Auckland
Long-Stay Volunteering Experience
In Auckland we’re bringing biodiversity back to the city’s many parks and waterways. From our large scale native plantings at Ātiu Creek Regional Park and track and trail maintenance in the Waitakere Ranges to invasive weed removal and coastal clean ups, there are lots of ways to get involved to protect our important biodiversity.
At a glance.
DURATION
Book weekly (7 Days and 7 Nights) Starts Friday 11:00am and ends each Friday afternoon. Volunteer for as many weeks as you like, including getting involved at a number of our places.
ACCOMMODATION
A farm cottage in Ātiu Creek Regional Park, with bunk beds, full bathroom, laundry and kitchen facilities.
MEETING POINT
11:00am at our Auckland City Office in Eden Terrace. The address is 10 New North Road, Auckland 1021.
FOOD
Food with vegetarian and vegan options is provided, with everyone joining in at mealtimes to prepare and share.
REQUIREMENT
Anyone aged 18 or over can join.
ACTIVITIES
Protecting our incredible kauri forests, removing invasive plants, maintaining tracks and trails and more!
HIGHLIGHTS
Auckland's Ātiu Creek Regional Park, Rangitoto Island, Maungawhau (Mount Eden) and One Tree Hill in Cornwall Park and more!
Programme details.
Volunteering activities
Volunteer activities include protecting our incredible kauri forests, removing invasive plants, planting native species and more. There’s lots of variety which means one day you could be doing work to protect one of Auckland’s awesome beaches, and the next replanting native trees to restore an urban stream.
Sharing with others
If you’re interested we’d love to inspire your creativity as well, as we develop resources to encourage people everywhere to get planting our future native forests, and share the Wild Heart Project vision. Video, Instagram feeds, and simple conservation how-to-guides are just the beginning of what’s possible.
Evenings
In the evening there’s time to relax with your fellow volunteers. Accommodation and food is provided, with everyone joining in at mealtimes. There’s also a small organic veggies garden you can work in, and harvest from for part of your evening meal.
Your Team Leader
Our Team Leaders are people who love to share their passion for nature and conservation. As well as being your guide for the various conservation activities, they’ll take time to tell you more about this special place, its unique nature, and ways we can look after it. During the week they will introduce you to the project, work with you on your volunteering projects, and share with you their knowledge about conservation and the region.
Accommodation
Your accommodation is at the project site in Ātiu Creek Regional Park, in one of the former farm houses. You’ll stay in a bunkroom with mattress and pillows provided. There’s full shower, bathroom and laundry facilities. It’s a chance to slow down and connect with the rhythms of the tides and nature.
Weekends
Volunteer activities take place 8.30am - 4.00pm Monday to Friday. Weekends are a chance to explore the area. You can spend your free time connecting with nature and exploring this spectacular regional park, either on your own or with fellow volunteers. Hop on one of our bicycles and ride around the tracks, or head out for a walk out the many headlands and beaches. Parts of the Regional Park are still a working farm so you’ll also can get up close to some of the sheep, and farm animals grazing there. Read about the founder’s vision for the regional park, and download a park map here. You can also follow up your time volunteering with a day or overnight trip to Tiritiri Matangi Island where Tuatara, kōkako and kiwi live in the wild...
Getting there
Pick up at our Auckland City Office on Friday morning at 11:00am. The address is 10 New North Road, Auckland 1021. We’ll also drop you off the following Friday at 3pm. We’ll send you full details of where to meet when you book, and also details for those with a vehicle wanting to meet at our accommodation base in Ātiu Creek.
Don’t stop!
Volunteers often book multiple weeks in either one project, or get involved in a number of projects around the country.
What to bring
We provide all the tools and equipment needed for each volunteer activity. We’ll also send you a list of things to bring. Things you need to bring include:
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Long trousers
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Gardening gloves
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Comfortable walking or working boots
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Wide-brimmed sun hat/beanie
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Sleeping bag
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SPF 50 Sunscreen
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Long sleeved shirts
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Wet weather clothing
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Tough work or gardening gloves
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Drink bottle
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Insect repellent
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Sunglasses
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Backpack
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Personal medications
Ready to make a difference?
Frequently asked questions
Who can volunteer?
Everyone aged 18 and over! We have people from all walks of life, and both kiwis and people from all around the world volunteering. It’s a great opportunity to make a real difference, and get to know others who are also into nature and conservation.
When do projects start?
Our projects start every Friday and end the following Friday afternoon. Volunteering takes place each weekday, with weekends left free for you to relax and explore the area.
How long is each day’s volunteering?
Your team leader will pick you up from your accommodation around 8.30am, and take you to the project site in our minivans. We always stop for a morning tea break as well as lunch around 1pm. We finish up for the day around 4pm, and bring you back to your accommodation. If we’re passing a great spot, we’ll often stop and explore.
How physical are the activities?
This varies, however every activity has a range of tasks, so everyone can find something that suits their level of fitness. We also make sure there’s time every day to connect with nature and listen to the birds!
How many people will be in our group?
The maximum size of our volunteering projects is 10 volunteers. Past volunteers say one of the best parts of the experience was getting to really know each other and their team leader, and we’ve found limiting the group size really helps this.
Can I extend how long I volunteer for once I’ve started?
Many volunteers plan multi-week experiences. This includes spending time being based in one project, and also planning an itinerary that takes you from one project to the next.
What’s included?
Your accommodation and food is included. We provide a pantry of food ingredients. All volunteers are expected to help with cooking and dishes. There are hot showers, and also laundry facilities including a drier and detergent.
Will I have to use sprays and chemicals?
No, volunteers don’t have to use these. Our focus is on planting, restoration and monitoring of native species.
What do other volunteers think?
The main thing I like about the projects is the variety of places that you get to visit when you are working as they are places that you would never see on a normal tour around New Zealand. I like the variety of work that is available, but sometimes the work can become slightly repetitive - on the farm the only other option available was to help with trapping/shearing the sheep which is not a task I would be interested in.