Has anyone used Servas and/or HelpX?

[tardis]

Have you ever used either of these services before, and if so, what was your experience?  I will be travelling to New Zealand for a working holiday, and a friend of the family suggested looking into these two organizations as a way of travelling cheaply and meeting people.

Servas Website

HelpX Website

[mozar]

I haven't, but I would be concerned that there aren't enough people on it. I would look into couchsurfing.com and WOOF.

[eliza]

I haven't used either, but when I'm feeling particularly wanderlusty  / disengaged at work, I like to read the HelpX listings and dream of a different lifestyle.

I would also consider looking into housesitting for free/cheap lodging.  I've always found my placements through my social network, but some of my acquaintances have used TrustedHouseSitters to find house-sits.  I'm not sure of their coverage in NZ...but they might have something.