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Kingbilli
Country Estate is a 300 acre property | |
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90 minutes north-east of Melbourne at Taggerty, in central Victoria. Our
lifestyle comprises three main activities: 1.
Wildlife Conservation
Kingbilli is a registered Native Wildlife Refuge
and Rehabilitation Shelter, combining on-site conservation with the rescue, rehabilitation
and release orphaned and injured marsupials. 2.
Interactive Ecotourism
We
provide self-contained accommodation for the domestic and international tourist
market. Interactive initiatives include educational eco-treks; outdoor learning
for children; birdwatching and wildlife viewing. |
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Sustainable Agriculture
We breed Llamas and Australian Stockhorses.
The
property is run on ecologically sustainable and environmentally friendly principles
...and managed specifically for the encouragement and protection of native animals
and birdlife. Kingbilli's
HelpX volunteers come from all walks of life ... and every corner of the globe.
Usually, they are either travelling to experience new cultures ... or simply taking
a break from whatever it is they've been involved with previously |
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...
be it study or work. For
those of you new to the concept ... HelpX stands for the 'Help in Exchange for
Food and Accommodation' program (you'll find more at http://www.helpx.net)
Kingbilli's
HelpX volunteers are offered two separate programs - Short and Long
term. Both
offer a great opportunity to experience Aussie |
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living in a relatively relaxed 'working holiday' style. | |
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Volunteers
are housed in 'Ballards'
- a self-contained, fully furnished cottage allowing them to enjoy complete privacy
and independence. | | |
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| Ballards
(pictured right and below) has a fully equiped kitchen, separate living/dining,
bedroom and ensuite | bathroom
... and even its own |
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heated jacuzzi spa! In
addition, it is equipped with cable television,
video player, CD player, |
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with mountain bikes, fishing rods and tennis racquets. Linen,
towels, crockery,
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| cutlery
and cookware are supplied. |
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| For more information
about either our short-term or long-term volunteer options, contact
us |
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| With
both HelpX programs, volunteers are encouraged to enjoy the property and all its
facilities as we do. There are no major rules or regulations to observe ... but
we ask that your cottage is kept clean and tidy at all times ... and we prefer
you don't smoke indoors. The
tasks with which we need assistance are straightforward. Gardening
is of major importance, |
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particularly
during Spring and Summer and this includes
weeding, raking, planting, pruning
and mulching. | | | General
farm work is needed sometimes ... and consists of blackberry control, haymaking
and storage, |
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painting, collecting and
stacking wood and maintaining fences. For long-term volunteers, help is needed
with the | | | |
cleaning
and general maintenance of the guest cottages. HelpX
volunteers planning to use public transport to reach us, will find an excellent
bus service from Melbourne's Spencer St Railway Station to Alexandra, operating
Sun-Fri. | |
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| The
bus stops just five minutes away, at the end of Cathedral Lane, where one of us
will be waiting to meet you. As
far as free-time activities are concerned, there are plenty
from which to choose ... with hiking, cycling, tennis, swimming and boating all
available on the property. In
addition ... just across the road, is the Cathedral Range State Park. Edged by
pine forests ... and through which the crystal clear waters of Little River bubble
between eucalypts and tree ferns ... this lovely spot provides those more active
volunteers with an ideal place for bushwalking, rock-climbing and mountain-biking.
Some volunteers
have their own transport ... and these will find many other interesting activities
within easy reach.
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Abseiling; trail-riding;
golf; the glorious Mystic Mountain rainforests and waterfalls; and, during the
winter months, cross-country skiing at Lake Mountain, are all within 20-30 minutes
driving distance. Life
at Kingbilli itself, however, is easy-going and low key ... like most country
folk, our pleasures are simple. So
if ... having read through our website ... you decide our brand of Aussie country-living
appeals to you ... and think you'd like to spend some time with us ... either,
click here to email Georgina or complete our Volunteer
Form. We'd be delighted to have you visit. | |
