Farm Volunteer
New Zealand
General Information
The main purpose of this program is about cultural exchange. We aim to place you with a family that is interested in sharing their home with you. Most volunteers have their own bedroom in the main family home and share in all living facilities. If you are more independent or travelling with friends some hosts may have separate accommodation for workers, especially on bigger or more remote farms. Some horse farm hosts may have accommodation near the horses that you can live in and if you travel to horse shows you may need to stay in the horse truck.
3 meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included in your weekly payment to the family and most meals will be shared with your host family. You are expected to help in the kitchen and contribute with the cooking. If you would like snack food such as chocolate, soft drink, potato chips you will need to purchase this yourself. You must have permission from your host family to bring alcohol onto the farm and also at your own expense. Any special dietary requirements, e.g. Almond milk, gluten free bread, vegetarian or vegan foods are also at your own cost.
Most families have WIFI that you can use for basic use such as contacting your family, checking emails, occasional Skype calls. Please ensure you ask your host family before using the WIFI as some locations have very limited reception and high usage charges. You will also be able to buy data for your mobile phone / device.
Placements are for 2 – 12 weeks or longer on request and are made all over New Zealand in both the North and the South Island. Typical locations include Northland, The Hawkes Bay, The Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Taranaki, The Manawatu, Wairarapa, Nelson / Marlborough, Canterbury, The West Coast or Central / Southern Otago.
If you are already in New Zealand, you will be able to travel directly to the farm. If you are arriving into New Zealand, our programs start in Auckland every Sunday with an Arrival Package that includes airport transfer, 3 nights’ accommodation with breakfast in a downtown Auckland hostel and welcome orientation. The welcome orientation is held on Tuesday. At the orientation you will get information about phone cards, travel options, meet other volunteers and get general tips about life in New Zealand. On Wednesday you will travel to the farm. You may be required to travel by plane / bus / train / depending where your farm is located. We will give you all the information you need to pre-book your travel to the farm. The costs can range from $50 – $250 depending on the location of the farm. If you want to purchase a car in New Zealand and drive to the farm, we have partner car sales who we can refer you to so you can purchase a car before or after you arrive. If you take local transport the family will collect you from the nearest airport or bus or train station and take you to the farm. At the end of your farm placement you may like to travel around New Zealand. You are advised not to book International flights until you have received your volunteer placement offer. Please advise when your flights are booked so we can book your arrival package and advise you on internal travel to the farm.
You are welcome to come and go from the farm as you please but you just need to let the family know your plans about a week in advance so they can help plan their week. Leaving the farm will depend on the location of the farm and if you have your own transportation. If you wish to go away for some days or weeks during your time at the farm discuss this with your host family and they are usually very accommodating however keep in mind your weekly fee paid to the family is not refundable. We recommend you leave some extra time before or after your placement to see some of the country. We work with excellent backpacker travel companies that can show you the best of New Zealand, South East Asia and Fiji. Enquire with us about travel options before you book your flights so we can plan your added travel before you depart.