spent a week in autumn beneath the golden, fiery amber, and vivid yellow-brown leaves, getting my hands in the soil - and in any spare moment, digging deeper into European art throughout history (that's cheesy... sorry!).

Murphy's secluded château sits in the gentle countryside, just a train ride from Paris. Some rooms of the château itself are … read more pieces of art. Picking up from her mother's experience inviting volunteers, she is a great host as she is alert to Workawayers' needs: communal space; a separate kitchen with a decent stock of tea/coffee, fruit and Madeleines; spare (and warm) work clothes; and very clear working hours either side of lunch. Murphy was very considerate about making sure we had rooms that were suitable and warm enough. She served us delightful Ottolenghi lunches which I looked forward to every day.

We were a 5-6 person gardening crew, and the work was physical, so we sometimes needed to team up but were mostly given individual tasks. Didier, the French-speaking gardener gave most of the instructions. Murphy wasn’t always available so I tried not to nag her with too many questions. I did tasks such as lawn-mowing, mulching and turning beds, planting, and clearing. Having the company of the other young international Workawayers made a huge impact on my experience and I loved sharing stories while working.

Every Workawayer takes turns to cook dinner, from all parts of the world, and this also meant we were treated to dessert every night which we really appreciated after the work day. I missed out on some evening activities since I slept earlier than the rest, but on one of the last nights we had a fantastic time getting dressed up. Dinner-table chat between everyone was guaranteed to be full of laughs, and we swapped many recommendations for books, films, etc. I enjoyed chatting more with Murphy while setting out the breakfast table in the calm mornings.

I was able to borrow a bike to spend my day off at Château de Chantilly, which boasts an outstanding art museum and horse shows - it was a long ride through quaint towns and vast forest. Murphy mentioned a bunch of other places to visit locally, and a must-do is finding the chapel hidden away in the nearest woods. In my spare time I delved into a couple of the fantastic art and travel books upstairs; these have inspired my travels since, and will continue to do so. I imagine it would be special to volunteer during one of the artist residencies when you'd be sharing the space with a group of creatives. Lastly, a couple of logistic notes for future Workawayers: there's no laundry and it's not a smoke-free place.

Thanks for your top-tier hospitality!

(Excellent)

15 Dec 2025

Left by Workawayer for host (Gardening and woodland help ...)

Apologies for the delayed feedback - just catching up on reviews now! In September I spent a little under a week at Áine's peaceful rural property, tucked away in an area that has many Irish cultural sites. Lovely rainbows and sunrises coloured the sky. Gardening work was fun and active - thanks for teaching me to mow a lawn! I've mowed more since … read more

(Excellent)

19 Sep 2025

Left by host (Help our NGO conserve and ...) for Workawayer

She is always friendly
open to learn, even she didn't stay long it was a nice experience!
As our project is so huge, it takes some days to just understand about all diiferent parts and the people around.

Always welcome to come back and look how far we got,
Hendrik

(Excellent)

1 Jun 2025

Left by Workawayer for host (Help our NGO conserve and ...)

I spent a little over a week here in early May and felt very grateful to be amid such a vibrant, enthusiastic atmosphere!
The working hours are quite strictly 9am-2pm and I felt so lucky to go on a kayak and run along the river, hang out with the animals and go on peaceful bike rides around the region in my spare time. I tried to give my best in … read more

(Very good)

9 Sep 2025

Left by Workawayer for host (Help with home and childcare ...)

I had a really special time with Rachel and Lila, who are a fun-loving family - it was a great experience for my first time properly offering au pair-style help. I highly recommend this place as you'll learn so much and have a blast, just note that their profile is out-of-date but if you're reading this, don't hesitate!

I stayed for the last few … read more

(Excellent)

4 Aug 2025

Left by Workawayer for host (Join our vibrant Buddhist ...)

I highly recommend volunteering here! Your visit will be deeply rooted in compassion and spirituality.

My main task was cleaning, but I didn't mind at all - it was rewarding to help out at a place full of interesting and kind people, but I could also use this peaceful time to learn a language through podcasts - with daily breaks for the … read more

(Excellent)

13 Jul 2025

Left by host (Give our dogs cuddles and ...) for Workawayer

Lottie is a lovely person, very easy to get along with and really cares about nature and our planet.

The dogs all enjoyed their walks and having lots of attention. I could see how much the dogs warmed to you (even if Jaffa barking tried to suggest otherwise now and then!) Your care and patience with each of the dogs really showed.

Hope the … read more

(Excellent)

2 Jul 2025

Left by Workawayer for host (Give our dogs cuddles and ...)

If the opportunity to stay on the Dorset coast wasn't awesome enough already, I felt suuuuper grateful to be welcomed into the company of Rhi, her family, and the dogs. I stayed for almost a month here, as our aim was to get the dogs used to having me around before I was left alone with them, and it almost worked out (minus the barking)! Plans … read more

(Excellent)

25 Jun 2025

Left by host (Come join us in a lovely ...) for Workawayer

Lottie was with us for a few weeks and the experience was varied, pleasant and interesting. Lottie is passionate about nature, culture and the protection of our planet. We learned and shared all sorts with a great range of topics. Lottie as she mentioned was unfortunately sick the first few days but more than made up for it with a strong … read more

(Excellent)

27 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer for host (Come join us in a lovely ...)

Katherine and Eric, thank you for an awesome three weeks - what a lovely, quaint adventure :)

Katharine and Eric picked me up from a nearby coastal area, and we immediately went fossil hunting at a beach which was right up my alley. The rest of my stay and experience here was similarly great! Unfortunately I did get sick very early on, which they … read more

(Excellent)

9 Jun 2025

Left by host (Cute kitten sitting in our ...) for Workawayer

Lottie was so lovely and as soon as I met her I knew the kittens would be in safe hands. She has a gentle nature, and kept me updated on the kittens. Lottie would be great helping out in a family and I can imagine she'd be brilliant with children too. She is off on a great adventure, wishing you lots of luck, I'm sure you'll make the most of it … read more

(Excellent)

8 Jun 2025

Left by Workawayer for host (Cute kitten sitting in our ...)

Thank you so much, Katie & family! I felt super grateful to spend a week here with the kittens Noodle and Miso. You have a lovely colourful house in a great area :)
Katie left me clear instructions on a notepad for my stay, including tips for what to see in Bristol city and the wider area (and how to get there) - Katie seems to be really … read more

(Excellent)

8 May 2025

Left by Workawayer for host (Creating pure magic on our ...)

Despite a difficult start, my experience here was awesome and I happily came back to help on the next community volunteer day. There’s something magnetic about this place :)

Myself and another Workawayer arrived at a bad time so didn’t have an amazing first impression, and everyone was weighed down by a shared feeling of heaviness. All … read more

(Excellent)

21 May 2023

Left by host (Dog sit or weeding help ...) for Workawayer

Lottie was an excellent guest. We feel lucky to have met her! You will find her respectful and kind.

(Excellent)

1 Apr 2023

Left by Workawayer for host (Dog sit or weeding help ...)

It was a huge weight off of my shoulders, being able to stay with you for a couple of weeks, and you are incredible hosts! You have such a loving household. Not only did you do so much for me, but you prove to be endlessly accepting and compassionate since you’ve also opened up your home for foster kids and dogs and you’ve got a huge network of … read more

(Excellent)

1 Apr 2023

Left by Workawayer for host (Help around the garden and ...)

Staying with you taught me so much about communication; you don’t need to be able to speak each other’s languages to share a connection! I can’t thank you enough for letting me stay with you in cosy Giaveno. After another Workaway host changed their plans, you generously took me in at quite short-notice when you’d just arrived back from a holiday. … read more

(Excellent)

1 Apr 2023

Left by Workawayer for host (Join us with our small ...)

I see why so many people consider you to be family, even after only short stays! It was such an incredible opportunity to stay with you for just less than a week, at the same time as a few other Workawayers. Thank you for sharing your culture, your sunshine, and your salads! From the pick-up to drop off (and buying my bus ticket, you didn’t have … read more

(Excellent)