Our Stories
Our Stories
TimeOut wouldn't be possible without the generous donors, loving families and brave recipients at the heart of all we do. Each new experience is a story of connection, community and compassion; caring people, coming together to give space their space, time and love to those who need it most.
Here are some of our stories.
-
Sheryl - Recipient
-
Tania - Recipient
-
Ruby - Recipient
-
Penelope - Recipient
-
Sharon - Recipient
-
Sarah - Recipient
Recipient Quotes
-
A heartfelt thanks to TimeOut and the wonderful homeowners for this incredible gift. I cannot begin to describe the immense gratitude I have for your kindness and generosity. This time away with our two young children was truly precious. We had an amazing time away together that we will never forget, and have made some treasured memories. Thanks so much!
-
TimeOut Charity has given our whanau moments we’ll cherish forever. Their incredible work and the generosity of homeowners have provided us with a chance to escape, unwind, and create beautiful memories together. We are profoundly grateful for this gift of time and to be part of the TimeOut community.
-
A massive thank you to TimeOut, and the incredibly generous homeowner for giving us this opportunity to have an amazing family holiday!! Our time away was unforgettable, such precious memories. Spending quality time with my family and watching the kids having so much fun was a beautiful thing - something I will treasure forever! I cannot express how grateful we are to TimeOut and the homeowner for making this possible.
-
A truly relaxing two nights were spent in Akaroa. The home was lovely, cosy & well thought out. I felt privileged to spend time there and it was an easy walk into Akaroa township. Very close to ‘The Giant’s House’ and great restaurants. Thank you to TimeOut & the wonderful people who donate their homes, it really does mean so much to have a wee ‘escape’ to enjoy!
-
I just wanted to pass on my regards and thanks to you, the Timeout charity, New World, Bachcare and the owners of the property for allowing us to have a wonderful time this past week. The ‘Bach’ we had is a wonderful home in a stunning location, the view was awesome and the place itself was fantastic. The New World vouchers were fully utilised and we appreciated the gift. On behalf of my wife and whanau we thank you and the Time-out charity for giving us the opportunity to spend a wonderful break together as a family and the time away from our current ‘normality’.
-
We had an amazing relaxing well needed break away. This enabled us not only to have a break but to catch up with friends in the area. We had lots of fun and laughter and made cherish memories
Thank you so much to TimeOut charity for this amazing opportunity. Thank you also to the kindness and generosity of the home owners for their beautiful, spacious, lovely home. Forever grateful.Thank you again -
We were extremely fortunate to be gifted a TimeOut stay at a beautiful family holiday home in Omaha. The owners were such lovely and kind hosts to communicate with. The weather was a mixed bag, however, we still managed to enjoy ourselves and created wonderful family memories. We got cosy by the fireplace and watched movies and also had access to a great range of board games. And when the weather was great, we played tennis accross the road and took strolls to the stunning Omaha beach. We can’t express our gratitude to both Time Out and our hosts. You’ve gifted our family something so very special that we will cherish forever
-
We had a great time during our stay. Thank you so very much! [The owners] were lovely and we spent some time with them and their dogs. Kids love that. Thank you for everything you do. The batteries got recharged and our cups are full after a fantastic weekend. It’s so true that life revolves around the illness and when you leave your home space you can escape if just for a short time. We appreciate Timeout and the work it does.Thank you once again.
-
To TimeOut Charitable Trust, I appreciate what you did for us - in such a short period of time - and what you do for the many more NZ Families facing the inevitable. We had an amazing time, spent well with the kids and our grand daughter. We pray the Lord continue to bless your quest to help those who face adversity, with people like the owners of this beautiful Holiday Home.
-
Thank you TimeOut for the best week away. My family and I stayed at a beautiful hideaway that was the best setting to have a break and relax from the busyness of life. We really appreciate the generosity of the owners and for TimeOut who coordinated and they did such a fantastic job making sure we got the right place to stay and we’re comfortable.
-
We had a wonderful time in a beautiful relaxing setting. Such a blessing to be able to rest for a few days. Thank you TimeOut!
-
Thank you TimeOut and the homeowner for allowing my family and I to have a weekend away from home. We all had a fabulous time together, it was great just to relax and watch the children have fun in the pool.
-
We are so grateful for the opportunity that Timeout has given our family. Time away together with our two young children in new scenery, away from the trials of Cancer treatment. A comfortable home away from home, to spend quality time as a family and make lasting memories. We hugely appreciate the generosity of the Timeout home owners and the time of those who set up these amazing holidays. The whole process from start to finish was fantastic. We would highly recommend taking advantage of this special opportunity.
-
Thank you SO much again, honestly…didn’t know HOW MUCH I needed this!!! . It provided me with the opportunity to get away from what has been hours put in weekly, towards focusing on all things “cancer”, and to be able to go to a place that truly catered for my hopes and ideals, was just beautiful. I felt I was given that time back in ten folds being there and I just got to be human again.
-
We had a lovely time at our accommodation, overlooking the Puhoi River. We fell in love with Pawpaw the dog, who would come and greet us every time we got home. Not only did the owners make their space available, but they put so much thought into the stay, even providing us with the ingredients for pizza dough, as well as firewood, for the pizza oven. Living with cancer comes with many extra costs - financially, physically and emotionally. Having this time away to reconnect, recharge and enjoy nature was rejuvenating for us both.
-
I can’t begin to tell you how healing the stay was for our family, but personally, for my mind, body and soul. After the rollercoaster of the last 2 years, this was the first time in a long time that we’ve been able to rest, recover and reset, ready for whatever else life brings. I wanted to express our heartfelt gratitude and thanks. We were able to spend quality time together and create amazing memories as a family. The owners have a beautiful home in their own little picturesque corner of New Zealand, thank you for sharing that with my family and I.
-
What an amazing weekend away thanks to TimeOut Charity & Cure Our Ovarian Cancer NZ. What an amazing initiative getting people to donate their homes to those of us diagnosed with either Stage 4 or terminal illness.Thanks to the amazing generosity of our host who donated her place, a perfect little getaway to us, we got to enjoy a rare and relaxing weekend to ourselves, doing what we love, playing golf along with walks on the beach at sunrise, lunches out and last but not least supporting our gorgeous daughter at her Cheers comp!!!If any of you out there want to make a difference and have a home you could put up for someone, get in touch with TimeOut NZ!
-
We had an amazing time away in Pauanui thanks to our thoughtful and generous hosts. It was awesome to spend quality time together as a family. Thank you to the team at the TimeOut Charitable Trust for making this possible.
-
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday stay, it was amazing and we had such a fun family time together. We are so thankful for the generosity of TimeOut and the members who donate their holiday homes free of charge. Without this service it would have been very difficult to afford a family holiday. Having stage 4 breast cancer, I cherish many family moments together. Thank you once again.
-
So grateful for TimeOut and the families involved for allowing us to enjoy their accommodations and that they trust us to take care of and use their facilities. It is so precious to make special memories with our loved ones suffering and living with a terminal illness.
-
After a really hard and emotional 2 years this holiday was exactly what my family and I needed. To be able to go away without the stress of worrying how we were going to pay for it meant everything. The generosity shown by the homeowners is incredible and with everything going on in the world right now, it really shows you there are still good people out there. I can’t thank them enough for their kindness. This week was filled with memories my family can look back on forever when I am no longer here and that to me is priceless.
-
We’re incredibly grateful to our generous host for giving us her beautiful Mangwhai holiday home for one of the best weeks as a family we have had in a long time. It felt like a home away from home. We couldn’t have asked for more TimeOut in how quickly she was able to help us organise this and in being so attentive to what we needed with Dad’s brain cancer and his rapid deterioration that was the urgency in this trip. I don’t know how else we can thank TimeOut and all the families that give their homes to families like mine that would not have been able to go on holiday. We had a wonderful time and we will certainly be letting everyone know how to get involved with TimeOut.
-
My family and I are so grateful for our recent stay organised through TimeOut.TimeOut and a very generous home owner arranged for us to stay three nights and we had such a great time. In 2018, just after my daughter was born, I was diagnosed with stage four cancer. The following years have been a rollercoaster of surgeries and fortnightly chemo. It is hard to fit family trips in with regular chemo and the side effects. TimeOut made the whole process very easy and the owner was so lovely about us staying in their home.
-
Mum said this was the best holiday of her life. It came at a time where she truly needed a break and to take her mind away from her worries. The place we stayed at was amazing, it has a magical calming healing energy and we made some wonderful memories together there as family. Thank you so much time out and the lovely homeowners who gifted us this experience it’s one we will treasure for life.
-
Not having the extra financial burden of paying for accommodation made this holiday so much easier. I had to stop teaching when the cancer spread further in my bones and my bones started fracturing. I’ve fought hard to get back to a place of wellness and to be in Otematata and experience some stunning bush walks was just amazing. Thank you TimeOut and thank you to the lovely homeowner for giving me this opportunity to rest, relax and recharge.
-
The TimeOut service and the generosity of the Owner has enabled us to have a family holiday, that we wouldn’t have otherwise been able to. My illness and continual medical treatment take its toll on my whole family and to have the ultimate gift of a getaway from this, to spend quality family time together, has made the world of difference. We have come back totally refreshed and reenergised. The support from TimeOut and the wonderful owner has filled our hearts. We can’t express how grateful we are for this experience, which has created lifelong happy memories. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for your amazing service and support, and for making all of this possible.
-
I have had a rough time lately with some challenges put before me and my family, but when you are able to remove the hustle & bustle of daily life even for a short while, it can give us time to take a breath and reflect. This is how I feel right now. Thanks so much TimeOut, and many thanks to our holiday home donors for the lovely oasis provided for us.
-
Thank you so much for providing us with such a special place to make memories as a family that will last a lifetime. We were able to relax and enjoy our time together and that is the most special gift we could receive at this time.
“The best gifts in the world are not the material objects one can buy from the store, but the memories we make with the people we love.”
-
Thank you TimeOut for sorting us out a beautiful place to stay. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the Coromandel, thank you to our amazing host.
-
We all very much enjoyed our time away especially with my brothers being here in NZ and able to join us. Despite the crap weather we spent some really good time together. I really do feel that TimeOut is such a feel good thing, the giving in general to people with illness. I’m so thankful and blessed to be able to learn about and use these support services. Thanks again for all your help and all that TimeOut does.
-
We would like to say a massive thank you to the homeowner for letting us stay in her unit in Snells Beach on the waterfront! It was an amazing spot by the beach and we made heaps of lovely memories and visited beautiful beaches we had never been to. Thank you so much for making the holiday possible for us!
-
I just wanted to say a big thank you for organising our TimeOut stay. We had the best few days away and I discovered the beautiful Mangawhai, which I had never been to before. The bach was welcoming, immaculately clean, and incredibly comfortable. The lovely family could not have been more friendly or helpful. We feel relaxed, refreshed and have created some beautiful cherished memories.Thank you!
-
Thank you to the homeowners for your kindness, generosity and all around amazing humanness. You selflessly gave to a family who is going through a tough time. Giving us time that we can spend together, sharing new experiences and love. We never know how much time we have and to be given some quality time like this means so much. Times have been low and you provided a high. We are so grateful! This kindness restored our hope in the kindness of strangers. Thank you! Priceless! We have one life and want to make the most of time while we have it.
-
In the end for our loved ones it’s the memories that are precious
-
It was amazing! We loved our house and all the beautiful surroundings, the owner’s were so generous and made us feel so welcome.Dad had a wonderful time he went fishing, we did day trips and spent time as a family playing board games, laughing and overeating!!Thank you for all your help! TimeOut have been amazing and we truly appreciate all your time and efforts. It is so refreshing to know there is still such kindness in the world
-
We had the most amazing break away at Oakura cottages. I have never met such friendly and generous people. The cottages we stayed in had everything in them to make our stay perfect in every way. I wrote this poem in appreciation:
How nice to be here amongst the trees, Tuis calling in the gentle autumn breeze, Our bodies and minds our hearts all refreshed, Thank you for being here and meeting you our lives are truly blessed
-
There are no words that can express how grateful we are for this priceless gift. I told our host they were angels on earth as their gift of a few days will be forever with us. It was a time that I could forget about Dr’s, hospital appointments, treatment and worrying about how to pay for medicine that is not funded to keep me alive. As we have custody of our 7 year old grandson’s there is no money to have the Time Out which is so needed at times. I urge any holiday home owner if you can give 1 week a year to Time Out you give a lifetime of memories for those of us who will be gone before we should. Forever grateful.
-
A heartfelt thanks to the super-generous owners of this slice of heaven and to TimeOut for your attentive brokering of our stay. We were relaxed and recharged by the beauty of this stunning environment and the ultimate in classy, comfortable and convenient accommodation. None of us really knows when or if we will ever pass this way again but for us it served to make every moment even more precious.
-
The holiday place we stayed at was beautiful and the views fabulous. The hosts went to no end of trouble to make us feel welcome. We were so grateful for the time out in a holiday home. We enjoyed a much needed rest and it gave my husband and I quality time to spend together. Because of medical problems holidays have been difficult for us and the time out proved to be relaxing and beneficial to our well being. The TimeOut organization is a wonderful idea and is sure to help many people. With grateful thanks.
-
I appreciated the opportunity to stay in Moetapu Bay, Pelorous Sound. We enjoyed a very peaceful retreat, surrounded by bush and birds and close to the beach. We really appreciate the generosity of the owner to enable this time out. Thank you for organising this and to the TimeOut team
-
If rated out of ten, our stay would score a thousand. It was absolute bliss and so beautiful. Thank you for the beautiful job you do in helping realities like this come true xxx We truly couldn’t have asked for a thing more, it was a perfect place so beautifully kept and the most beautiful souls looking after us. It was an adventure we loved and needed and I thank you so much. Lots and lots of love to you TimeOut, you are a permanent star in our sky always xxx
-
We had a wonderful stay, the house was beautiful and Mum had a really relaxing time. Thank you so much for doing this for us TimeOut. We left the owners a small thank you gift, I hope they received it.
-
TimeOut was amazing for us, they arranged our stay exactly where we wanted to go, there was no fuss and great communication. Our host was also great communicating with us regularly so that when we got to the bach we knew exactly what to expect and could just appreciate our gorgeous surroundings and the amazing break from the reality of what was going on at home. Thanks so much to the people at TimeOut and to our amazing host.
-
We had an amazing time away together as a family. Jane was an incredible host, we are so thankful for their kindness and generosity. I also would like to thank TimeOut for making the trip possible for us. It was lovely to have the time away from the hustle and bustle of city traffic and the routine of hospital appointments. Time together in a peaceful and tranquil place like Whiritoa where everything was at a slower pace. We enjoyed walks along the beach just re-connecting with one another, away from computers and technology. Just appreciating the beauty of it all. We have created some lovely memories
-
Thank you very much for organising such a lovely place. It was very tidy and clean house. We had a good time in there. Taupo is one of my favourite places in New Zealand. I was relaxed with nice views, foods and walking around the lake etc. I attached photos of me and my dog Milo. Thank you again!
-
We had a fantastic family get together that we will never forget. I spoke with the homeowner and expressed our gratitude and what it meant for us all. We are all beyond grateful to him, but also for you and the TimeOut team for making it possible and actually happen for us… so thank you so much, we had a forever memory made for us all and we are still all talking about it, It has probably been the very best thing that has happened since we found out our sister is incurable. Please pass on all our regards and heartfelt gratitude for the wonderful treat you and these home owners helped create for us.
-
Thanks so much for organising the most fantastic accommodation. We had such a great few days. The holiday home owners were such nice people and their home is fabulous. Thanks again TimeOut, just what we needed. Two thumbs up from us and a huge thank you to you.
-
We had an amazing time. Really relaxing and a time to connect as a family in what has been a busy 6 months. Having a change of scenery while going through treatment is a real tonic. Thanks so much to Time Out for the opportunity.
-
Thank you very much for providing us a wonderful place to stay in Rotorua. We are really appreciative and thankful to TimeOut. Both of my children enjoyed the stay in Rotorua. And thanks again to TimeOut for providing this opportunity let me have a chance to take my daughter who is 5 years old and has been diagnosed of cancer stage IV, and my family out of Auckland, and has no worries to think of where to stay! Without this opportunity it will be a struggle for me to take them out. I have no words except say thanks to Time Out and the great owner of the house.
-
Kia ora, the TimeOut was amazing, we have so many precious memories to hold with us forever. Mum/Nana loved her time, we even managed to take her down to the beach for a couple of short trips. This lifted her spirits and ours immensely. Mum enjoyed being able to sit on the couch and watch the kids play and be part of every moment, she especially enjoyed all of the fun and laughter caused by our nightly games of charades! We are so grateful to the holiday home owner for their gift of time, it means the world to all of us. Thank you so much TimeOut for enabling us to have this time together. Nga mihi
-
It was priceless watching all our children enjoying this wonderful TimeOut and we all have solid memories as a family which are now going to be with us all forever. The memories are what it was all about and are going to last us all a lifetime. It truly was that time out and creating life long memories, something we will always treasure it actually brought tears of joy seeing our children so distracted with the energy of family and not the journey of a diagnosis that has held us all to ransom, it was good being positive and happy again. Thank you for the joy and love and laughter this has brought to our family.
Holiday Home Owner Quotes
-
We have nothing but positive things to say about our experience with the TimeOut charity. From initial contact to having the first recipients stay in our holiday home has been a humbling and satisfying process. We met the lovely, well deserving family of four, showed them around and then left them to enjoy their holiday break. After the stay they left the home in great condition and sent a very appreciative email with photos of their time there. It was great they were able to enjoy the place as much as we do, and it was a delight for us to share it with others who would get a lot of benefit from a bit of time out.
-
We are so blessed to have the opportunity to donate something so meaningful to families during such a difficult time. Recently a young family stayed in our little kiwi bach, with children a similar age to ours. The photos and communications they sent touched our hearts in the most incredible way! TimeOut Charity have exceeded my expectations in terms of communication prior to, during and after each stay. They make the process a breeze, and I would recommend donating your holiday home to anyone who is in a position to do so.
-
Having lost my dad to cancer, the memories we made in those final months are so precious. We’re delighted that through Timeout we’ve been able to provide a break and some special times for a family at our bach so that they too could create some precious memories with their loved ones. I hope this is something we will continue to do.
-
We have been making our bach available for TimeOut guests since TimeOut started. We recommend others also do this for a whole pile of reasons. The process is easy and you do not need to accept the booking if it does not suit you. We think it is a privilege to own a bach and this is a great way to share and give back. Our TimeOut guests have all been very respectful and grateful. It is not a hardship for us to be able to make a positive difference in peoples lives for a few days. We cannot buy our health or time.
-
It was an absolute privilege to open up our bach to a family going through such a difficult time. We hope that the memories created will be something that they will treasure. It’s lovely to think that a home that has brought our own family so many happy memories has been able to do the same thing for others who are so deserving. Dealing with TimeOut and the guests was easy and I’d highly recommend joining up to other holiday home owners.
-
TimeOut is such a beautiful way to share our family holiday home with other whanau going through such tough times. My dad had leukemia for 14 years and many of his happiest days were spent there. After he passed, my mum always wanted to be able to share our beautiful beach with others in similar situations but we didn’t know how to do that until we heard Time Out being advertised on the radio. The organisation makes the whole process very easy and recipient families have been friendly and responsible, almost taking better care of the place than we do ourselves. If you have a holiday home that sits empty some of the time as ours does, I really recommend registering with TimeOut. Selfishly, it feels good to be able to help another whanau in such a simple way.
-
TimeOut Charity gives me the opportunity to share even just a little bit of the good things I am fortunate to have, with people who are not so fortunate
-
It is nice to be able to provide an opportunity for a family to make precious memories before its too late. It is such an easy thing for a bach owner to provide with a seamless process and excellent communication from TimeOut. We have made our bach available quite a few times now and each of the stays have been very grateful and respectful of the property. I highly recommend that other bach owners give it a try. You don’t have to accept the request when they come through and you can stop doing it whenever you like so there is no risk other than the ‘risk’ of facilitating some families to share special time together!
-
Providing a peaceful place for families who are unwell brings us great joy, and TimeOut make it very easy!
-
We feel we are so privileged to be able to offer the apartment to TimeOut charity. We have both lost our parents and many friends and relatives to terminal illness and it’s a blessing that we get this chance to give back.
-
The idea in making a small contribution to families who are going through a life altering experience is what drew us to listing our home with TimeOut. Experiences are remembered for a lifetime and this opportunity lets us be part of these families and their memories forever.
-
I want to thank TimeOut for making it possible and giving me the opportunity to do this for someone. I really feel for those going through such a difficult experience and am grateful that I can do something! It gives me such good feels.
-
We really appreciate TimeOut giving us the opportunity to help in this small way
-
They were amazing guests and very appreciative of the opportunity. The property was left in immaculate condition and we would welcome them back again. To others who run holiday accommodation can I urge you to make your property available for those with a terminal health problem. Let us try to give a little cheer to these unfortunate souls who are facing a very challenging time in their lives.
-
We recently lost our father after a long battle with kidney and heart failure. He was hooked up to a dialysis machine in one of his 3 weekly sessions watching the tv when the TimeOut charity was featured. Dad got straight on the phone to me to look it up and get his place at Whangamata put on this list of Bach’s. He loved being able to give families a place to stay and create memories where his family memories were made. Now he has passed, we get to continue his kindness.
-
We thoroughly enjoyed having our guests to stay. They were very warm and friendly and left the flat in immaculate condition beyond our expectations. Personally we felt privileged and happy to be able to share our AirBnB with them, and give them an opportunity to make some memories in our beautiful surroundings. I look forward to the next opportunity to provide a TimeOut stay.
-
The visit was really successful, they really seemed to enjoy the cottage and the peace and quiet. They were very appreciative, and it was lovely to chat with them, and learn about their lives. It was a privilege and a pleasure to host them, hopefully I will be able to gift more families in the future, through the TimeOut charity. I found that your communication and follow up emails were excellent and the whole process went smoothly.
-
It is always a pleasure and an honour to open our holiday home up for couples and families needing some special togetherness – to help them take time out without the daily/hourly cares that come with the stresses and strains of their personal crises at home. We make an effort to be welcoming – without disturbing or disrupting their precious time and peace together. Just knowing that we’ve helped provide them with some special days away when they most need it is so fulfilling and worth doing many times over.
-
To others who have such accommodation they can offer the Terminally ill through TimeOut Charity I can say Just Do It. It gives people an emotional boost time in their time of need. You will also have that feel good factor having made someone’s life that much better for at least the time they are your guests’
-
I feel so blessed to have been able to help in this way!
-
It was a fantastic experience. It was lovely to meet with and chat to the family. The process through TimeOut was very easy, thank you for providing this service. We had such kindness and support from all sorts of people when our daughter had terminal cancer it feels really special to be able to do something for a family facing similar times. I look forward to being able to host other families.
-
The whole stay went very smoothly and they sent me a lovely follow up email with photos attached of her and family on the beach. We would certainly donate our home again if we are in a position to again in the future.
-
The stay went really well, thank you, absolutely problem-free from our point of view! We really enjoyed meeting and talking with them - it was a long way for them to travel, but they certainly made the most of their time here. I would be more than happy to host more stays through TimeOut, it was a wonderful opportunity for us to show some compassion and love for others. So if you have anyone else who needs a peaceful stay in a farm cottage beside a river, let me know!
-
The family absolutely loved it. They used the kayaks and they swam. Also they loved sitting on the deck watching the birds. They also left quite a bit of food behind for us. Didn’t expect that at all. They also left us a thank you note and xmas card and a box of chocolate which is lovely. I didn’t expect anything at all because we joined this charity and expect nothing at all. Just for people to enjoy our wee piece of paradise. Bring on the next family!
-
It was an absolute Pleasure to look after this family, they are inspirational. It was a great feeling for us to assist like this and we are here for you in the future. This family were so appreciative, it made us feel so proud. Thank you TimeOut.
-
The visit went without a hitch. On returning to the house, which was left in immaculate condition I found a gift and letter which was simply amazing. As a family member was a commercial artist, they left me a beautiful watercolor of my house which I will treasure forever. However, of most value to me was the letter, in which they described how much it meant to them to have this break away as a family. It was most moving and that alone made the whole experience so worthwhile. Thank you Time Out, I cannot recommend others to come on board with your amazing organisation highly enough.