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Explore rural New Zealand in the Southern Alps and learn a lot!

5.0
(20 reviews)20

The experience

Help in exchange for lodging, internet. No meals.
We're looking for energetic people to help with various tasks (gardening, firewood, feed chickens, household chores in our holidays houses, and general tidying up around the property) No smokers. Single or 2 friends together/couple accepted (sharing bedroom in studio unit). No meals provided. We have flexibility with time, provided you are available when the holiday houses need a changeover.

What you offer

15 hours of help per week

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

What you get

2 days off per week

Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Certificate: Get a certificate of completion after you finish your experience.

Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely

Dedicated Workspace: Specific space for you to work remotely

Requirements

Fluent English

Over 21 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

We have had volunteers from various parts of the world for 20+ years and we really enjoy meeting people. One of us is also a teacher of languages, the other a builder.
Stay in a lovely cottage, free unlimited internet, etc in your cottage; great views of Mt Hutt and Alps.We are 45 mins from Christchurch and 25 to Mt Hutt ski fields.
We need a single or couple/2 friends together (as you will be sharing the bedroom) energetic, for all sorts of tasks: gardening, firewood,feed chickens , household chores, cleaning our holiday houses when there are changeovers and general tidying up around the property. Our home is a heritage property and we want to preserve it well.
There is NO public transport to our place, totally rural, nearest bus is Methven or Darfield,30 km so you need your own transport. We are looking for long term stayers.

Activities & Shift

Chickens need feeding in the morning. If there are changeovers in the holiday houses, that work has to be done between 10 and 2 as guests leave by 10 (sometimes earlier which is great) and the next ones can arrive by 2. This is not every day obviously. Garden and other tasks can be done any time.
Remember, there is no public transport here.

Rules

Please note we ask an average of 3 hours to help a day per person as listed in the profile. This is a total of 15 hrs max which can be spread over several days or combined so that you can go off and do things as well, we are flexible!
There is no public transport to our place, we are totally rural, the nearest bus is Methven or Darfield 30km away so your own transport is a good idea. Lots of peace and quiet here, great views of mountains and walks, skiing in the winter, fishing...
We expect you to be tidy, keep the place you stay clean.
Reminding you that we do not take smokers, we have 2 dogs and 1 cat too.