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Alexandra
Alexandra in Central Otago is the place to be if you like distinct seasons and beautiful surroundings.
Otago
Otago seems to have it all, from beaches to mountains, to rivers, to adventure sports for adrenalin-seekers. The city of Dunedin has much Victorian and Edwardian architecture, and a vibrant student culture thanks to the esteemed University of Otago. The region’s landscape includes both hill country and the Southern Alps, which draw thousands of tourists to Queenstown, the heartbeat for adventure sports in New Zealand. Stay in Otago during all the seasons and you’ll experience hot and dry summers in Central Otago, and snowfall in winter. If you want to live rent-free by house sitting, Otago is arguably not only one of the most beautiful places to do it, it’s also one of the most welcoming.
Hi there! My name is Frances and I live in central Dunedin. I am an Artist that…
Hi there! My name is Frances and I live in central Dunedin. I am an Artist that works from home. I find this works in well with offering my services as a house and pet sitter, not only does it allow me to regularly travel around both the South and North Island of New Zealand, but it enables me to spend quality time at home befriending and looking after your pets, giving them that one on one company, attention and continuity of care and routines that they are used too. I am a mature single woman, with no dependents and have an animal-loving personality. I come from a large Dutch, farming family from the Waikato, so from a young age I started house and pet sitting for family and friends. I am a very reliable, honest, clean and tidy person with good communication skills, with references that can verify this to put your mind at rest:) I have had many house sitting positions over the years, the most current being for Alan, in Otautau, Southland (see reference attached). This was a large property with one gorgeous dog and I cared for him for around three months. Over Christmas I house sat for Rosie and Ian in Christchurch for 6 weeks, they had one dog, two cats, a goldfish and a vege patch (see other reference attached). These were both very enjoyable experiences, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with their pets and sharing their spaces with them. I also have a picture of Casper the dog in my profile - as you can see, we are out taking him for a bit of a driving lesson :) As my references will tell you, I am a trustworthy and respectful person who communicates well. I am very reliable, clean and tidy and have been told by past home owners that what they appreciated most was not only did they come home to a clean and tidy house, but they could see that their animals were well cared for and loved. I am a bright creative friendly person who you will find a delight to have in your home. Thank you for taking the time to consider my online profile and feel free to call my referees, who will be more than happy to vouch for my character and skills as a house sitter and pet minder. I do hope to meet with you and your pets shortly. Warmest regards...Frances:)
Hello I am Jahn, My husband and I are a 'young' retired couple, grey around the…
Hello I am Jahn, My husband and I are a 'young' retired couple, grey around the edges but lively and interested in the things of life. Both of us have worked all our lives in various roles; Paul as a tablet maker, maintenance guy for several large companies, supervisor of the Tool Shop of a large international company, he excels in his ability to 'fix things' and is a very steady hand. I have experience in Office Administration and Community Support work, currently studying a Bachelor of Visual Arts and the Dunedin Art School. We have both travelled extensively and know what it is like to go away and worry about things at home. So, we are house sitters for people who want the assurance that their pets and their property will be cared for with love and diligence. We both have a wide range of experience in the care and handling of many different breeds of dog from a little Chihuahua up to a huge Great Dane and many other breeds in between, and we cannot forget those beloved friends of the mixed breed variety. Dont let us forget either our feline friends as well. My husband had the care of 20 + chickens at one stage, so we are fairly well versed in the care of domestic pets. Paul and I do regular house sitting for friends and acquaintances, who require pet sitting as their priority. One experience where there were two dogs and a cat, I ran the clothing alteration business (attached to the house and property) while Paul took care of the house and lawns etc for 3 months. Recently we were caretakers for a local holiday park for 3 months (over the Winter while the owners had a break) again where the large Labrador was our main priority,.while the owners were away. There have been many other placements, usually by referral. We are very hands on and can take care of pretty well everything that that requires attending to as well as keeping in touch with the owners, on a regular basis; for reassurance that all is well at home. We pride ourselves on careful attention to detail. We specialise in looking after pets, as well, which is why we have mainly been asked to step in, frequently at very short notice.
Hello, we are Daphne and Kevin! We work mostly online, Daphne as Copywriter and…
Hello, we are Daphne and Kevin! We work mostly online, Daphne as Copywriter and SEO manager and Kevin as Freelancer, so we both spend a lot of time at home at the computer. We love the companionship of animals for this, being around them keeps us grounded and focussed on what really matters. :-) We both understand the needs of animals and genuinely care for their well-being. We love taking dogs for long walks and cuddling cats while watching a movie. We will make sure they are well fed and given the attention they need. Kevin has construction and maintenance experience, he is good with his hands and happy to help with any low-key tasks around the house. Daphne loves to keep things tidy and clean and will make sure your house is in the state you found it in, if not better :). Outside our jobs, we enjoy hiking, yoga, surfing, reading, and we love cooking big healthy meals with lots of vegetables. With plenty of experience in hospitality, operations, and house/pet-sitting between us, we are your perfect housesitting duo! We will keep you posted on how things are going at home and make sure any issues are acted upon quickly and responsibly, so you can enjoy your time away. Kind regards, Daphne & Kevin
I am a retired farmer/teacher who is fit and active. My late husband and I ran …
I am a retired farmer/teacher who is fit and active. My late husband and I ran a sheep and cattle farm for 20 years. After my husband died 30 years ago, I continued farming on my own. I love to travel, especially globally and have traveled to Scotland Slovakia, India, China, USA and look forward to going to Russia next year. I lived in Calgary for 14 months working as a Nanny. Playing Bridge is an activity that I enjoy and as well as playing at our local Bridge club I play online Bridge. I love to meet people and house sitting would provide me with an opportunity to explore my own beautiful country. As well as travel I also love bridge and love to play over the internet with other global bridge players. As a house sitter you can expect me to respect and care for your home and pets as I would do my own. I am very reliable and careful and I hope that you will consider me to look after your precious pets and home.
Hi there, my name is Frances! I am a healthy, energetic, non-smoking 67 yr old …
Hi there, my name is Frances! I am a healthy, energetic, non-smoking 67 yr old female. I love long-distance walking, gardening, classical music, people, and generally just enjoying life. I house-sit so I can enjoy looking after animals. I now have about four years house-sitting experience behind me, both internationally and through the Housesitting Company (NZ). Pre-Covid-19 I was fully employed in the tourism sector, but I'm currently semi-retired. I love animals, particularly cats, dogs and smaller farm animals. To-date, I've taken care of various cats, several small to medium sized dogs, chickens, alpacas and sheep. I've done a couple of overseas sits as well - 2017 in Frankfurt looking after a blind cat for 3 weeks; 2018 in Holland for 3 months looking after an elderly cat. All experiences have been fabulous! I will be an excellent house-sitter, as I take great pride in everything I do, have high standards, and I'm honest, independent and reliable. I will thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to take care of your pet(s) and your home. Where-ever I choose to house-sit, I will endeavor to meet with you and your pets before-hand. A virtual meeting is a great alternative! I'm looking forward to meeting with you soon!
Our names are Ron and Rosalie, Both my partner and I have a lifetime of experie…
Our names are Ron and Rosalie, Both my partner and I have a lifetime of experience having owned farms and lifestyle blocks in the south Island of NZ. We have knowledge of sheep farming, cattle, and all the other associated animals including dogs, horses, hens, cats etc. We are experienced in the care, and are very fond of our furry friends. I (Ron) was raised in Christchurch but my passion was spending holidays in rural Canterbury. During my lifetime I have farmed and managed a shearing contracting business. I spent fourteen years in service with the NZ Police as well as many years in Search and Rescue in our beautiful country. My Partner (Rosalie) was raised in Rangiora NZ and spent many years farming in the Awatere Valley in Marlborough, and has a wealth of knowledge of all things related to farming. Latey, she has been involved in Wedding Planning, 15 Years with Harcourts in Real Estate and Property Management. We both love travelling to new places and meeting new people. We are responsible and respectful people who want to help out families by looking after their property and pets while they are away. We are also very friendly and trustworthy and your pets will enjoy our company just as much as we will enjoy theirs. Fitness is our priority and we enjoy excellent health. Please have a look through our references and feel free to call our referees who will be more than happy to vouch for our character and skills as housesitters and pet minders. We would love to meet you and your pets and hope that you will consider us as your housesitters.
We are David and Adrienne Smith and are "active retirees ". We are a friendly, q…
We are David and Adrienne Smith and are "active retirees ". We are a friendly, quiet couple, non-smokers, who have rented out our home in Auckland to discover the rest of this beautiful country, whilst caring for your home and pets. About us: David spent much of his early years on a farm in Matamata, before moving with his family to Auckland. He has worked for Air New Zealand, and its predecessor NAC, for many years as an airline pilot, both short and long haul and is now retired. David is involved in IT support for a charity group, which can be carried out anywhere there is internet connection. We do not need much bandwidth, its mostly offline work. Adrienne, also retired, has worked as a nurse and caregiver. She is a keen gardener and loves walking, crafts and reading. We are keen to move into the next phase of life, exploring other parts of this beautiful country, and beyond. Since Coronavirus cancelled the holiday plans of many, we chose to spend a year in the beautiful Bay of Plenty, but now we feel it's time to return to caring for your fur, feathered and finned family. We have now relocated to the South Island, and are based in central Christchurch. We are excited about the opportunities that await us here. Our gorgeous bi-colour ragdoll cat is no longer with us, leaving us free to care for your home and pets. We love pets and have significant experience caring for cats, dogs of various sizes and ages, and chooks, goats, cows and birds. Awarded as a top 10 housesitter for 2019 and 2020. As we have no work or family constraints, we can offer dedicated service to caring for your home and pet as we would our own.
We're ready and willing to assist you! Coming from a farming background, we're…
We're ready and willing to assist you! Coming from a farming background, we're experienced in animal welfare and are very familiar with the love of the land! You can entrust your home, your animals/pets and possessions in our capable hands - we pride ourselves in our honesty, our integrity, our reliability, and our caring nature. We are retired farmers and extra handy with any minor repairs which can be necessary from time to time. We have recently moved from a lifestyle block in sunny Marlborough. This block required loads of time for gardening - hence we are not afraid of additional garden maintenance if required. Lyn, when and if available, is periodically approached to assist at a local Medical Centre on a casual part-time basis. Allan is fully retired but enjoys the outdoors, animals and generally keeping himself busy ... once a farmer, always a farmer! Allan looks forward to sharing over 50 years of farming experience. His vast involvement has been varied covering many aspects of successful farming i.e. from dairy farming, sheep and cropping, deer farming, to operating a Farm-Stay in the Mackenzie country which housed a great variety of animals, including many pets. We ran small flocks of fattening sheep on our 5 acres which also offered a great assortment of fruits, berries and plentiful vegies. We had great delight in sharing the excess with friends, neighbours, and locals in the village. We’ve owned and loved many pets – Golden Retriever, Golden Cavalier Spaniel, Germans Shepherds, and our last pet .. wee Kitty – a gorgeous Ginger who followed Allan everywhere and sat at his heels. Kitty has now passed on. Whilst we await a house-build we have made the decision to travel more frequently and look forward to the opportunity of caring for and the sharing of, other folks’ pets and/or animals, who can then remain happy and settled in their own environment. With over 20 years of voluntary work in Lions and other worthy organizations, we would now like to focus our energy in meeting others and being of assistance to those wishing to take a break from their home/farm. We enjoy travelling in our caravan and meeting with other interesting folks. We offer a sincere passion and expertise in caring for your pets, your livestock and your prize possession ... your property!
Hello there! My name is Pia Bacino, 29 year old female, lover of the simple an…
Hello there! My name is Pia Bacino, 29 year old female, lover of the simple and meaningful things in life! I am a full time photographer - weddings over the summer and photographer for businesses in the winter. It's a joy to live a flexible life and be able to house sit for people all across New Zealand. I’ve been house sitting a little over a year now and have had the pleasure of taking care of large and small dogs, cats, horses, sheep and cows. I have loved every single home and enjoyed meeting new owners and falling in love with furry friends... and taking photos of them. During the week, I am found editing and planning new weddings from home or from cafes. On weekends, if I am not shooting, I enjoy hiking, grabbing coffee with a friend or attending creative pottery classes. I am down to earth, relational, tidy and creative. I do not smoke or drink and enjoy rather relaxing, reading, writing, playing guitar, playing board games and walking. I take owners trust seriously and always strive to keep owners in the loop at all times by providing photos and updates. I would LOVE to meet you and connect with you, hear your story and know what is important to you. Above all, I want you to feel reassured that your home and furry friends are safe, comfortable and being loved on. I look forward to hearing from you! Pia
*Often available at short notice* LGBTQIA Friendly. We are two mature friendly …
*Often available at short notice* LGBTQIA Friendly. We are two mature friendly ladies, one of whom is transgendered. Kathy (62) is a Kiwi and Joliene (60) is Australian/Croation We own a “lock and leave” apartment on the Gold Coast Australia and live between Australia and New Zealand. We enjoy traveling whenever we can. We were with Airbnb in Australia for some years ranked as Super Hosts but now as almost grey nomads we have swapped this for travel and house/pet sitting because we miss having a furry friend ourselves. We are happily married and are currently living in New Zealand supporting our sister/sister-in-law who is undergoing cancer treatment here in Christchurch. We are wanting to give ourselves and her some space from time to time, hence the house/ pet sitting. We both love all animals especially cats Dogs and horses. Kathy: Is an artist and retired Registered Nurse and Forensic Psychologist. She lived on a farm for several years and has looked after chickens, sheep, cattle, sheep dogs, horses, fish, guinea pigs, pet frogs and birds. She can drive tractors and four-wheel moter-bikes. She has her car, motorbike, boat and jet ski licences Joliene: is a private Pilot and owns a small aeroplane. She worked in Electronics and with computers for many years and she now work’s online on the American stock market. Personally, we have shared our life with 4 dogs over the years (Max- a German shepherd, Ben a miniature Poodle, Pepper a miniature toy Pomeranian, molly a Staffordshire terrier, five cats, numerous fish, guinea pigs and cockatoos. We have looked after our friends very old blind dog in Brisbane and cared for Preston a Staffordshire bull terrier for two years. We regularly walk a cute miniature schnauzer dog call Jemma for her owner who has MS. We regularly cat sit Usher- a rag doll mix when we are over on the Gold Coast Australia. We both love walking and would be more than happy to take your dogs for a walk, and look after them and your house like they are our own. We are happy to water gardens, look after your veggie patch and mow the lawn. If you are looking for someone who would respect your home, is honest, neat and tidy and would enjoy looking after your buddies, then let us know how we can help. We hope to hear from you soon Kathy & Joliene
I am a very fit and active retiree. I left the workforce five years ago to trav…
I am a very fit and active retiree. I left the workforce five years ago to travel to various parts of the world, including some of NZ which I hadn’t yet been to. I have been involved in sport all my life and interested in organics and sustainabilities for many years, so decided to become a Woofer (Willing Worker On Organic Farms). I have thoroughly enjoyed all my placements in NZ, Australia, USA and Portugal. I have visited places and met people that I would never had the chance as a tourist and learnt about growing fruits, vegetables and raising animals in an totally organic and sustainable manner. I have looked after many animals and learnt how to give back to the land for future harvests. Three years ago in 2018 I bought a lifestyle property in the Far North, so have not been able to travel as much, or housesit as I used to, while working hard on my land. Now however I have more spare time, & look forward to being able to travel in NZ. I currently work on my orchard of 100+ trees of every description imaginable, & 4 large vegetable plots. I farm totally organically, eat in season, & am self sufficient(++) with fruit, vegetables & eggs from my 8 chickens. I am able to swap my excesses for milk, meat, cheese & bread! I feel very fortunate. I also have extra acreage which I use for growing grass, (local farmer makes hay in summer), & a smaller area where another farmer runs 20 sheep ( most ready to lamb in August), & 100 chickens. I have also done two caminos (long walks) in both France, and Portugal into Spain. These were 750 and 700km respectively, in 2014 & 2017. My most recent was from Lisbon, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. I have been a proud homeowner since 1980. As a house sitter, you will have someone with old fashion values of care & respect for your property, a good work ethic, totally reliable & honest. As for pets, when my children were growing up, we had a Staffordshire bull terrier, rabbits, cats, cockatiel and baby goats. Currently I have 8 chickens. While woofing I have looked after lots of dogs, cats, goats (learnt to milk), chickens, ducks, pigs, cows, and loved all those times. My woofing hosts would sometimes leave me to house sit at weekends, or in one case, for 10 days when an unavoidable event happened. On that occasion I looked after a small farmlet of goats, cows chickens, vegetable garden, orchard....the entire property. I loved the challenge and was totally equal to the task of overall management. I love outdoors work. Obviously I enjoy walking, so dogs love me for their twice daily long walks. I do hope you will consider me for your housesit. Judy
Hello, I am Mel - an adventurer, nature lover, foodie and animal lover. I have…
Hello, I am Mel - an adventurer, nature lover, foodie and animal lover. I have recently joined this group - I have friends that have been house-sitting around the world and have encouraged me to join the community - so here I am. A bit about me: I am a farm girl at heart, born & bred in the Waikato, NZ. Growing up we had lots of pets and farm animals. Having lived in Auckland since I was 16, I have missed having pets and connecting with my furry friends. I was a flight attendant for the last 12 years and now thanks to Covid, I have set my sights on a new career at NZ Customs and am lucky to be able to work from home. Why I want to be a house-sitter: I have moved on from flatting with others and prefer to live on my own, all the more so because I work from home, and I want to stay in a place that feels like home. My goal is to buy my first home next year and house-sitting is a means to save up for my dream home. It's also an opportunity to discover other parts of NZ I have not yet explored and to also enjoy the company of beloved pets & animals that I also crave. In my spare time I enjoy getting out in nature for a walk and exploring new places. I have a down to earth nature and consider myself to be very clean, tidy and house-proud, so if I get the opportunity to house-sit for you, it will be treated with respect and be left clean & tidy & your animals will be well taken care of. Feel free to ask me any questions. I look forward to meeting and connecting with you! Mel
I am a caring and responsible person. I have been teaching for the last 29 year…
I am a caring and responsible person. I have been teaching for the last 29 years with positions of responsibility but have decided to take a years refreshment leave to explore NZ and have a break from the classroom. I love animals, cooking, gardening and reading. My husband is an ex dairy farmer, he now develops weather software and enjoys surfing as much as possible. Our three children have finally fled the nest so we have some time for ourselves. We own our own home, so know how precious this is and would care for other peoples places as if they were our own. Over the years from being on a farm we have had many animals and know how to care for them and the responsibility this involves. It is so nice to be able to go away and know your animals are happy in their own environment at home We are both in our 50’s, don’t smoke or drink, and respect the privacy of other peoples lives.
Hi I am a 62 year old ex draftsman who was doing occasional contract work in Ne…
Hi I am a 62 year old ex draftsman who was doing occasional contract work in New Zealand but I'm now retired. I am a minimalistic, tidy, highly organised, responsible and trustworthy person with high standards in whatever I undertake. I love animals and travel so house sitting is a perfect way to combine these. I have been house sitting in Australia recently but covid has bought an end to this. I had completed three house sits in Australia and have now completed a number in New Zealand which have been a mixture of dogs and cats, a rabbit and some chooks. They have all been a success and resulted in excellent reviews. I currently live in Christchurch but am free to travel for house sitting in New Zealand. Now being fully retired I can provide full-time attention to your pets and house. You can trust that your pets will have a caring and fun time while you are away. Regards Brian
I am a friendly, kind, fully vaccinated non smoker and I love people and animals…
I am a friendly, kind, fully vaccinated non smoker and I love people and animals....I really enjoy hiking, reading, movies, numbers (luckily I work at an Accountants), handcrafts, friends, family and pottering around home. I am comfortable looking after apartments in the city, homes in the suburbs and also homes in rural areas - pets or no pets. I am a mum of two gorgeous young adults who are running their own worlds....I currently live and work in Rangiora, North Canterbury. *************************************** I love to housesit to help others - so they can have a holiday reassured that their home and animals are well looked after. From my own previous experience, I know how hard it can be to find a kennel/cattery or a suitable person to look after the gorgeous animals in our lives. For me house-sitting is a lovely change of scenery and it would be fabulous to care for other people’s animals and/or home. I really enjoy the company of other people’s animals. I am 50 years old...and as I mentioned, my children are nearly grown ups (when did that happen!!)....they have both “flown” my nest ...my son is a second year building apprentice and my daughter is heading to Uni to do architecture ....as they don’t live with me now I can freely go housesitting as required. I grew up by the beach in Sumner and our family always had house pets and my (now ex-) husband and I brought our children up on a lifestyle block in Ohoka with cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats. So I have looked after and have experience with a wide range of stock/pets (in saying that I am not familiar with riding and the daily care of horses - although I love being around them!). I would feel privileged if you choose to have me as your Housesitter. I am very tidy and am happy to do things the way you wish. I will respect your house and everything in it and will be grateful for you letting me stay in your home. I look forward to hearing from you!!
November 2021 update: we are traveling and trekking in the South Island for the …
November 2021 update: we are traveling and trekking in the South Island for the summer. We are a caring, tidy, very responsible couple. Esther (46) retired after 22 years service in the Singapore Navy and Jamie (55) is a small business owner who works from a laptop. Esther is also a previous dog owner and simply loves all animals (especially cats) and sweetly cares for them. She also has an exceptional understanding of dogs and dog breeds, their needs and issues. She will put into practice and care for pets as if her own, such as establishing routine, maintaining structure by walking the dogs, being positive virtually all the time, and will love to go running with them (if suitable), perhaps the reason her Shetland sheepdog, lasted until 17. She has looked after many of her friends' dogs while they were on overseas vacation and on our toughest house sit on a farm in 2018, we looked after 12 dogs, including 6 big working dogs, caring for them all for two weeks, without incident - and lots of joy. Esther has also helped puppies socialize and looked after old dogs too. She is comfortable washing them, doing basic grooming, administering medications, and they certainly get a lot of TLC. We listen carefully and follow instructions. Jamie runs Project Himalaya organising treks in Nepal and India, but that is on hold due to covid and so we are glad to be home in NZ. Esther is also an enthusiastic gardener, and will love to care for your home and garden. We would be home most of the time. We live in Kerikeri (own our property) and house sitting is a way to experience other parts of New Zealand, and to care for pets as we don't have our own due to travelling lots. We look forward to caring for your precious pets and your home!