Olive

Travel information

I am currently

Description

Kia ora and hello, my name is Olive, I’m a 27-year-old from Aotearoa, New Zealand, currently escaping the NZ winter to live the European summer dream. I’m an easy-going, energetic, curious, and capable person always looking to get stuck into something and help out. Whether it’s painting, cleaning, gardening, or just bringing good energy to a place — I’m all in!

In my free time, you’ll probably find me getting lost in an art gallery, checking out local museums, hunting down quirky architecture, wandering down alleyways looking for street art and graffiti, having a boogie to some good music, or nerding out on public transport systems. I love cities with edge and places with stories. I’m also a sucker for secondhand shops, craft beer, and slow mornings with good (strong) coffee.

I am also always down to get outdoors. I love to hunt for secret swimming spots, hike peaks, get lost in the bush, and ski some fresh powder. Back home, every summer my friends and I head off on epic road trips to remote corners of Aotearoa NZ. We’ve got our campsite set up down to a fine art. Tents, tarps, tunes, and some incredible camp meals (freshly caught fish is a favourite). I love that feeling of building a little home out in the wild, exploring new places, and sharing food and stories under the stars.

I’ve got a background in sustainability, design innovation and project coordination, and I’m happiest when I’m part of a team working towards something meaningful. I value thoughtful design, sustainability, low-impact living, and leaving places better than I found them.

I’ve also got a degree in sociology and an interest in politics and history — I’m always curious about how societies function, both on the big-picture level and in the day-to-day lives of people. I love learning about what makes communities tick, how different cultures form and evolve, and how people navigate the world when faced with different norms, values, and ways of living. It’s part of what draws me to travel — the chance to see these ideas play out in real life, and to connect with people from all walks of life along the way.

I’m super respectful of shared spaces, a solid team player, and happy doing both solo tasks and group projects. I’m here to learn, lend a hand, and meet good people along the way. Let’s make something cool happen .

Although I’m new to the Workaway world, I’m a seasoned and adaptable traveller. I’ve spent over seven months backpacking from Mexico down through Central America to Colombia, before heading across the world to explore Vietnam. These experiences have taught me how to navigate new environments with curiosity, respect, and a willingness to get stuck in wherever I go — all of which I’m excited to bring to my first Workaway adventure.

Interests

Politics / Social justice

Events & social

Pets

Sustainability

Fashion or beauty

Culture

Self development

Movies & TV

Plant care

Music

History

DIY & crafts

Art & design

Gardening

Architecture

Drawing & painting

Team sports

Nature

Camping

Winter sports

Mountain

Dancing

Beach

Hiking

Outdoor activities

Adventure sports

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent

More details about my language interests
Having travelled from Mexico through Central America to Colombia I have some very very basic Spanish skills but would love to improve. Also keen to learn about lesser known languages. Being from New Zealand and seeing the recent cultural shift to using more Te Reo (Māori Language) in everyday life, I see big value in learning about and appreciating the indigenous languages of places!

Find a language buddy

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Life at a Farmstay

General Maintenance

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Some knowledge of:  

Gardening

DIY and building projects

Eco Projects

Charity Work

Art Projects

Helping around the house

Helping with Computers/ Internet

House sitting

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Able to teach about:  

Hospitality/Tourism

More details about your skills

I’m a hands-on, can-do kind of person who loves being part of a team, learning new things, and pitching in wherever help is needed. Overview of the types of help I can offer:

🧹 General Help Around the Place
Deep cleaning and tidying — I don’t shy away from a bit of elbow grease!
Painting (interior/exterior) — I’ve helped spruce up a few buildings back home.
Organising spaces or systems — I love making things run a bit smoother or look a bit better.

👩‍🍳 Hospitality & Hosting
7+ years of customer service and retail management experience
Confident engaging with guests and making people feel at home
Would love to try bartending and barista work — I’m a big coffee and beer nerd and love learning new skills behind the counter

🌿 Outdoor Work & Gardening
Happy to get my hands dirty weeding, digging, planting, or pruning
Used to long days outdoors and always up for physical work
Love creating or restoring outdoor spaces to feel welcoming and well-loved

🛠️ Creative & DIY Projects
Comfortable with tools and creating — previously studied sculpture and design
Experience with sustainable design, and a real appreciation for thoughtful, low-impact living
Would be thrilled to get stuck into a building, repair, or artistic project (especially if there’s wood, colour or creativity involved)

📣 Communications & Organisation
Skilled in project coordination — planning, organising, and keeping things on track
Comfortable using digital tools to manage tasks or help improve systems
Strong English writing and communication skills — happy to help with admin, copywriting, signs, social media etc.

Just point me in the right direction and I’ll give it my best shot.

Age

28

What else ...

My travel plans are fluid and I'm completely willing to move to a place for a unique workaway opportunity!

After doing a bit of travel through Europe, from July to September, mostly Eastern European countries, I aim to try settle in Berlin (classic I know, but its a world famous city for a reason right), so I would love and appreciate any advice or tips for Germany.

Also very keen to be taught new card games or try a new sport, there’s something so satisfying about struggling to learn something but then it just clicks and you can get competitive over a game!

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies

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  Special dietary requirements