Everyone is a volunteer on the base, from the receptionist and accountant to the base director or school leader – everyone plays a part in the day to day operations and maintenance (chopping firewood, food prep, cooking, cleaning, mowing the lawn, washing and vacuuming etc) of the base. Birthdays and anniversaries are celebrated frequently during mealtimes with songs, colorful candles and birthday cakes.

We have a small library at the base that has a variety of books both for recreational reading or related to the course content. These books are available for students to borrow. The library also has some baby monitors, children's books, family board games and DVDs available to check out. Baby monitors are highly recommended for parents with babies or young children that may need to have naps during the day time. Please either bring your own or let us know in advance if you will need a baby monitor so we can determine if there is enough available on site.

What kind of food do you serve on the base? Each family/student will eat their breakfast in their own unit. Breakfast food (cereals, oatmeal, bread, butter, jam, milk, etc) is provided by the base. Lunch is served in the dining room everyday at 12:30. A typical lunch could be salad, pasta or sandwiches. A hot dinner is served at 5:30 pm. Weekend lunches are not provided as many of our students go away sightseeing on weekends, so it is recommended that you go to town on Friday afternoons to get all you need if you do not have your own vehicle.  Weekend dinners at 5:30 pm as normal.

Do you have high chairs available for children or babies? Yes we can provide a high chair for your room and also for the dining room. Please just let us know in advance so we can ensure we have enough high chairs available for all the children.

Do you have a cot available for children or babies? Yes. Please just let us know if you will be needing a cot in advance and we will make sure one is available.

What kind of clothing should we bring? 

Winter -Warm clothing is needed for our winter, as we don't have central heating. It is recommended that you layer your clothes in NZ, for example long sleeve tops under warm jerseys or jackets and thermal wear or singlets. NZ weather can change during a day so bring suitable clothing for all weather conditions such as a rain coat. You would need closed-toe shoes like sneakers or work boots for Kitchen duty. This is an Occupational Safety and Health Requirement (OSH) in NZ.
Summer- Bring hats, sandals and modest summer clothing as we are a family friendly base and want to set an example for our young people. But you will also need extra layers for nights as temperatures can drop also. Please note, NZ has very high levels of UV rays and sun burn is very common and can cause skin cancer. The health department advises people in summer months [October to April approximately] to wear 30+SPF sun screens and wear a hat between 10 am and 4 pm. This is especially important for fair-skinned people and those not used to being outdoors. 

What are the Clothes Washing facilities like? Automatic coin washing machines are available at a cost of $2 per load. (This includes the detergent). Outside clotheslines are provided. Dryers are also available at a cost of $2 per load. You can purchase $2 coins at the Reception Office.

Do children need Car seats in NZ? Car Seats are a compulsory requirement by law for all children up to the age of 7. For more information on the right car seat for your child/children or to hire car seats check out the following website: http://www.plunket.org.nz/what-we-do/what-we-offer/car-seats/

Do you have internet access on site?
For those with their own computer we have a wireless
internet connection. You can buy Internet vouchers at the Reception Office. We do however have limited cell phone reception due to our location near the Kaimai mountain range.