Becoming a Host
Family in Queenstown
Share your culture and welcome Japanese international students into your home. Join our network of caring host families today.
Our Values
10+ Years of Trusted Experience
Since 2014, we have helped more than 10,000 international students find a safe home. We have built strong connections with leading English schools and study abroad agencies.
Japanese Owned, Family Run
We take pride in being a reliable, family-run provider. We thrive to offer detailed, attentive care and consistent commitment in delivering exceptional homestay experiences.
Dedicated Local Support (24/7)
Our experienced team works closely with each host family and provides dedicated support whenever you need it. From registration to hosting, we are here to guide you every step of the way and help ensure a positive experience for both you and your student.
Flexibility that Suits You
We offer host families the opportunity to select preferences that best suit their lifestyle. Whether it is the student’s background or the length of stay, we work with you to find the right match.
Our General Location Requirement
Most students attend language schools located in the CBD. Therefore, we require host families to be located within a reasonable commuting distance—ideally within 50-60 minutes of the city center using public transport.
High-Demand Areas
- Jacks Point
- Lower Shotover
- Frankton
Process
At Good Homestay we have set up a simple 3 step process to join our network.
Step 1: Online Application
We first ask you to complete an Online Application through our website, in order for us to check if your location is suitable for us to make placement.
Step 2: Home Visit & Interview
A member of our team will visit you for an interview to discuss your interest in becoming a registered host family and help you to answer any questions or concerns about hosting our students. Please be aware that during this visit, we will take photos of your home and family to create a host profile.
Step 3: Get Matched & Welcome Your Student
Congratulations!
We are delighted for you to join our Good Homestay network. We will contact the matching host families about the new student approximately 8 weeks prior to the student’s arrival with the student profile. This includes information about their gender, nationality, age, dietary requirements, smoker/non-smoker any health concerns and homestay start and end dates for you to consider if you are happy to confirm the placement.
Compensation
We understand that hosting an international student increases your household running costs. Our goal is to provide a fair homestay host family payment that covers your expenses, allowing you to provide a warm and welcoming environment without financial stress. Good Homestay aims to offer competitive weekly rates for all our partners.
- Your first payment will be made one day before the student’s arrival. (Some short-term group bookings may have exceptions)
- Same pay per student, whether it’s single or twin placement.
2026 Rates
| Weekly Fee | Meals | |
|---|---|---|
| Over 18 | $395 | 2 meals* Monday to Friday, 3 meals on Weekend |
- Breakfast and dinner
- A winter surcharge of an extra $20 per week will be paid.
- Extra $50 per week will be paid if your student has special dietary requirement (Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Dairy & Lactose Free, Vegan & Pork Free)
*Please note that all the compensation rates indicated above are subject to change without notice.
About us
Good Homestay, established in 2014 by Hiro Miyata, is a Japanese-owned, family-run business connecting cultures across New Zealand and Australia. For over a decade, we have dedicated ourselves to supporting hosts and students alike.
We believe living with a local family is the best way to experience a new culture.
Our mission is to provide a “home away from home” for students and a seamless journey for hosts.
We build strong, personal relationships with every family. With 10,000+ placements and trust from leading schools, our experience is your assurance of quality. We are committed to providing unparalleled support and communication every step of the way.
Review & Family Testimonial
I have had wonderful hosting experiences with Good Homestay Australia. Yoshie and her team are genuine, caring and efficient. They always ensure hosts and students are comfortable and well looked after.
I have had the best experience with Good Homestay. The quality of service is exceptional. Very friendly and responsive. Strongly recommend GHA!!!
I had fantastic experience with Good Homestay as a host. They are very professional, responsive and trustworthy. The homestay students they referred to us were lovely and respectful. I would recommend Good Homestay if you’re considering hosting students from overseas.
Yoshie, Hiro and Hijiri are always approachable and happy to help. You showed great care for the student and for us as a homestay family when we had an unexpected emergency in our home. It is fantastic to work with such understanding and compassionate homestay agents 😊 I would highly recommend Good Homestay 😊
Good homestay is super efficient with excellent communication and a really well thought out preparation to keep students and homestay families to have a great connection. Highly recommend :)
We've been hosting students for several years now, and Hiro and team are very supportive. They give as much information as they can so we can cater to the student's needs as much as we can. Very easy to communicate with. Lovely students.
Contact & Registration Form
FAQ
Here, we’ve compiled answers to the most common questions potential host families ask. Welcome to our comprehensive homestay host family FAQ.
If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via our contact form. We’re always happy to assist!
About students
What kind of students will I be hosting?
Most of the students are aged over 18 years old and coming from overseas as either an international student or a working holiday maker. However, we also cater students aged between 12 and 17 during the holiday season as well. Our students come from various regions worldwide, with a significant number from Japan, China, and Thailand.
What do host families do while accommodating students?
Host families are expected to welcome students as part of their family and provide a comfortable and safe home while the students settle into their new environment. For more details, please refer to the Expectation for Host Families page.
Do the students speak English well?
We expect that most students will have some proficiency in English, although this varies among each individual students. Many of them come from non-English-speaking backgrounds, so homestay may be their first experience in an English-only environment and hence it may take some time for students to adjust.
Becoming a Host Family
How far from schools in Auckland or Queenstown can we be located?
Most of the students will attend schools in the CBD area, so host families should ideally be located within around 45-minute travel time to the city center from their homes using public transport.
We don’t speak English as our first language. Can we still become a host?
We expect English to be used as the common language among the host family.
We believe the primary benefit of homestay is immersing students in an English-speaking environment throughout the day, not just at school. This encourages their English development.
Is it alright if we have never hosted a student before?
Absolutely! Even if you have never hosted a student before, if you are interested in providing international students with an unforgettable homestay experience, we believe you have a great potential! Please express your interest by filling out the online registration form and feel free to ask any questions through our contact form.
How much do we get from hosting students and when do we get paid?
The compensation offered for hosting students varies based on their age and meal options. We pay host families their compensation on fortnightly basis with the first payment done on one day before the student’s arrival.
Registration and Matching Process
How long does registration process take?
It generally takes about up to a month to complete your registration
What’s going to happen during the site visit?
Our team will visit your house for an interview to discuss why you are interested in joining Good Homestay and to answer your questions regarding hosting a student. During this visit, we will also take pictures of student rooms, living room, kitchen area, and your family for inclusion in the host profile that we send to students.
When will I be informed about the student’s arrival?
We generally inform host families about 8 weeks prior to student’s arrival to confirm their placement.
How often do I get students?
We find the best matching combination of hosts and students based on preferences from both parties. The frequency of student placements varies across different seasons.
Can I make preferences about the student that I will be hosting?
Absolutely! We encourage every host family to provide us with their preferences regarding the student’s profile, if there is any. This helps us to match students with host families for a positive homestay experience. However, it’s important to note that certain preferences may make it difficult for our team to find a matching student.
What information will I know about student before arriving to my place?
We will send student information including their age, gender, nationality, dietary requirements, length of stay, and any other relevant details for you to consider about the placement. This information is typically provided around 8 weeks before the student’s scheduled arrival.