Wwoofing in Bay of Plenty

We got our first own wwoofing acceptance! Now, that we have our first wwoofing experience behind us and a really good recommendation letter from our last host, it is a lot easier to get accepted. Within one week, we already had two suggestions, which we liked and were fitting our timetable and whereabouts at that time. Many more would answer us and we even had to reject some. We were really happy about having found a place in the Bay of Plenty with an Italian host and her son. She lived on a big estate in a big house and wanted to get the garden done to sell the house and get back to Italy. When we arrived, we first got to know Alessandra and Julio, which were the two I already talked about, a German couple and a French guy. It was very funny that the German couple only lives about half an hour from our hometown in Germany. Normally we mostly meet people from the North and not close from where we live. So, when someone asks: “Where are you from?” We always answer close to Munich. But this time, the two of them said: „Hey, us too. Where exactly?” Next option was: close to Augsburg and them as well, so when we finally said our home towns, we were surprised to live so close together. During our time there, an American couple and an Italian girl would join us. Everyone was very nice and open; we really had a great time together. We got a room, in the basement, but which had big windows and a terrace to one side into the garden.

As the day that we arrived, it was raining cats and dogs, we got some work to do in the house, which was cleaning the windows. Nothing exhausting, luckily. For eating and staying there, we had to work four and a half hours per day, but could plan it as we wanted and so even get some days off. It was pretty relaxed.

Da es an unserem Ankunftstag geschüttet hat, wurde Zum Glück nach Arbeit innerhalb des Hauses gesucht: fensterputzen. In total, we stayed 10 days and the weather was mostly good. Our work was mainly weeding, watering and planting plants: in general to make the garden tidy and beautiful. The garden was truly immense with 3,5 acres. On one end, there was a small redwood forest, another place had 15 avocado trees (that was when I fell in love with the garden), three ponds, a big vegetable garden behind the house and many different flower beds, themed walking paths and big trees, in which hammocks were put for relaxation. We normally started at 8 o’clock and everyone could have breakfast before. We had cereals or toast to choose from. Lunch and dinner were taken together and mostly prepared with products from the own garden. The best thing, was of course, when we had Italian Pizza or Pasta. Simply delicious. We often cooked together and had a lot of fun. Most of the time we had Picnics outside, somewhere in the big garden. Things as ice cream, Nutella, cakes, cookies and humus were home-made and healthy prepared.

As already told, was the weather good during the whole time, which means really hot. I got sun burnt, even though I always put on sun protection, and we went showering two times a day. For working we were always searching for shadow, because in the sun we couldn’t do anything. It can get really hot in New Zealand during summer, it’s just that normally you don’t notice it because of the wind. There is almost wind blowing, but on the estate, we were protected by the many trees and the surrounding hills, so it got pretty hot. From all the digging, I injured my hand, not badly, but as we were working every day and somehow because of the wind it wouldn’t heal for weeks. It was directly in the middle of my hand and therefore, I also couldn’t keep it without moving; I was always using my hands. This was the reason, why I finally bought some gloves, which would still be useful.

Our free time we spent with going all together to the beach, to regional markets, hiking, playing cards, reading in one of the many hammocks in the garden or talking to each other. The American couple sometimes entertained with their jonglage and other tricks, which was especially at night and with the lights impressive. One day, we made a big photo shooting in the garden, because the many different flowers and the surroundings were the perfect photo location. The little boy also kept us busy, always wanting to play something or having read a story.

Most of the time, we spent with the Germans, as we got a long very well with them. If they hadn’t already booked their flights back home, we would for sure have continued together. There were so friendly to leave us all their staff, as a mattress for the car, pillows, covers, curtains as well as a gas cooker, pans and dishes. From that time on, we could go camping. We exchanged many pictures, videos and experiences and were sure to keep in touch for a long time. It is already three and a half years ago, that we parted, but we are still friends and meet regularly. I am very fond of both of them and happy that our friendship is still so good. Even if we live so close to each other, we don’t meet often, maybe about twice a year. But, it always feels like the first day and we have a lot to talk about.

Our last day, we all went together to have dinner in an Italian restaurant and it was a really amazing night.

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