from 1,287€

Perfect 4.6rating (34)
  • Life On Land

Off-grid Environmental Conservation

location
2 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Moderate response rate

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

Learn about New Zealand’s unique native flora and fauna and participate and complete hands-on conservation work in different forests!

This Sanctuary is a non-profit organization located in the cloud-forest of Tutamoe Peak in Northland, New Zealand. The area is home to the endangered kiwi bird and to the rare giant kauri snail. Locals and volunteers are working together to protect this lush forest and to restore it to its natural ...

About the program

This Sanctuary is a non-profit organization located in the cloud-forest of Tutamoe Peak in Northland, New Zealand. The area is home to the endangered kiwi bird and to the rare giant kauri snail. Locals and volunteers are working together to protect this lush forest and to restore it to its natural splendor. The organization is built on sustainable principles and it is totally off-grid with most of the structures and tools having been recycled from other projects.

Working with the Department of Conservation, we are also able to protect and monitor the precious wildlife in a number of other forests each having its unique characteristics. Our volunteers perform a wide range of these activities, creating access trails, protecting native species from invasive rats, possums, and stoats, planting native trees, monitoring the pest numbers, and building an environment that will continue to be home to the endangered Kiwi and Kokako birds. This project not only gives you a chance to actively restore protected natural ecosystems, but it also creates an everlasting experience for all who are involved.

Volunteering at the sanctuary will challenge your mind, body and soul. Not only will you learn a great amount about conservation and sustainability practices, but you will also be involved in the execution of the sanctuary’s daily maintenance tasks and activities.

Typical day

You’ll be getting your hands dirty with activities like:

  • cutting and marking tracks,
  • installing, refilling and monitoring bait stations,
  • monitoring kiwi, kokako, and rodents,
  • entering data,
  • weeding and planting the herb garden,
  • building & landscaping
  • milking cows,
  • making cheese and butter,
  • chopping wood ...

Typical day

You’ll be getting your hands dirty with activities like:

  • cutting and marking tracks,
  • installing, refilling and monitoring bait stations,
  • monitoring kiwi, kokako, and rodents,
  • entering data,
  • weeding and planting the herb garden,
  • building & landscaping
  • milking cows,
  • making cheese and butter,
  • chopping wood and much, much more.

No volunteer experience is the same and you never know what exciting tasks will come up while you’re here! We try to balance the maintenance and sustainability activities so everyone gets a well-rounded stay. We appreciate every hour our volunteers put in because without you, this initiative would not be possible.

Each day allows for leisure activities and self-discovery, too- so we’re not all work and no play. Typically, your day is going to look something like this:

6:30 am - 8 am Cow milking (optional activity)
8 am - 9 am Breakfast
9 am - 9:30 am Clean-up
10 am - 12 pm Morning work activities
12 pm - 1 pm Lunch (indoors or picnic-style)
1 pm - 4 pm Afternoon working activities
4 pm - 6 pm Free time/ leisure time
6 pm - 8 pm Dinner
8 pm - 10 pm Leisure activities- sunset watching, soccer, dusk bird chorus

Free-time activities

Monday are free days when you can relax, maybe head into town to use the internet. Once a week we will head explore some of the sights of the Kauri Coast and on return go on a night safari looking for kiwi in the forest.

Weather will always be a contributing factor to the days activities, so we need ...

Free-time activities

Monday are free days when you can relax, maybe head into town to use the internet. Once a week we will head explore some of the sights of the Kauri Coast and on return go on a night safari looking for kiwi in the forest.

Weather will always be a contributing factor to the days activities, so we need adaptable volunteers with can-do attitudes! There will also be plenty of time to explore the gorgeous surrounding areas of our little nook of New Zealand.

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

You should be able to walk 10km a day No previous experience necessary, just a strong desire to work in nature. Full medical insurance Strong teamwork skills Clothes for rainy/chilly weather (even in the summer) Warm sleeping bag and gumboots (also known as rubber boots or Wellingtons) Please bring a supply of any necessary medications that will cover your entire stay (next medical clinic 50km away) Necessary vaccinations Necessary flights & visas

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Global Nomadic

  • Accommodation
  • Food & Drinks
  • night safaris
  • sightseeing activities
  • Pick up from Dargaville (the closets town)

Accommodation

Accommodation
Volunteers will live among nature in an off the grid, ecologically friendly camp. The common structures of the camp (kitchen, showers, dining room) are made from recycled shipping containers. They do not have electricity or running water (except on occasions where generator will be turned on for a short time for hot showers).

The accommodation for volunteers consists of a small cabin with two bunk beds each (men and women have separate cabins), or you can upgrade to an incredible tree tent for a small fee. We only host up to 8 volunteers at a time to ensure enough space for all.

Wifi
There is no wifi available for use as we do not have electricity. Phone signal for internet and calls is generally strong in the common areas for these providers: Telecom, Vodafone, Skinny, and 2degrees. There is no connection in the forest (and we like it that way).

Food & Beverages

Food
Most dietary restrictions can be catered to if we are notified before you come. We drink filtered rain water, eat herbs from our own garden, and have mostly organic meat, cheese and butter that will be made by you. Feel free to bring any additional snacks or special foods yourself, but only goods that do not need refrigeration.

Alcohol and smoking
The possession and consumption of alcohol is not permitted within the sanctuary.

Smoking is allowed in one area only and you will need to provide proof of fire insurance (minimum NZD 5 million) before being allowed to smoke. We would like to protect our forest and in such a remote area firefighting costs are very high.

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at Auckland Airport

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Internet Access

Sorry, no access at the project site

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Auckland Airport (AKL) in Auckland. We assist you to find cheap flights to New Zealand. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for New Zealand provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in New Zealand you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for New Zealand. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Starts every Monday between November and March, depending on availability.
Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

2 weeks (min. stay) 1,287€
3 weeks 1,634€
4 weeks 1,980€
24 weeks (max. stay) 7,425€
Average fees 476€/week

Program fees

476€ per week 2 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

2 - 24 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Global Nomadic during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your organization

Global Nomadic

Perfect 4.6 rating (34 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2009

Verified by Volunteer World

  Moderate response rate

Coordinated by

Jeremy

About the project

We believe real change can happen when people find life-enhancing opportunities.

Meet your organization

Who we are

Global Nomadic empowers positive change by connecting people with projects

Global Nomadic was founded in 2008 with one clear goal – to empower change by connecting people. We believe real change can only come about when people are able to find the right opportunities with the right organisations. Over the past years, we have grown to offer high-quality international internships in a wide range of professional fields, but our aim is still the same; connecting people with projects.

We provide aspiring young professionals with exactly what is needed to set them apart in the very competitive world we live in. We exist to help you further your career through educational international work experience placements, but also to help NGOs around the world carry out their community-building work, by connecting them with you. By working with local NGOs, charities, and communities you will gain excellent experience and valuable skills, aiding you to further your ambitions – whilst making a difference where it’s needed most.

This world is not a perfect place – and we don’t claim to be able to fix it. But what we can do is provide a bridge between you and the people who can. Our mission is to work towards a better and more stable world by connecting people with projects. We believe we work better together than apart. We believe travel and exposure to other cultures, beliefs and ways of life are the best ways to achieve this. We believe you can travel the world and travel your career.

What we do

We provide access to vetted, worthwhile international internships in a wide range of professional fields.

We work in a range of different fields from veterinary medicine and environmental conservation to journalism, public health, business development and education – matching you with reputable, worthwhile organisations around the world. Unlike many other volunteer organisations, we have personally visited and vetted our project partners, to ensure you a safe and worthwhile international experience.

We also choose to only work with partners whose projects contribute to their local community in a sustainable manner. We do not support, nor advocate orphanage tourism or irresponsible wildlife conservation projects. Our aim is to help our project partners focus on their core work by offering an easy way to find committed interns and volunteers to support their daily activities.

Our volunteers

Global Nomadic is a trusted community meeting space connecting people with NGO projects around the world.

We also offer helping you to source and organise the best flights, insurance, visas and all the many other things you will need before you reach your project destinations, including country guides, packing lists and much more! We want to make sure that you have the volunteering time of your life.

Global Nomadic personally visits all volunteer sites to ensure a quality experience for volunteers. You will receive support before, during and after your placement.

34 reviews · rating4.6

Sandra Niederlechner rating4.6

2017 at Off-grid Environmental Conservation

I stayed 3 months at the Sanctuary, longer than actually planned, to do my internship for university. I learnt a lot about the forest, native animals, pests, native trees and about conservation work. Moreover, it was great to work together with a team of like-minded people and being able to work ...
Wylie Hampsom rating4.8

2017 at Off-grid Environmental Conservation

I volunteered for two weeks and if my time wasn’t as limited in New Zealand I would’ve loved to volunteer for even longer. My two month trip to New Zealand is almost over and it’s safe to say that my two weeks at pupu rangi was one of the major highlights of my whole trip, if not THE highlight ...
Dominic Aeschlimann rating4.8

2024 at Construction & Renovation of Community Facilities

I have been two weeks in the project to help in diffrent stuff like painting and prepairing bricks. I enjoyed it a lot and the locals were so happy when they saw it. The stuff is lovley and the other voulenteers too. i would do it immediately ...
Beatriz Nicolau rating5

2023 at Whale & Dolphin Conservation in Italy

I had the privilege of participating in this program which I can only describe as the best experience of my life. Angelo, the driving force behind this initiative, is an incredible individual dedicated to making the world a better place. My week on board was nothing short of amazing, offering me a ...
Hannah Lühr rating4.4

2023 at Teaching Placement in Local Schools

I did the Programme for 4 weeks, starting with the introduction week. The introduction week, was an absolute blast, exploring different aspects and sights of Balinese culture. After that, the teaching Programme started, which was at least as good. The kids were very welcoming and even though ...
Solange Lodomez rating4.2

2023 at Lemur Conservation Experience

I fell in love with these wonderful little animals 🥰 I didn't know that I was going to work at LemuriaLand and it has been a great surprise. The staff there is wonderful. Work begins at 7am, not 8am. Volunteer center is located in the town of Hell-Ville, unfortunately. Staff at the center ...

Location

Oceania > Australia and New Zealand > New Zealand > Kauri Coast

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Volunteer Abroad  >  Environment  >  Conservation Work in New Zealand
Contact Jeremy
  Moderate response rate

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