When the first volunteers arrived, back in 2013, there were no kiwi in this forest. Today, they live here and survive to the point that we know them individually, by name. Similarly, for the first three years of the project, we have not seen one live kauri snail, today they are everywhere in large numbers. That is what patient, continuous, hands-on conservation can do at the scale of a single forest and this is the kind of impact that you could be contributing to.
There is a particular kind of day that people remember long after they leave here: compass in hand, navigating your way into the dense rainforest to check traps, fill up bait stations, or retreieve trail cameras that are placed on tracks most people never know exist. The canopy closes overhead, the forest floor is wet and you know where you're going because you've been here long enough to have learned it. That day belongs to you in a way that is hard to explain to someone who hasn't had it.
This kind of independence is something you grow into, not where you begin. Nobody arrives already able to do this: you are trained step by step and much of the work is done in pairs or small teams so you are rarely on your own until you know the ground well enough. What this work asks of you is not toughness — it is not especially difficult — but attitude: once you are trained, you are trusted to work on your own and to do things properly because the wildlife depends on the job being done right. People who take that to heart settle in quickly and once the skills become second nature, the nervousness falls away and the forest becomes a happy place. What we look for is not experience or fearlessness but exactly that willingness — bring it and the rest is learned here.
If these words resonate, we invite you to join our conservation project that spans four different forests in the Northland region — each one distinct, from ancient kauri stands to cloud forests where the fog settles in for the night. The work spans the full range of what conservation actually involves: planning, logistics, training, field operations, monitoring, data collection, data analysis, and the practical maintenance that keeps the program running year after year. You will learn about the challenges these forests face and contribute to their protection in a real and measurable way.
The species we work with — kiwi, kokako, long-tailed bats, native fish, invertebrates — represent some of the rarest wildlife in the world. You will track them, monitor them, and come to understand why protecting them is more complex and more absorbing than it first appears. We wake up to the song of the birds, spend the day attuned to the rhythm of the forest, and at night the Milky Way fills a sky devoid of any artificial light.
And it is not all work. One day a week we drive out to see the Kauri Coast — the lakes, the beach, the giant kauri trees — and the evenings are yours: the dusk chorus, the sunset, and what you make of the free time toghether with the team or by yourself. Most people are surprised how quickly they stop reaching for their phone and how little they miss it. The best moments here tend to be the ones you and the others create together — playing board games or cards, heading out into the night to look for kiwi, talking late, or the occasional sing-along around the fire — and they are often what people remember most.
When in the city, busy with the daily routine, it is easy to feel helpless about the state of the natural world — the problems are global, and no one person can fix them. Here, in the middle of nowhere, at the edge of the forest, the scale is different: you still cannot save the planet in a season (or a lifetime), but you can help a kiwi chick survive and you can help the team set the stage for next season's work that will protect more chicks, snails, and tree thrive.
By the end of your stay, you realize that the helplessness has evaporated, you see yourself a little differently having taken on real responsibility and done work that mattered, and you realize that you are capable of changing the world when working with the right team. The kiwi that live in our forest since 2013 know it already.
Read on to find out what that looks like in practice.
Tasks
Our program is built around a simple idea: that the best way to understand conservation is to be fully inside it — working with the forest, not just observing it. We've designed it so that the learning, the physical work, and the time to actually enjoy this part of New Zealand all belong to the same experience. There are three main parts:
- the conservation work that we do in the forest
- the manual work that we do around the sanctuary
- the sightseeing that we do around the region
The conservation tasks that we perform in our sanctuary and on behalf of the Department of Conservation are performed at a professional level, and you will receive the extensive training necessary to reach the required high standard.
Throughout your stay you'll be learning and practising the skills needed to work in dense rainforest — navigating by map, compass, and GPS, reading markers on tracks, operating out of sight of any road deep in the forest. You'll use radio for communication and emergencies, handle telemetry equipment to track kiwi and locate target species across difficult terrain, and learn to plan and execute conservation operations from start to finish. The work behind a healthy forest is extensive and largely invisible to visitors; here you'll see all of it and contribute to it. We're keen to teach anyone who shows genuine interest, and the opportunities to learn are yours to take.
There is no other program in New Zealand that works across this range of species — from invertebrates and birds to bats — or use this level of field equipment. You'll be using all of it from the first week.
Some of the tasks that you will complete are:
- cutting and marking tracks
- installing, refilling, and monitoring bait stations
- installing and monitoring traps
- possum, stoat, and rodent monitoring
- kiwi and kokako monitoring
- invertebrate monitoring
- bat monitoring
- installation of trail cameras to monitor target species
- use of telemetry equipment to monitor target species
- seed collection
- weed control and planting of native plants
- data entry
- data analysis to determine kiwi, bat, and snail territories
We recommend that you read the following introduction to conservation on New Zealand's Department of Conservation's website.
The manual work part of the program refers mostly to the activities that we have to perform to maintain and enhance our operational base. It is very likely that most of the tasks will be new to you but you will receive training or instructions.
Tasks include:
- weeding and maintaining the herb garden
- building maintenance tasks (i.e. painting walls, setting up fences)
- landscaping
- chopping wood
- general help around the place
Previous volunteers helped us paint the accommodation buildings, start a herb garden, paved a patio area, built sheds, erected fences, and built an outdoor bath.
The third component of the program consists of the relaxation activities that are so important to recharge one's batteries. We believe that it is important for each volunteer to see the extent of their contribution in the wider context of the Kauri Coast region. We are also proud of the beauty of this land and it will be our pleasure to share it with you.
Sometimes we go deep in our forest to visit the glow worms that live near one of the waterfalls. There is nothing as magic as sitting in the dark by the creek and watching the tiny blue lights of these amazing creatures. One day a week we head to the lakes for some swimming and beach time, or we head for a long beach walk (or mountain climb), or we visit the amazing two thousand year old Tane Mahuta - the oldest and biggest tree in New Zealand.
Weekly Schedule
Our schedule is influenced more by the weather (New Zealand is an island with changing climate) than by the conventional days of the week.
In general, one day a week we go on a sightseeing excursion, one day a week we work around the camp, one day is free (mostly Mondays), and for the rest we head to one of the four forests that we work in.
If a storm passes by, we sit by the fire reading a book and catching up on our diaries.
Daily Schedule
Each working morning, depending on the weather, we clarify which tasks will be performed for the day. Depending on the task's difficulty, volunteers' knowledge, ability, or interests, we then organize the teams for the day. Teams are always rotated giving you the chance to interact and get to know all the other volunteers.
A typical day's schedule looks similar to the one below:
8am - 9am breakfast
9am - 9:30am communal area clean-up
10am - 12pm morning working activity
12pm - 1pm lunch/picnic
1pm - 4pm afternoon working activity
4pm - 6pm leisure activities (free time)
6pm - 8pm dinner
8pm - 10pm leisure activities (sunset watching, listening to the dusk bird chorus, game or movie night)
Many of the NZ native species are nocturnal, therefore there will be some night work involved. In that case, the schedule looks similar to the one below:
free time during the mornings
1pm - 4pm training
5pm - 6pm dinner
8pm - 1am night working activity
For answers to common questions, visit our FAQ page. If you are a parent researching this program, visit our Information for Parents page.
Contents
- Capacity & Duration
- Minimum Age Requirement
- Maximum Age Requirement
- English Language Skills
- You Don't Need Experience
- Who Should Join This Program
- Preparatory Reading
- Predator Control
- What Should You Expect
- What We Expect
- Volunteer Fee
- Duke of Edinburgh, University Work & Research
- Meals
- Vegan Diet
- Alcohol and Drugs
- Smoking
- Facilities
- Accommodation
- Electricity and Water
- Phone and Internet
- Health and Safety
- Solo & First-time Travellers
- Vaccinations
- Insurance
- What to Bring
- Transportation and Pick-up
Capacity & Duration
Pupu Rangi can accommodate up to eight participants at a time. Due to the remote location and the basic training required, the volunteer assignments have a minimum duration of two weeks (starting on a Monday and ending on a Monday) and can be extended up to five months. Should you be interested in a shorter option, you might consider our one week Conservation Immersion program
Minimum Age Requirement
Male participants must be 20 years old prior to the start of the program.
Female participants must be 18 years old prior to the start of the program.
Maximum Age Requirement
If you are in good physical shape, able to walk comfortably 10 kilometers every day, are under 45 years of age, open to change, willing to leave behind the daily comforts, and you finish reading these pages wishing that you were here, get in touch!
English Language Skills
You will need good English language skills to be able to participate in programs that last longer than one week. We don't expect you to be fully fluent, but you have to have enough knowledge to be able to understand the instructions that need to be followed and to be able to communicate clearly via radio with your colleagues, rangers, or with emergency services.
Keep in mind that most of our participants have English as their second language, however if you are unsure of whether your English level is sufficient, we can have a quick WhatsApp call to discuss about the program and at the end of it we would be able to confirm on whether or not you will be able to join us.
You don't need experience — you need willingness
You do not need any previous conservation experience, a science background, or special skills to join us - we will teach you everything, step by step, from your first days here. What we really need is different and it is not negotiable: the willingness to work hard, to be flexible, to have a desire for growth, and to keep going when the work is difficult. If you have that but you are unsure whether you are fit enough, capable enough, or ready to travel this far on your own, that is normal - almost everyone feels like that when reading these pages, and it is no reason to count yourself out. If you would like to talk it through before deciding, please get in touch - we are always glad to answer any questions about this topic.
Who should join this program
The people who do best here are not necessarily the ones with the most experience — they are the ones with drive. Most are in their twenties and travelling, curious about the world, interested in nature, and looking for something more than a sightseeing trip. Some are biology or ecology students building practical field hours. Some are on a gap year. Some are considering a career as a biodiversity ranger or in environmental science and want to find out what that work actually feels like. Some have been promising themselves a program like this for years and finally made it happen. A few come back for a second or third season. What they tend to share is a preference for doing over watching and an interest in the natural world — not just as scenery, but as something worth understanding.
The group dynamic is one of the things participants mention most when they look back. There are never more than eight of you and the days are long and shared — shared meals, shared work, no phones during working hours. If you push yourself in difficult terrain, you do it alongside people who are doing the same thing, and there is a particular kind of trust that builds from that. Those bonds often outlast the stay: people who met here have gone on to travel New Zealand together, arranged to meet up again later in their trips, and visited one another in their home countries — and that has happened many times.
We've also hosted Duke of Edinburgh participants, students completing university fieldwork semesters, and people who simply read the Google or Facebook reviews and knew they had to come. If you finished reading this page feeling like you want to be here, that's probably enough.
If you are travelling solo and want to know who you will be staying with, you can meet Octavian, the sanctuary's founder and host, on our About page.
Preparatory Reading
We strongly recommend that you read carefully the following introduction to conservation on New Zealand's Department of Conservation's website.
On the Tiaki website you can read about what you can do to look after New Zealand during your travels.
Before you arrive at the sanctuary, please learn how to read a Topo map by reading this page and how use a compass by reading this page and by watching this video. Please ensure that you have a solid understanding of these concepts before your start date.
Regardless of the time that you spend with us, there is a lot to learn and memorize. Memorization is important because while you are in the forest by yourself it is not practical to stop every few steps and read from a notebook whatever information or instructions you might have received. Additionally, for your safety you will receive a lot of information that helps you not to get lost, this information needs to be memorized. You can practice improving your memory with the tips on this page.
Predator Control
Protecting native species in New Zealand means actively removing the introduced predators that hunt them, and that is a core, regular part of the work here — not an occasional task. You will be checking and resetting humane kill traps and filling bait stations, across multiple forest blocks. Our native birds, snails, and bats evolved with no mammalian predators and cannot survive the stoats, rats, possums, and ferrets that now threaten them, so removing those predators is the work that keeps the forest alive. Some people — including many committed vegetarians and vegans — find the deliberate killing of animals difficult, even introduced ones, and that is a legitimate position worth thinking through before you apply. You can read the full reasoning behind it in this blog post, or go directly to the New Zealand Department of Conservation's introduction to conservation.
What should you expect
The philosophy here is simple: we work with what we have, in a place far from any town or supply run. That means patience, adaptability, and a willingness to find solutions rather than reach for convenience. It will not be easy — sometimes you might find it very hard — and that is genuinely part of the experience. People who persevere leave with more than they came with.
You will learn a great deal and you will be expected to apply it. The work is real and it matters; it is participants like you who make this project a reality. When you are out in the middle of the forest, it is the whole team that has to work through a problem and find a way forward — individual choices are acknowledged, but the wellbeing and safety of the group comes first. That is not a constraint so much as one of the things that makes the experience worthwhile.
What most people don't anticipate is the range of what they encounter: kiwi moving through the bush at night, the rare call of a kokako, native snails the size of your fist, ferns and mosses layered across the forest floor, impenetrable canopy overhead, glow worms in the dark by the waterfall, giant trees that have been standing for two thousand years. The more open you are when you arrive, the more that adds up to something you'll carry with you for a long time.
What we expect
Together with your team mates, we expect you to treat the sanctuary as your own home. Keep it clean, put everything that you use back, fix what needs to be fixed, and propose ways of improvement.
Together with your team mates, we expect you to behave with maturity and to participate to the well being of the team. Learn, care, and share your experiences with the others.
Together with your team mates, we expect you to make an effort to remember what is taught, to practice your new skills, and to take the work seriously - out in the forest, doing things properly matters both for your own safety and for the wildlife we are protecting.
Volunteer Fee
The time that our volunteers donate is very important to the preservation of the forest and to the continuous improvement of the sanctuary. We are grateful for it and we try to reward that contribution with comfortable accommodation, delicious food, knowledge sharing, conservation training, and tourism activities.
Our sanctuary does not receive any funding for operational costs, it is funded solely by the participants' fees.
The reality is that our nature sanctuary is far away from "civilization" and anything that needs to be brought in or taken out travels a minimum of 100km. To able to continue with our conservation efforts, we ask our volunteers and interns to pay a fee that covers the cost of food, fuel, and safety equipment for that person's stay. The fee is less than what an independent backpacker would spend while travelling cheaply in New Zealand for the same amount of time.
Our organization spends no money on administration costs and 100% of the proceeds go back into conservation, infrastructure improvement, or operating costs. We created an environment in which you receive training and learn valuable skills while contributing towards our common goal of protecting the forest and the birds. In addition, you will have experiences that many people visiting or living in New Zealand never get to have: accessing amazing forests closed to the public, seeing kiwi in the wild, working in a forest where the rare kokako lives, or bonding with the locals in an area off the beaten track.
To see the exact fee, go to the Reservations page, choose your stay length and a start date, and the price for that period will be shown before you book — no account or deposit needed to see it.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award, University practical work, and Research projects
Previous volunteers have used their time at Pupu Rangi to complete their Service section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, to complete a work semester abroad, or write a thesis for their Bachelor Degree. Should you want to complete such work, please contact us with your requirements and we will ensure that you have our support.
If you are looking for a longer, more structured program with dedicated mentoring and a personal development plan, take a look at our conservation internship.
Meals
Meals will be provided three times a day. After a long day in the forest, there is nothing better than a delicious meal savoured while watching the sunset. The menu includes muesli in the morning, sandwiches/wraps or leftovers for lunch, and for dinner: stir-fry, homemade hummus and falafel, organic burgers, rösti, tikka masala, dahl, couscous, chili con or sin carne, pancakes, and the occasional apple crumble.
If you do not know how to cook, you will learn. Everyone contributes to the meal preparation and by the end of your stay you would be able to cook a delicious dinner for ten people.
We cater to most dietary requirements (vegetarian, gluten free) if we are told beforehand. Black tea, hot chocolate, and instant coffee are included and available throughout the day. For snacking outside of the scheduled meals, please bring your own snacks, special food, or drinks. We will not be able to keep them in the fridge, but we could store them in the pantry for you.
The cleaning of the kitchen, washing of the dishes, etc... is part of the daily tasks that each participant has to complete.
Vegan Diet
We are unable to accommodate a vegan diet. We shop for groceries only once a week from at least 100 km away and our off-grid kitchen has limited refrigeration - so we cannot reliably source or keep the range of fresh plant-based food a varied vegan diet depends on. Meals are cooked communally for the whole team rather than individually. We cater for vegetarian (meals contain eggs and cheese), gluten-free, and most other dietary requirements with advance notice. We are not able to support self-catering for the main meals of the day.
Alcohol and Drugs
The Pupu Rangi Nature Sanctuary is an alcohol and drug free zone. You are not allowed to consume or bring alcohol or drugs into the sanctuary.
Smoking
We cannot accommodate participants that smoke (no e-cigarettes either) due to the risk of fire to the forest.
Facilities
Our facilities are basic but functional. The main facilities — kitchen, showers, dining room — are housed in recycled shipping containers. We are fully off the grid and try to use as few resources as possible. We reuse as much second-hand material as we can find.
Accommodation
The accommodation consists of insulated cabins fitted with two bunk beds (four beds per cabin). There is a separate cabin for males, one for females, and one reserved for couples.
Should you require a special accommodation arrangement, please get in touch before making a reservation.
Electricity and Water
We do not have mains electricity or running water. Hot showers are available daily or every other day depending on rainfall. It is best to assume you will be able to charge your phone once a week.
Phone and Internet — Digital Detox
Strong mobile phone signal (Spark, Vodafone, Skinny, 2degrees) is available in the common area. There is no reliable signal in the forest and no free Wi-Fi at the sanctuary.
To allow you to immerse in the forest experience and to be part of the team, mobile phone use (except for taking photos) is not allowed between 8am and 4pm, or during meals. If you do not think you can live with these rules, please do not join our program.
Health and Safety
The program leader lives and works on site throughout the season, so there is always someone here who knows the forest, the daily routines, and every participant personally. The program leader holds a current first aid certificate, and a first aid kit is maintained on site.
We work in groups and do not perform dangerous activities. Every participant is trained in compass and radio use, ensuring continuous contact and positioning in the field. Our health and safety practices follow the protocols of New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC), under whose Management Agreement we work.
In an emergency, the contact number is the same one listed throughout this website: +64 2040190985.
The New Zealand forest is very safe — there are no dangerous animals or reptiles.
The closest medical clinic is in Dargaville, about 50 minutes and 50 km away. The closest hospital with an emergency room is in Whangarei, about 100 minutes and 100 km away.
Solo and First-time Travellers
Most people who join us travel on their own and many are visiting New Zealand for the first time. You are met in Dargaville (which you can reach easily by public transport) brought to the sanctuary and from the moment you arrive you are part of a small group living and working together — people who quickly get to know one another. Accommodation has separate cabins for women and men. Because the group is small and the program leader is here throughout, the environment is personal and known, not anonymous and that familiarity is itself one of the most practical safety features of a place like this. Almost everyone here arrives on their own — and because the group is small and everything is shared, very few leave feeling that way.
Vaccinations
The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for New Zealand: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles.
Please ensure that you have at least the tetanus vaccination.
Insurance
You need medical travel insurance to participate. You will also need liability travel insurance with a minimum coverage of USD 5,000 — you will be working with equipment worth thousands of dollars and will be asked to cover the cost of any damage.
An example of a company offering affordable travel insurance can be found at World Nomads. If you are a UK resident this company offers health insurance and liability insurance. For most US and Canada based travellers their home insurance might cover liability insurance while abroad, check with your insurance company.
What to Bring
The weather can be chilly and wet even in midsummer. You will need:
- wet weather gear (rain pants, rain jacket, solid hiking boots and rubber boots)
- warm clothes for cool nights
- enough socks and underwear for at least two weeks
- hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
- a torch/headlamp to allow you to move around at night - your mobile phone will not be enough
- a warm sleeping bag (not just a summer bag) - we can lend you a second hand one if you wish to travel with less luggage
- notebook and pen — there is a lot to learn and remember
You might also consider:
- insect repellent for the occasional sandfly
- swimming gear
- some snacks or drinks
Transportation and Pick-up
If you do not have your own vehicle, we will pick you up in Dargaville on Monday at 4:30pm. To reach the meeting point you will have to depart Auckland at 7:30am on Monday morning, therefore you will need to ensure that you arrive in New Zealand at least the Sunday before - earlier is recommended to recover from jetlag. At the end of the program we will drop you off in Dargaville on Monday morning at 7am.
More detailed information about reaching the meeting point, meals, and what to bring will be provided after you make a reservation.
The whole atmosphere feels like you're part of a big family, sharing the same interests and values while coming from a lot of different backgrounds.
Tess · Germany
It was not always easy. In some situations it was challenging, but that made me step out of my comfort zone. I feel a little stronger after my time at Pupu Rangi, as if I could do everything.
Lea · Germany
A job well done! Stile over the fence completed
Celebrating the completion of the Orange Socks track