Wellington
Long-Stay Volunteering Experience
In Wellington we are re-growing the city’s green heart so it’s once more a haven for our native bird species. There are a great range of projects to be involved in including replanting native forests across Wellington’s reserves, streams and beaches.
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
Truby King House in Truby King Park, with bunk beds, full bathroom, laundry and kitchen facilities.
MEETING POINT
11:00am at The Truby King House, which is a short Uber or Taxi ride from both the airport or Wellington City. The address is 21B Manchester Terrace, Melrose, Wellington.
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
Working in our nursery, removing rubbish from beaches, removing invasive weeds, maintaining tracks and trails and more!
Programme details.
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Volunteering activities
Volunteering takes place Monday to Friday. You will work alongside a trained guide during the day, with evenings left free to explore the area and catch up with fellow volunteers. There’s lots of variety every week, meaning you might be planting/releasing amongst the sand dunes one day and then gazing out at the views on Mount Victoria the next day. Other activities can include working in our nursery and removing rubbish from beaches. We also make sure there’s time to explore the spectacular spots we volunteer at.
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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, wifi and food is included, with everyone joining in preparing meals.
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 historic Truby King House set in the beautiful Truby King Park. It is an awesome base for our projects with a full kitchen, as well as an outdoor BBQ, dining room and lounge (including table tennis table). You’ll stay in one of our bunk rooms. We provide mattresses, pillows, sheets and a pillowcase - just bring your sleeping bag. We have full bathroom facilities (shared) and also a washing machine (and laundry powder) and a dryer.
Here’s a Google Maps link for Truby King House
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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 exploring Wellington including its great cafes. Zealandia Ecosanctuary is a must to visit, as is Te Papa (the Museum of New Zealand) and its amazing new Te Taiao nature exhibition that gets you exploring the natural world of Aotearoa. A great day trip can be spend on the beautiful Matiu/Somes Island, which is in the centre of the harbour. Matiu/Somes Island is a predator-free scientific reserve, with heaps of native flora and fauna to explore.
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Getting there
Our meeting point is 11:00am at The Truby King House. Truby King House is a short Uber or Taxi ride from both the airport or Wellington City. The address is 21B Manchester Terrace, Melrose, Wellington, NZ, 6023. You can also get the bus – visit www.metlink.org.nz and enter both your pick-up location along with <21B Manchester Terrace, Melrose, Wellington, NZ, 6023> as your destination.
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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
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.