by Maria Wu, Toronto, Canada

 

It does not matter where in the country you go, showpiece scenery is always on display: bays sprinkled with islands, snow-capped volcanoes, bright blue mountain lakes, sea cliffs and rocky caves, rivers and waterfalls in semi-tropical rainforests, white-sand beaches, ancient and giant trees, green grassy hills that slope into river gorges. And so it goes on. Yes, the landscape is awesome. And, as important, are the great people. Whether you are in the Visitor Information Centers or with hosts in country homes, you will be looked after by genuinely friendly, well-informed and down-to earth folks. New Zealand’s remoteness is precisely what keeps it precious and unspoiled. Once you get over the long flights required to get there, it is easy to rent a car and drive around at your own pace.

 

I have visited the country three times over a span of 11 years and have never been disappointed. For me I have chosen to travel NZ with an organization called Willing Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF). WWOOF allows volunteers/travelers to stay on organic farms and join in with the various projects their hosts are engaged in. There is a variety of such properties spread throughout NZ, including farms, market gardens, communities and ventures in self-sufficiency in which organic growing plays some part. Currently there are nearly 1200 WWOOF Farms in NZ. While living with the family, the ‘wwoofer’ is expected to join in and help with the day-to-day activities. Generally four to six hours help each day is required. In addition, help with cooking, washing up, etc., is recommended and is appreciated by the hosts. For me, WWOOF has provided the opportunity to live and experience the daily life of New Zealand families.

 

Before leaving Toronto, I contacted WWOOF of New Zealand by e-mail at support@wwoof.co.nz and signed up as a member. As my first stop would be Christchurch and I wanted to spend several weeks around the Banks Peninsula, I contacted a number of hosts by e-mail in both areas. I was accepted in Christchurch by ‘English Park Eco Accommodation’ for seven days, followed by three weeks with ‘Sally and Richard Gabric’ at Little River, followed by three weeks with ‘John Thom & Julie Wagner’ at Duvauchelle. At the end of those seven weeks, I would travel independently for a while before doing more WWOOFing.

 

In my experience, it was best to contact the hosts by email. It allowed me to give a short description of myself. Each position provided me with a different experience. Initially I was apprehensive before meeting my hosts but this quickly dissipated as I found the New Zealanders I met were friendly, sincere, and helpful. I felt at home within the first hour of my arrival. Every family, without exception, was happy in their life style, had healthy diets, dressed for comfort, was involved with the local community, loved and cared for the environment. Most of them had book shelves full of books which I was welcome to read. I was glad that I had the opportunity of reading many books written by New Zealand authors about life in that country.

 

The Banks Peninsula is one of the most beautiful volcanic areas in Canterbury on the South Island of New Zealand. I felt in love with the beauty of Akaroa Harbor when I first saw it and felt certain that the surrounding areas would be worth exploring. Since I had come without a car, I asked my host where I was staying how I could see more of the area. I was told to take a trip with the “mail run”. The folks in the Information Centre at Akaroa were delighted to book my trip with Garry and Anita Trott who do the “Eastern Bays Mail Run”. This is a daily excursion (Monday to Saturday) that leaves the Akaroa Information Centre at 9 a.m. Bookings are essential as there are only eight seats in the bus. The trip visited no fewer than ten bays, traveled over 120 km, serviced over 100 mail boxes and climbed from sea level to heights ranging from 300 – 700 meters on no fewer than eight occasions. In addition to all this natural beauty, passengers learn how the mail gets through to these isolated bays and communities, whatever the weather. Barry and Anita were full of information: sharing historical facts of the Banks Peninsula and insider stories of the rural communities, fascinating stories not to be found in any books. Two hours into our journey, we stopped at Little Akaroa Bay, where Anita served a sumptuous mid-morning meal with scones and sandwiches which she had made that morning. Afterwards we visited a quaint little church – St. Luke by the Sea – wherein they would serve the same meal when the weather does not co-operate. The four-and-a-half-hour trip was the best way to see the magnificent, pristine beauty of this region and the isolation of the farmsteads and hamlets.

 

One of the highlight of my wwoofing stay turned out to be the time I spent at the “Flying Fox”, located in the lower Whanganui River Valley, surrounded by the Whanganui National Park, in central North Island. Access to this property is by boat along the river or by aerial cableway! It appealed to my sense of adventure, so I contacted Annette Main who agreed to host me for a week. The fun started as soon as I entered the gate signed “The Flying Fox” and walked down a short but steep gravel road, at the end of which I found a cable car and a box containing a sheet of instructions. To contact the host, John Blythe, I blew the whistle hanging on a pole, climbed into the cable car and then waited as instructed. Five minutes later, John appeared. I shouted to him that I was ready and shortly the cable car moved off, over the river about 100 ft below. My heart skipped a beat when I looked down but my apprehension disappeared when I saw John’s cheerful, smiling face. John showed me two cottages, a caravan and a camper. Each is unique, built and decorated with love, pride and creativity by John and Annette. As soon as I met them, I felt at home. My seven day working experience at the Flying Fox went by far too quickly, yet I never left the property. I walked, read and enjoyed my hosts’ eclectic collection of old records, and meals with them and their guests.