This is a very long shot but who knows - just putting out a feeler:

Following retirement ten years ago, Mrs Code and I have done many Home Exchanges in the Northern Hemisphere - Europe and N America. These are arranged through an exchange website to which we pay a subscription.

A few months ago we were approached via the website by a German couple in Bavaria who are coming to NZ for nine months next year. They are both PhD medical-science professionals with three pre-teen and teenage kids and are coming here on a sabbatical.

They are looking for home exchange(s) for all or part of the nine month period, if possible. The kids are already enrolled for next year at local intermediate and secondary schools in the mid-East Coast Bays (Auckland) area. If they are not able to find exchange(s), they will rent a home.

Although we would love an exchange in Bavaria, unfortunately we are not able to assist them next year.

If anyone would like some time in Bavaria living free of accommodation costs and would be OK with a family living in their home here, please contact me by PM. It would certainly not need to be for the full nine months - but they would want say at least 1-2 months to make it work for them. Obviously your home would need to be broadly in the area outlined above.

We have always arranged a car exchange as part of our international exchanges and these guys are offering that.

We have built a good on-line relationship with them through the website and IMO they are Very Nice and Genuine People. We are just trying to give them a bit of a hand. They speak and write perfect English.

If anyone wants to take it further after getting more info from me, I can show you their listing on the exchange website (free to view) and/or put you in touch with them. No tyre-kickers please.

We’re aware that home exchanging may not appeal to everyone - but every one of the 16 exchanges we have done has been a resounding success with not one issue arising at either end.