Worldschooling in New Zealand
A place to slow down, belong, and learn — together
Worldschooling is an approach to learning that weaves together family life, travel, and education through lived experience. Rather than following a fixed classroom model, children learn through engagement with place, culture, people, and everyday life.
For many families, choosing where to worldschool is as important as how. Aotearoa New Zealand has become a compelling destination for families seeking safety, natural beauty, cultural depth, and a pace of life that supports wellbeing and connection.
Earth School Aotearoa supports families who choose to spend a season in New Zealand — offering a grounded learning environment, a welcoming community, and a place where children can truly settle.
Why choose Aotearoa New Zealand for worldschooling?
Aotearoa New Zealand offers something increasingly rare: space to breathe, learn, and belong.
Families are drawn to New Zealand for its:
close relationship between people and the natural world
access to bush, rivers, beaches, and farmland within everyday life
strong culture of care, safety, and community
openness to diverse learning pathways and educational approaches
respect for Indigenous knowledge and place-based ways of knowing
For children, this means learning with their bodies, senses, and curiosity fully engaged. For parents, it often means a chance to slow down, reflect, and reconnect as a family — without the pressure of constant movement or itinerary-driven travel.
Why Wellington works for families
If New Zealand is the destination, Wellington is often the city families choose to base themselves.
As a compact, creative capital city, Wellington offers:
a manageable scale that feels welcoming rather than overwhelming
easy access to nature — bush walks, beaches, and regional parks are minutes away
a strong culture of creativity, education, and values-led living
excellent public amenities alongside a relaxed, family-friendly pace of life
Wellington allows families to enjoy both urban life and daily connection with the natural world — making it well suited to longer stays and seasonal living.
Worldschooling with Earth School Aotearoa
Earth School Aotearoa offers a learning environment designed specifically to support worldschooling families who want continuity, rhythm, and belonging while travelling.
Rather than a short-term programme or a series of activities, Earth School provides access to a living learning environment where children can:
form real friendships with local and visiting children
engage in meaningful, place-based learning
experience consistency in educators, peers, and daily rhythms
Learning at Earth School is shaped by place, relationships, and rhythm. Children move between outdoor exploration and quieter moments of focus, supported by experienced educators who hold the learning environment with care and consistency.
Rather than following a rigid curriculum, learning unfolds through meaningful play, guided inquiry, creative practice, story, and shared experience. Literacy, numeracy, and scientific thinking are supported naturally through real-world contexts.
Earth School is not a full-time school. Participation is invitational and flexible, allowing families to find a rhythm that supports their wider worldschooling journey. Responsibility for children’s education remains with parents or caregivers.
Living at Mangaroa Farms
Earth School Aotearoa is based on a working farm in the Mangaroa Valley, just outside Upper Hutt in the Wellington region. Worldschooling families live on the land where learning takes place, allowing daily life and education to be closely connected.
Families stay in thoughtfully designed homes surrounded by gardens, bush, walking tracks, and open farmland. Children have space to roam, explore, and settle, while parents can enjoy a sense of normal daily life rather than a transient travel experience.
Life here is shaped by:
seasonal rhythms of light, weather, and work
access to fresh, locally grown food
quiet moments alongside shared activity
familiarity and routine that support children’s sense of security
At the heart of the land is a carefully tended garden — a reflection of long-term care, stewardship, and attention to place. For many families, this becomes a natural gathering point and a living example of what it means to tend a place over time.
A wider learning and wellbeing context
Alongside Earth School, the land hosts a small number of workshops, talks, seasonal gatherings, and wellbeing offerings throughout the year. These experiences are optional and vary by season, often relating to land care, food, creativity, culture, or personal wellbeing.
For many parents, this wider context offers opportunities to learn, connect, and rest — while children are supported within a steady, meaningful daily rhythm.
Is this a good fit for your family?
Worldschooling with Earth School Aotearoa is best suited to families who:
are choosing New Zealand as a place to settle for a season
value place-based, relational learning
want their children to build real friendships while travelling
appreciate a slower, grounded pace of life
are comfortable holding responsibility for their child’s education
Worldschooling stays are intentionally limited to protect the wellbeing of both people and place.
Practical details
Typical stay: 1–4 months
Accommodation: On-site homes in the Mangaroa Valley
Learning: Participation in Earth School weekly learning days
Location: Wellington region, Aotearoa New Zealand
Worldschooling stays are offered as an integrated experience that includes accommodation, access to Earth School learning days, and participation in the wider setting.
Costs vary depending on length of stay, accommodation type, and family size. As a general guide, families can expect an investment comparable to a high-quality long-term family stay in New Zealand, with learning and community access included.
Enquiries
Worldschooling at Earth School Aotearoa begins with a conversation. We take time to understand each family’s intentions, rhythms, and needs, and to ensure mutual fit.
Enquire about Worldschooling at Earth School Aotearoa