Are you considering starting Workaway New Zealand? If so, then you’re in for an amazing adventure.
My New Zealand work exchange was volunteering on an orchid farm. It was easily one of the most rewarding travel experiences I’ve ever had.
Not only did I get to explore and experience the beautiful New Zealand countryside, but I also gained new friendships, incredible stories, and memories that I’ll treasure for a lifetime.
Let’s talk more about what you should know about Workaway in New Zealand.
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Top Tips For Workaway New Zealand
I have learned many important lessons during my time as a volunteer that can help make your own Workaway experiences successful.
Here are 9 tips for making the most out of your own Workaway New Zealand adventure.
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1. Your New Zealand Work Exchange Hours Can Be Different Than You Expect
When embarking on a work exchange in New Zealand, it’s important to keep in mind that the hours you work may be different than what you initially expected.
When my husband and I started our Workaway in New Zealand, the expectation in our mind was that we’d work from 9 am – 1 pm and then we’d have the rest of the day to go off and explore.
However, the hours that our host needed us to work ended up being from around 11 am – 3 pm.
This simply meant that we needed to adjust some of our plans and rearrange a few of our longer day trips for the weekend when we got a day off.
It’s best to prepare yourself mentally and physically for varied hours so sometimes your activity for the day needs to be shortened or adjusted.
That way, when things get busy and your workday is a bit longer than you initially anticipated, you’ll have the energy and motivation needed to see your tasks through.
2. Make New Friends On Your Workaway In New Zealand
One thing about Workaways is that you’ll make new friends. My husband and I volunteered for two weeks at an orchid farm with a wonderful New Zealand work exchange host.
She had just recently started her flower farm and was busy planting the seeds of her new business.
Two weeks is quite a long time to spend with a stranger, and initially, there was some hesitation on our end about committing to a volunteer program for so long.
What if we don’t get along? What if we have a hard time keeping up a conversation?
But if you go into the Workaway experience with the expectation that you are ready to help, and are kind and friendly, you’ll make new friends along the way.
Learn how to get awesome work exchanges 🤝 8 steps to finding the best Workaway hosts.
We loved our host. Over the two weeks, we met both of her parents.
In fact, her parents ended up inviting us over for dinner, introducing us to New Zealand rugby, and taking us out for a day trip to see the beauty of the region.
3. Workaway New Zealand Might Be Working or Staying With Animals
When we signed up and created a Workaway profile, we had mentally prepared to get our hands dirty digging in the garden.
One of the unexpected joys was that our host owned a pet cat. We love animals, so having a four-legged friend around the house was a treat.
However, if you are allergic or if you aren’t fond of animals, you may want to contact the host ahead of time and ask if they have pets or animals around the house.
Our host also had sheep, and her dad brought his dog by daily to visit. It was so fun getting to meet all of the animals and we had a blast playing with them.
If you are uncomfortable around animals, that could make for an uncomfortable stay. We learned that it is best to ask these questions ahead of time before committing to a Workaway.
4. Workaways In New Zealand Can Change Depending on the Season
When my husband and I did our Workaway New Zealand gig during our crazy trip around the world, we weren’t quite sure what to expect.
We both love flowers and were excited to learn about how to raise and grow orchids from seeds.
However, when we arrived on the farm, it was just turning to early fall in New Zealand, meaning that the orchid season was coming to a close.
We spent some time cleaning up greenhouses and prepping them for the upcoming season, but a lot of our main tasks turned into yard work around the property. We were completely fine with that.
Though it made me realize that the needs of Workaway hosts change can change according to the season, and to not be disappointed if the type of work you originally signed up for changes.
5. Go Into Your New Zealand Work Exchange With An Open Mind
When doing Workaway New Zealand, it’s important to keep an open mind. You are entering someone else’s space, and the way you live may not always match the way that person lives.
Since we were living in a shared space with our host, we wanted to make sure that we weren’t ever overstepping our bounds, and that we were respectful of her home and her rules.
10 tips for being a good Workawayer ⭐️
It can be easy to get caught up in our own expectations for how things should go.
When we approach situations with an open mindset, we allow ourselves to learn new things and have more meaningful experiences.
Even when our work changed from working with orchids to weeding, removing dead branches, or reorganizing the woodshed, we decided to keep an open mind with our new tasks.
It was best to make the most of being outside in such a beautiful country. Would we have liked to have worked more with the orchids? Sure. But, we didn’t let our change of work ruin the experience for us.
By going into a Workaway in New Zealand with an open mind, you can better appreciate your host’s culture and lifestyle while still enjoying yourself.
6. Many New Zealand Workaways Are Remote
My husband and I got an affordable car rental for our work exchange in New Zealand. In fact, we needed one because our host lived in the countryside in a beautiful part of the country.
If we didn’t have a car, we would have been stranded on the farm for the entire time we volunteered. Fortunately, our car gave us the freedom to explore after our workday was over.
Many New Zealand work exchanges are located out in the countryside far from the main city.
New Zealand’s public transit system in the countryside is very limited, so taking the bus or train was not an option for us.
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7. Order Fish and Chips
This is not a joke. If you are planning on doing a Workaway New Zealand gig, your experience won’t be complete without some fresh fish and chips from a nearby beach town.
Nearly every coastal town in New Zealand has a fish and chips joint, and they are the best fish and chips I have had in my life.
The fish was fresh and the food was incredible. They are also the cheapest food you can find around.
8. It’s Okay to Say No
When you are on your Workaway in New Zealand, you may feel indebted to the host for having them open your house to you.
Sometimes, they may have a task for you that makes you feel uncomfortable, or that you simply aren’t able to help them with.
The best practice is to be honest and say no if you can’t help them with a particular task. Now, as a good guest, you’ve agreed to help them out before you’ve arrived.
Make sure to keep an open mind and be willing to help out where you can. If you have an injury, are feeling ill, or otherwise have a gut feeling that something is wrong, it’s okay to say no.
Come to a compromise on another task you can work on for them.
9. Be Willing to Help in Anyway
One of the most beautiful things about Workaways is that someone is opening up their home to you.
This is not a hotel or a vacation rental. They are inviting you in and it’s respectful to go above and beyond.
This can be as simple as preparing a meal for your Workaway host and not expecting them to cook your meals every day.
You can run to the grocery store, pick up around the house, keep your room tidy, sweep the floor, or do the dishes.
Just be ready to help out where needed and view yourself as a guest in their home. One of my favorite parts of travel is exchanging culture through food.
Taking the time to prepare a meal for your Workaway host and show them something that you typically eat can be a really fun icebreaker and really enhance your experience.
We found a good rule of thumb is that if your host cooks, offer to do dishes that night. And if you cook, still offer to do dishes.
Workaway New Zealand Visa Advice
Since we are from the United States, we did not need to apply for a traditional visa to visit New Zealand.
Instead, we had to get an ETA, which is an Electronic Travel Authorization. This allowed us to stay in New Zealand for up to 90 days.
You must get the ETA before boarding your flight. You can apply for it on the official New Zealand website.
Which work exchange platform is best? 💡 Workaway VS Worldpackers - Full Comparison
If you’re from another country, you can check visa requirements here.
For those of you who are looking to do paid work in New Zealand, then you will need to apply for the Working Holiday Visa.
Please note that this blog post is only for information purposes and should not be regarded as a substitute for immigration or legal advice.
Final Thoughts On Workaway In New Zealand
If you’re thinking about doing Workaway New Zealand, hopefully, this article helps you get an idea of what your experience may be like.
While each New Zealand work exchange is different, they all share a few things in common.
You will make new friends, meet interesting people, and you’ll need to be ready to roll your sleeves up and get to work.
Workaway can be a great way to experience a new country. It lets you slow down, share cultures, and really gain a new perspective on a country.
I’d definitely recommend doing a Workaway in New Zealand if you get the chance.
Submitted by Jenoa at The Travel Folk
