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Canada
Everyone here is so friendly! The work is easy and only takes about 30 minutes to an hour. It is remote but I found it to be peaceful. There are so amazing walks and the views are incredible!
about 1 month ago
Germany
My time at the lodge was wonderful! I was there during the winter season, which meant there were hardly any guests and therefore very little work. As a result, it was very peaceful and relaxing, and I had almost the entire day off. Everyone was lovely, and the accommodation was very cozy in the evenings with a fireplace. I would recommend this project to anyone who enjoys being in nature and appreciates the tranquility of the rainforest!
about 2 months ago
Canada
My time in Punakaiki was great! Work was as expected, wasn't so busy as it is low season but that left me with lots of free time to enjoy the area. James and Andrea were great hosts, easy to talk and get along with. The area itself is super quiet and in the middle of nature, I probably heard more birds than people, which I enjoyed. The beach and sunset spot is a short walk away too. Overall really enjoyable experience and I hope to return in high season!
2 months ago
United States
I had a great time in Punakaiki! James and Andrea are super welcoming and even took us on little walks and adventures some of the days! The beach is just a 5 minute walk and feels almost private during the winter months because the town is super quiet. If you do come in winter, be prepared for slower and quieter days but if you need a good reset or chill place to stay it’s perfect! The lodge is super cute and we spent most of our time cooking, playing cards, watching movies, and reading. The work is more than fair and super easy during winter. Thanks for everything James and Andrea!
3 months ago
Australia
We had an amazing time at Te Nikau. The work was extremely chill, since it was quiet season. The nature is incredible in Punakaiki. Would definitely recommend having a vehicle as it did feel quite isolated but we cooked and played monopoly, walked to the pub etc. It was a home away from home. Thanks James and Andrea.
4 months ago
Australia
Volunteering at the lodge was an unforgettable experience and one of the highlights of our travels around New Zealand. The location is absolutely stunning, surrounded by native bush and only a short walk from the beach, making it the perfect place to unwind and connect with nature. The work was fair, well organised, and exactly as described. We always felt appreciated, and there was a great balance between helping out and having plenty of free time to explore the incredible West Coast. The hosts were welcoming, friendly, and created a relaxed atmosphere where everyone felt at home.
4 months ago
Luxembourg
I had a very good time at the lodge. James and Andrea are very welcoming people and the work is simple and was done quickly. We had plenty of free time to explore the beautiful nature around that area, and even if there is not incredibely much to do, I still had a lot of fun with the other volunteers. I would highly recommend this volunteering position :)
5 months ago
Switzerland
It was so much fun! For someone who wants to connect with lots of people I would advice to visit in the summer seasons. May until October is really calm and not many people visit that time of the year. But it's a beautiful place to connect with nature and turn off from the outside world. The work was done in about 30mins and the rest of the day we could do what we want.
5 months ago
Brazil
Our stay with James and Andrea was very pleasant. We also met Tom, who works and lives there, and he was always very kind to us. Punakaike beach is unforgettable. James was very attentive in showing us some trails and tourist spots in the region.
The work was simple, and there were days when we finished maintaining the rooms in less than 2 hours. We made friends with the other volunteers who shared the same house where we stayed. I recommend it to anyone who wants to explore the west coast. We intend to return to visit them.
6 months ago
Dear Anna and Yan, it was a pleasure having you here with us.
You and Yan were amazing volunteers and I will gladly recommend you to anybody!
Wish you a luck on your adventures and maybe one day see you again.
Sending hugs Andrea, James and Mikey
United States
I had an awesome time here! I worked with a great group of people here and we had so much fun. We hitch hiked everywhere and spent time with locals and at local events. Make sure to go to jam night and there’s some really nice places to visit in greymouth and little thrift stores. There’s also a glow worm cave and some really fun hikes. Beautiful place and simple work.
6 months ago
Many worldpackers have been applying to this position recently. The host will probably not be able to respond to all of the applications, so we recommend that you also apply to other hosts in our community and not just this one :)
