Volunteers reviews of their farm experience
Feedback left by (Elmeri) for you 14 March 24 5 star excellent I spent three weeks at the farm and it was really good experience! The farm has excellent volunteer facilities including cinema room and newly renovated houses. I was working mainly at the construction as well as in the garden. The work was super easy and fun and never too challenging. The staff were super welcoming and after the working hours there was a lot of free time as well. Tony would take us to the beach nearby every week and the farm itself was surrounded by beautiful nature and good possibilities for running and exploring! I loved the fact that there were so many backpackers working at the farm same time so you never felt lonely there. I made lot of good memories and got to meet really awesome people. Thanks for having me!!
Feedback left by (Matthew) for you 4 March 24 5 star excellent Was a fun experience with a lot of other volunteers. It was a peaceful time and I got to do fulfilling work and contribute to a lifestyle that other people valued greatly. The hosts were very grateful and provided fantastic accommodation and food. I am typically a meat eater but did not feel like I was missing anything during my two weeks at the farm. If I had planned further in advance I would have stayed longer to help complete more projects.
Feedback left by (Emma) for you 3 March 24 5 star excellent I spent 5 weeks at the farm and enjoyed everyday. This was my first farm experience so I didn’t really have any expectations but my time there was so lovely annd the work was always easy going and never too demanding. Everybody is very welcoming and there are other volunteers so the social aspect was really nice. There is such a calming atmosphere on the farm and lots of free time. I made some life long friendships here and I’m extremely grateful I had this opportunity. Thank you for having me :)
My time here at the Farm WAY exceeded my expectations. Tony is a such a special human and wonderful host who gives you a great tour of the farm and makes you feel at home right away. Volunteers are treated as family and are both welcomed and encouraged to take part in the Hare Krishna community and services. Devotees do not push or force their religion upon anyone, but instead, this unique community and its practices are available for anyone who is interested in experiencing something new and sacred. It is easy to create friendships with the other volunteers -- from hanging out all the time with one another, going on Newcastle beach trips, bush walks and more, the amazing people I met from all over the world is by far the part I miss most.
Feedback left by (Karina) 28 Feb 5 star excellent My time here at the Farm WAY exceeded my expectations. Tony is a such a special human and wonderful host who gives you a great tour of the farm and makes you feel at home right away. Volunteers are treated as family and are both welcomed and encouraged to take part in the Hare Krishna community and services. Devotees do not push or force their religion upon anyone, but instead, this unique community and its practices are available for anyone who is interested in experiencing something new and sacred. It is easy to create friendships with the other volunteers -- from hanging out all the time with one another, going on Newcastle beach trips, bush walks and more, the amazing people I met from all over the world is by far the part I miss most.
Feedback left by (Amelia) for you 16/2/24 5 star excellent The farm has amazing volunteer facilities, including; newly renovated houses, cinema room / snug and 3 meals provided a day, all set in the beautiful Hunter valley with plenty of open fields to explore. The organic garden and surrounding cows were lovely, and although physical, the work wasn't challenging which meant a lot of different volunteers from different backgrounds could happily stay on the farm. The food provided was delicious traditional Indian cuisine, which luckily wasn't too spicy and really enriched the cultural experience. There is also the option to partake in worship, which I would recommend doing as it was really enlightening, especially if you don't know much about the Hare Krishna religion. Overall Tony was excellent with communication and was able to provide transport from central Sydney to get to the farm.
Feedback left by (Sara) 10 Feb 2024 5 star excellent My feedback on the Krishna Farm after spending two months there:
Feedback left by (Emily) 9 Feb 2024 5 star excellent I had an amazing time on the farm! I've definitely made lifelong friendships with lots of the other volunteers. We all made lots of memories that will stick with me forever, including trips to Newcastle, working in Mana's garden and exploring the area with the others! I spent 3 weeks there which felt like an ideal amount of time :)
Feedback left by (Erica & Ambiana) 30/1/24 5 star excellent We had a great time at the Farm! Some highlights were getting to connect with other awesome travelers, trips to the beach in New Castle, working in the garden with Mana, and the AMAZING food!! Very chill environment in an isolated location, perfect break from the world. Thank you so much :)
Feedback left by (Vadim) 15 Jan 24 5 star excellent I spend three weeks in the farm and I had a great time there. The atmosphere is great, the landscapes around the farm are really beautiful and all peoples from the farm are friendly, interesting and welcoming. This farm is the best place is you want to learn more about India, spirituality, yoga, meditation, the Hare Krishna movement,... Feedback left by (Ben) 21 Jan 24 5 star excellent I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. All of the work (prepping meals in the kitchen, harvesting veggies on the farm, cleaning out the guest house) was interesting, and I was lucky to find myself surrounded by a great group of fellow volunteers. At the end of my two weeks, I was sad to leave after quickly building a lot of meaningful friendships with everyone there. A big thank you to Tony and Janet for having me to stay!
Feedback left by (Jeremy) 16 Jan 24 5 star excellent Had an absolutely fantastic time on the farm! Really enjoyed every moment of it! I stayed in a cabin with another guy, with our own ensuite and little kitchenette. We were fed 4 times a day with lovely indian cuisine, and the work was always enjoyable too. I really loved working with Mana in the garden, who is such a nice guy. The other volunteers were genuinely super lovely too and I enjoyed getting to know them. Tony was super helpful, took us out for ice-creams and was very accommodating when it came to New years eve to make sure everyone got a chance to see the fireworks in Sydney. It was amazing to see how their culture worked, and their beliefs too. Really opened my eyes. Hare Krishna!
Feedback left by you from Annika) 11 Jan 24 5 star excellent We had the absolute pleasure of hosting Annika on our farm for several weeks and she proved to be a sheer delight to be around....always happy, positive and enthusiastic. She is such a sweet person with a heart of gold and I personally miss her so much now that she is no longer a member of our "family"....I know the rest of our community feels the same. She was always bubbling with energy and performed every task that she was allocated to the highest standard....perfection. I have no hesitation in recommending her to any future host.
Feedback left by (Johanna ) 9 Jan 24 5 star excellent The farm was truly enchanting for me. From my very first day, I felt not only welcomed by the warm-hearted individuals on the farm but also by the dedicated fellow volunteers and, notably, Tony. He took the time right at the beginning to give me a comprehensive tour of the farm, explaining every detail. Both he and his wife proved to be incredibly helpful and lovely hosts. The work in the garden was not only fulfilling but also educational.
Feedback left by (Gina & Nick) 1 Jan 24 5 star excellent The fact that the farm is so secluded made me very happy. When staying there you really are one with nature for a bit and I found it very calming. The Hari Krishna aspect of it is quite interesting but in a good way. Tony takes the time to teach you about it in a fin (without pressure) way. We felt very welcome.
Feedback left by (Madlen) 13 Dec 23 5 star excellent I arrived at the farm in the beginning of October after spontaneously deciding to quit my job in New Zealand and fly over to Australia, so I didn't have any high expectations.. Tony invited me to stay at Govindas for the first night. We had a private Barbie screening in the cinema upstairs and a great dinner in the restaurant, so already at my first night I felt very welcomed. When we arrived at the farm on the next day, I already loved the vibes, the food and the whole setting of the farm.
Feedback left by SaraCedie) 13 Dec 23 5 star excellent I had the best time at the Farm and I'll be definitely come back and a part of my heart will always stay there.
Feedback left by (Nele) 13 Dec 23 5 star excellent My time at Tony's farm was wonderful. What makes this workaway experience so special is the variety of tasks that we are doing, we can help in the gardens, at construction, in the kitchen or the guesthouse. Jeanette was so nice to let me work with Mana in the beautiful organic garden most of the time, you can just tell her which kind of work you prefer. 🌱🌞
Feedback left by you by (Meristella & Alessandro) 6 Dec 23 s 5 star excellent Beautiful experience inside the temple. Tony was an amazing experienced man whith a big heart!
Feedback left by you by (Kim & Bram) 6 Dec 23 5 star excellent Bram and I really liked this workaway. We could sleep in the best room of the guesthouse with a (shared) bathroom for 5 nights. The other 2 nights we had to sleep in our Camper.
Feedback left by (Mayu) 6 oct 23 5 star excellent I am grateful to Tony, Jai, and all the people I met there.
Feedback left by you by (Kiki (Kirsty) & Kat (Mariel)) 27 Sep 23 5 star excellent Overall, we loved our stay at the Farm! Me and my girlfriend would rate this as one of our favourite experiences in Aus 🥰 We made amazing friends who were volunteers (and also queer🌈). We felt safe and surrounded by nature. The community is based on Hare Krishna devotion and we were welcomed to join services in the temple (or not, there was no pressure). The volunteer cabins were luxury and we could've comfortably stayed here for much longer than two weeks. There is even a volunteer lounge with comfy bean bags and a projector cinema which is so cosy🍿. Mana who helped us in the garden was so lovely and would occasionally take us for trips to the store in the bus and was happy to take us to Newcastle when leaving and collected us from Cessnock on arrival - we will miss you Mana!!! Sometimes there was a lack of direction with the volunteer irl which wasn't ideal but usually we would just ask around and try to help out where we could. Sree and Padma who are devotees and part of the community were always so kind to us and would give us direction on the work if we were unsure. We were grateful for the food that was provided to us (even if it wasn't what we are used to) and would recommend this Workaway to solo travellers or couples as it's a good place to relax in solitude but also to meet other like-minded travellers
Feedback left by (Chisato) 14 Sep 23 5 star excellent I was staying here about 2 weeks and it was undeniably amazing and inspired experience for me.
Feedback left by (Duncan 3 Sep 23 5 star excellent I had a great time staying at the farm for over month when first arriving in Australia in June 2023, I made some amazing friends via the other volunteers staying there concurrently and Tony and all the others were super welcoming, even going so far as to provide some boots and clothes for work when I decided to stay a bit more long term, as well as also help with finding accommodation in Sydney when arriving/leaving NSW which was all greatly appreciated.
Feedback left by (George) 1 Sep 23 5 star excellent I stayed at the farm for nearly 4 weeks and absolutely loved it. Learning about the Hare Krishna movement was so interesting but I never felt under any pressure to learn or partake in practices.
Feedback left by (Kees) 17 August 23 5 star excellent the farm was very beautifull. Everyone was very kind to me.
Feedback left by (Rosie) 10 Aug 23 5 star excellent spent 2 weeks here and had a wonderful time! This spiritual farm is situated in a peaceful location, with gorgeous rolling hills and wildlife galore. My highlight was the accommodation: clean, cozy, wooden cabins that have modern toilets/showers, small kitchenettes (outfitted with lots and lots of tea), and porch seating to take in the view. As I came during low season, I spent some days as the sole volunteer, but everyone at the farm made me feel so welcomed and cared for. The food -- 3 buffet style meals per day + a fruit break (all of which is vegetarian Indian food) -- was very delicious. In terms of work, all tasks were very manageable, slow-paced, and independent, starting at 10am and finishing around 4pm (including an hour long lunch break).
Feedback left by (Camille Josefine) 27 June 23 5 star excellent This comes 3 weeks later, but I had an amazing time on this farm and can highly recommend to stay there. I spent about 3.5 weeks here and I am still processing all the impressions I got. First of all, everyone is very welcoming and caring, which made me feel good and appreciated from the first day. Secondly the cultural exchange was very interesting. Everyone was happy to share their knowledge and wisdom, or if you are interested to learn about Hare Krishna, they are more than happy to welcome you in the temple. The work was really nice and always different and I enjoyed every part of it! If it was helping in the kitchen, in the garden or cleaning. I made so many special memories, for example milking the cow, dancing in Sydney during the vivid festival and wearing the most beautiful saris and meeting so many wonderful people, staying in the ashram and having dinner in their restaurant, meditation and dancing in the temple, creating flower garlands in the temple, having movie nights together and learning about the environment, having a bonfire and marshmellows and just hanging out with the other volunteers. The mostly Indian food, that the chefs are providing 3 times a day is incredibly good and the accommodation is very nice as well. Tony and Jayasri are always making sure that you are feeling good and are even providing hot water bottles and the most comfortable matching Pyjamas, we were all wearing :D I am so thankful that you reached out to me and that I could experience your way of life. I am missing everyone already, and the cows too, beautiful creature's ! I will keep these memories in my heart forever but I hope I will visit you again one day:)
Feedback left by (Lilli) 22 June 23 5 star excellent I had a wonderful 2 week stay with this community.
Feedback left by (LIQIN) 5 June 23 5 star excellent My friend and I had the pleasure of staying there for nearly a week, and we had an absolutely wonderful time! The people there were incredibly kind and welcoming. It's a truly serene location where you can unwind and appreciate nature's beauty. The volunteer tasks were manageable, and we had the chance to acquire various skills. One of our highlights was working in the garden alongside Mana, who exudes a remarkable passion for gardening. His extensive knowledge about plants was impressive, and we're grateful to him for introducing us to the delightful horned melon.
Feedback left by (Nina) 13 June 23 5 star excellent stayed 3 weeks at the farm, it was my first volunteering.
Feedback left by you by (Pauline) 15 June 23 5 star excellent I spent a week on Tony's farm and had a great time with lots of other workawayers! It`s a quiet place with lovely people and hundreds of cool cows :) The farm is definitely a good place to be and the work that needs to be done is mostly fun (especially if you work with the other workawayers together :D)! I`m happy I had the pleasure to stay there and make new experiences, friends and to try out so many amazing meals. Tony would say: "You won`t leave this beautiful place hungry!" And he was definitely right :D
Feedback left for you by (Lucia) 4 June 23 I stayed around 3 weeks on the farm in one of the beautiful cabins, which were built especially for the volunteers with a lot of love. The volunteers are always well looked after. We got pyjamas, slippers, hot water bottles and even some cardigans to make us feel comfortable. Tony is a very warm, helpful and funny man who is always there for you if something is bothering you.
Feedback left by (Nina) 2 June 5 star excellent I spent 10 unforgettable days on the farm with other volunteers. Tony and his wife are super organized and warm-hearted people. Also the rest of the crew on the farm are all so kind and open- minded so it feels like a second home. The work was not really hard and really fun. There are different kinds of work like gardening, kitchen stuff, cleaning. You have also the chance to milk a cow, thank you very much Kaliya!!
Feedback left by (Sydney) 14 May 23 5 star excellent My time at the Hare Krishna temple/ cow sanctuary was fascinating! I was here for 10 days and it flew by! I met the kindest people here!
Feedback left by (Alexandre) 14 May 23 5 star excellent It was a great experience with a lot of volunteers. Gardening, building and just chilling.
Feedback left by (Lucas ) 22 April 23 5 star excellent wow,this place has taught me so much and has left a stamp on this lifetime ! there are many different things i got upto on the farm like driving tractors,planting seedlings,feeding peacocks,milking cows and even walking juga and lilita the two goats! the most special part for me was the people that i met(although the food is special to ,i couldnt stop eating!).pratapana,mana ,jai shri and kalia are amazing souls and have so much to share if you would want to listen.also the volunteers i met were super special and felt like a family after my 3 weeks here.i will look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Feedback left by (Francesco) 13 April 23 5 star excellent What an amazing experience I had at the farm! I've spent there ten days and I had such a good time. In few days you will feel part of the community, everyone is so friendly and welcoming, even the cows. It's so interesting and stimulating to see a way of living different to the ones we're used to see on our everyday life. The farm is surrounded by nature: such a huge variety of wild birds, large forests and even a picturesque lake. You are expected to work some hours five days a week (I spent most of the time weeding, gardening and helping with new constructions, I even milked a cow) and you will receive in return accomodation and so much amazing vegetarian food. You will also have the possibility to meet other volunteers from anywhere in the world and visitors of the temple, you can get in touch with so many people. Tony, Jaya Sri, Mana and all the other ones, I will never forget you!
Feedback left by (Kalina) 20 March 23 5 star excellent We had an incredible time at the place. The whole community is very friendly and welcoming (including the cows) and it's a great place to learn about mantra meditation and kirtan. During the day you can expect to work 4-5 hours gardening or some other outdoor work and in return you get accommodation and 3 incredibly tasty meals (healthy Indian food). Really appreciate all I leant here, including milking a cow, and hope to visit again. Hare krishna :)
Feedback left by (Daniel) 20 March 23 5 star excellent Such an amazing place with great people, I felt at home instantly. The food is incredible and there is so much to learn. I helped out on the farm, in their construction projects and in the kitchen to learn from the masters! I hope to return some day soon.
Feedback left by (Julian) f 18 March 23 5 star excellent eautiful place and wonderful people, it was an incredible experience and I learned many things, all my days were happy at the farm and I take the best memories with me, I hope to return one day and continue learning! Hare Krishna ❤ |