House Sitting in New Zealand

Why you'll love pet and house sitting in New Zealand

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Forget hotel rooms

From home comforts to the calming company of pets, house sitting offers so much more.

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It feels good to give

Explore new places while making a difference to the lives of pets and people along the way.

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A new perspective

You don’t have to travel far. With pet and house sitting, you can find a world of adventures just around the corner.

A win-win without money

When you’re house and pet sitting, you provide free house and pet care. And pet parents offer you free accommodation in return for looking after their home and furry friends. The only cost is your annual membership, making it an affordable and fulfilling way to travel.

Find out more about memberships

Feel safe, secure and supported

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Read feedback from sitters

Want to know if a house sit is right for you? Look for feedback previous sitters have left on the pet parent's listing.

Home & Contents Plan

House sit in homes with peace of mind they’re covered at no extra cost to you or the pet parent.

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24/7 Vet Advice Line

With a free direct line to a dedicated team of veterinary nurses, you can quickly clear up any pet queries.

New Zealand house sitting FAQs

All that’s exchanged between our sitters and pet parents is trust - sitters get to stay in cool locations near and far, caring for pets with a place to stay in return. And with no money passing hands, we’re certain everybody’s here for the same reasons: their never-ending love for pets and travel.

With an annual sitter membership, animal lovers like you explore the world and enjoy free stays in exchange for pet care. That’s living like a local, fur-filled adventures and peace of mind for pet parents. Apply for as many sits as you like and get ready for meaningful connections and unforgettable adventures - all made possible by pets.

Choose your membership plan and create a profile that stands out from the pack - include clear photos, relevant experience, and references (these don’t have to be from previous house sits). Next, set up a saved search to be the first to find out when house sitting opportunities in New Zealand become available for your chosen dates. Once you’ve found the ideal sit, write a personalized message to the pet parents explaining why you're the perfect person for their furry friend! Find out more with 10 tips on how to become a house sitter.

Your number one priority when house sitting in New Zealand will be taking care of the pets. Daily walks, mealtimes, and lots of cuddles will be top of the agenda as most house sits include a pet. Aside from this, house sitters in New Zealand need to keep the home clean and tidy and send regular updates to the pet parents about their precious pet pals.

At TrustedHousesitters, our members are driven by a genuine love of pets, not getting paid. They exchange passionate pet care for free accommodation, gaining a wealth of experiences and memories to last a lifetime.

What if we told you there was a land of geo-thermal beaches, mountains, waterfalls and seriously cute pets who need looking after?

Well by house sitting in New Zealand, you could be exploring the real-life Middle Earth and the country’s rich landscape with a new furry pal by your side, every step of the way. ‘But how?’, we hear you ask.

Well there are pet parents all over the country looking for pet lovers like you to care for their furry family while they go away.

And the best part? Nothing is exchanged between sitters and pet parents but trust - that’s seriously happy pets, paw-rent peace of mind and fur-filled adventures.

Pet-friendly living: events, cafes and meet-ups

Whether it’s short or long term house sitting in New Zealand that takes your fancy, nothing quite beats getting to know the local spots with a furry pal by your side. And one thing’s for sure, you won’t be short of coffee shops and eateries that’ll welcome your new furry pal with open arms while you’re there.

Whether it’s Qubed coffee lounge who serve up puppuccinos in Christchurch, Beach Babylon’s K9 menu in Wellington, Long Dog Cafe in Dunedin or Ozone Coffee Roasters in Auckland, you and your new pal will be spoilt for choice.

And why not get to know the locals by checking out a local pup-friendly event? There are heaps of dog walking meet-ups across the country - from Auckland to Dunedin and beyond - so meeting local pet lovers will be a breeze.

Plus, there are even stand-up paddleboarding meet-ups for dogs in Auckland (although we definitely advise you run this one by the pet parents first).

And once the day’s walkies are done, enjoy a pint at a local dog-friendly event to get chatting to your new-found neighbors. Take Auckland’s Dog & Grog event - on the third Saturday of every month, the Pocket Bar & Kitchen welcomes dogs and their humans so that like-minded locals can socialize their pups, and get to know one another too.

With heaps of events just like this one up and down the country, it’s safe to say you won’t be short of animal lovers nearby.

Dog-friendly hiking and walkies

First things first, if you’re house sitting New Zealand, you won’t be short of epic hiking trails and dog-friendly conservation land that’s perfect for a day filled with walkies.

And while all 14 of the country’s national parks are out of bounds for dogs, it’s more than easy to find equally scenic spots for your new canine companion to enjoy.

If you’re house sitting in Wellington, summit Mount Victoria for views of the city, or peak Auckland’s highest volcanic cone - the iconic Mount Eden. The top is nothing less than awe-inspiring - look one way and views span across Auckland city, look the other and you can’t miss the 50 meter-deep crater that’s sacred to local people. And if you’re staying anywhere near Taupo, hike to Huka Falls with your furry pal - just be sure to keep leashes on.

If art is your thing, check out the Sculpture Trail at Brick Bay Wines, where pups are allowed and more than 60 artworks line the two kilometer trail.

And wherever you secure your house sitting opportunities in New Zealand, dog parks really are your bread and butter for bonding with your pooch pal, and getting to know the locals.

In Christchurch you’ll find Victoria Park and The Groynes, and in Auckland Meola Reef dog park is ideal for a game of fetch, while Shand Park in Dunedin has a doggy exercise area and a separate section for smaller pups.

Get local and let your furry pal lead the way

Lakes, mud pools and volcanoes are great and all, but sometimes you just can’t beat mooching about town with a furry pal by your side. And while you house sit in New Zealand, your new pet pal will be able to show you all of their favorite spots to sit and watch the world go by (or play fetch for hours on end, naturally).

Take Wellington for one - Sundays are the day for strolling the Harbourside market where you’ll find baked goods, artisan treats and rows of fresh flowers.

So, while adventuring sure is on the list for sitters in NZ, remember the joys of getting to know a few local haunts, too.

Explore New Zealand’s National Parks

As we’ve mentioned, New Zealand’s National Parks strictly prohibit canine access. With that said though, if you’re house sitting in New Zealand for a new kitty companion, you might be able to pop out for a couple of hours to explore the nearest National Park - our feline friends often appreciate their ‘me’ time, afterall.

So, if your house sitting commitments allow, head to one of the 14 national parks - whether it’s Fiordland National Park, Arthur’s Pass, Tongariro or another of the country’s stunning preserved areas, it’s cameras at the ready all round.

Kick back at the beach

Whether you’re house sitting in New Zealand’s north or south island, you’ll be surrounded by dog-friendly beaches perfect for burning off the last of the day’s energy with your canine pal.

Whether it’s Takapuna beach (where pups can run free before 10am and after 6pm), the eastern end of Lyall Bay, Saint Clair, Hot Water Beach (a breath-taking natural phenomenon), or another local beach that’s dog-friendly, nothing beats letting your pooch pal run free along the sand, and into the sea on repeat.

And if you’re house sitting in the south island, check out Moeraki Boulders Beach if you can. With those huge, peculiar boulders poking out of the sea that swirls around it, it’s no wonder they’re the subject of Māori folklore.

Get adventurous outdoors

One of the best things about our house sitting opportunities in New Zealand (besides making new furry friends, of course) is that you’re never far from an outdoor adventure.

Whether it’s surfing down the sand dunes at 90-mile beach, kayaking in the Bay of Islands, exploring Hobbiton, spotting glow worms at Waitomo caves or bathing in the mud at Rotorua mud pools or kicking back under the southern lights (otherwise known as aurora australis), you thirst for wanderlust will sure be quenched.

Wine, walkies and local eats

If you’re into wine, New Zealand house sitting will be your version of paradise. In fact, many of the wineries in the country allow dogs, so check out your local vineyard and book a spot to bring your canine companion along for walkies.

And if wine isn’t your thing, your pooch pal is welcome in many of New Zealand’s breweries too, including Altitude Brewing Taproom in Queenstown.

When it comes to food, some of New Zealand’s produce is the best in the world, so be sure to check out their barbecue and seafood scene.

And if you can, discover Māori hāngī - the Māori style of earth oven cooking, where feasts are roasted in the ground using heated rocks.

Get your adventure started: house sitting in NZ awaits

If a trip around the islands simply made for pet-filled adventure is on your wanderlust to-do, we can’t say we blame you. And to explore like a true Kiwi, you might be on the lookout for the house sitting jobs New Zealand has to offer.

But here at TrustedHousesitters, pet lovers like you can explore far-flung sights, exchanging nothing with pet parents but trust. Yup, that’s TLC for pets you’ll never forget and a place to stay in return - a true win-win.

Discover house sitting in New Zealand

76 house sits in New Zealand

Cute house with lovely garden and cuddly cat in Remuera

Cashmere Hideaway

Lifestyle block in idyllic location with a delightful dog.

Easy care house, dog, and chickens in the sunny Wairarapa!

Auckland House sitting with 14 year old Chihuahua. Off street parking April 2025

Whangārei home and two doggie friends

Cat and plant sitter

Kevin needs cuddles!

Short term stay with pets that love to play!

3 Bedroom house with lots of living space and views

Cute Cat sitting in Taitā after Christmas

Modern well kept house in Ellerslie/Greenlane with sweet 17 year old cat.

Why you'll love pet and house sitting in New Zealand

A win-win without money

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New Zealand house sitting FAQs

How is TrustedHousesitters different from paid New Zealand house sitting jobs?

How to become a house sitter in New Zealand?

What to do while house sitting in New Zealand?

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