Help with garden, horses, grandchildren, house and other animals

Help a sustainable project: 8 travelers confirmed that this host is actively contributing to a more sustainable future for everyone!
Immerse yourself in the local culture: 7 travelers recommend this host for those looking for a local cultural immersion
Connect with nature: 6 travelers recommend this experience for reconnecting with nature
Accepts couples and pairs of volunteers

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What you offer

25h

Hours per week: Help out and collaborate with your host only a few hours per week.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

Animal Care: Help look after and take care of animals.

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What you get

Days off per week: Have some time off for yourself, go explore the city or rest for a while.

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

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely

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

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.

Support: Get help from the Worldpackers support team in case you need it, at any point of your trip.

Verified Host: This host has been verified by our team before joining the community.

WP Safeguard: Did something not go as planned? Contact our team.; Learn more

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Availability

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Stay at least: 2 weeks

The Experience

We are in the South Wairarapa (1.5 hours from Wellington) near the wine village of Martinborough and the wild southern coast - Lake Ferry and Cape Palliser, Tararua Ranges, Castlepoint - it is a beautiful area. We need help with our garden, horses, grandchildren, managing the house, cooking, and looking after and feeding farm animals. We offer a very cosy home, great food, and a comfortable bed in your own room in return for your help.

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Requirements

Fluent English
Over 20 years old
Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

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Talk to those who have lived the experience

In our community, you can talk to worldpackers who have already collaborated with this host and get your questions answered directly.

You can ask things like:

a) How was your experience with this host?
b) How was your day-to-day routine?
c) How much did you spend on this trip?

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Connect with those who will also be there

Become a Verified Member and exchange ideas before your trip with other worldpackers who will be volunteering in the same place as you.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals

Join the host in pursuit of these goals and contribute to building a better and more sustainable future for all.

Good health and well-being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Responsible consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

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9 Reviews

5.0

Host & Team

5.0

Hours & Tasks

5.0

Farmstay

5.0

Learning & Fun

5.0

How this experience will transform you

7 Immersing in the local culture
6 Get in touch with nature
5 Meeting locals
3 Learning about sustainability
2 Developing environmental awareness
2 Meeting international travelers

This host contributes to Sustainable Development Goals

6 15. Life on land
5 3. Good health and well-being
5 12. Responsible consumption and production

Fiona

United Kingdom

Had a great time volunteering at Melissa and Burtons, they were both very welcoming and generous. The house was lovely, the work was straightforward and not too difficult and the food was delicious! Their cat Roo was also super friendly and loved company. I really enjoyed my stay, and I highly recommend them as hosts :)

20 days ago

olivia

Australia

Melissa and Burton were such a friendly and extroverted couple, They are so welcoming and do offer the comfiest bed ever😉😉 Melissa cooked some delicious food and it was also super fun to help and learn. I loved at dinners when we would all sit down together and have a chat about anything and everything. i got the chance to go see the grandkids and WOW they are the cutest and smartest kids ever i was even thinking about them on the plane home and it made me sad🥹i was even luckier to be able to ride beanie such a beautiful and sound mare.She is such a special pony:) overall great hosts 💗

about 2 months ago

Lea

Czech Republic

Melissa is very kind and welcoming. Staying on the farm in the middle of nowhere feels really nice and peaceful – but if you need to spend time in the city (like me to sort out some things related to Working Holiday visa) it isn't best place for you.

3 months ago

Theresa

Germany

I had a lovely time at Melissa and Burton's little farm in the beautiful Ruakokoputuna. They are incredible hosts; welcoming, kind and knowledgeable in a wide range of fields. Their home is very cozy, the food is great, and they also have some really good books :) the work was sometimes physical but always very doable and most of my day was spent outside which I loved. The animals are lovely and I had a great time feeding and taking care of them. Of course, I especially loved riding the beautiful horses, especially gorgeous Luxe. Thanks for everything :)

4 months ago

Marina

Canada

A beautiful warm and welcoming home with amazing hosts, Melissa and Burton are fun to be around and have excellent stories. Tasks were not difficult and you felt like you were really contributing to the overall shape of the farm! Meals are fantastic and the reading selection is too! You genuinely won't want to leave. Thank you Melissa and Burton for a great farm stay.

7 months ago

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About the host

Hosted by Melissa

Response Rate: This host usually answers to 70% of the messages
Response Time: This host usually writes back in 2 days

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