Our guides pride themselves with professionalism, friendliness, knowledge of the local areas, and most importantly, enthusiasm!

(Most of our regular team is listed below)

Bryan
Born and bred in Christchurch, Bryan has a great knowledge of the Canterbury area. He has worked in the health industry for 28 years, including a stint of nine years on the island of Bermuda. He also lived in France for two years. Bryan has always been a keen sportsman and tramper, as well as an avid book-worm, with particular interest in local history. Hence, his great passion to guide outdoor experiences!

Doug
A passion for hill country, farming and the great outdoors describes Doug well. He has an extensive knowledge of Banks Peninsula, Canterbury and the South Island. With 23 years experience in the tourism industry Doug enjoys interacting with people and sharing his knowledge. He has a particular interest in natural history, native bird-life and photography. When not guiding walks, his outdoor pursuits include tramping, scuba diving, flora and fauna, nature, traveling and working on his lifestyle farmlet.

Gavin
Gavin is an active member of one of Christchurch's largest tramping clubs and loves being outside, whether it is in the garden or on a hill top somewhere. He enjoys reading and social history. Gavin is a semi-retired chartered accountant, but these days he spends most of his time doing voluntary work and exploring the outdoors. He was born and bred in Canterbury but has travelled extensively, including living in Europe for four years.

John
John comes to guiding from a background in exploration geology and teaching. He loves to explor e new terrain and has a passion for prospecting in the West Coast goldfields. To keep fit John plays tennis and likes to get out on cross country skis when the white stuff covers the hills. As a hobby John uses satellite data to track icebergs in the waters south of New Zealand and has recently started to document the drift of these magnificent Antartic wanderers in his blog "Kiwi Icebergs".

Nicky
With a background of 17 years in tourism, Nicky enjoys introducing walkers to the delights of Banks Peninsula and the West Coast. Having lived on the Port Hills of Christchurch since childhood, Nicky calls Banks Peninsula her "backyard" and has also walked many of the public and private walks in the South Island. When not walking, Nicky and her partner can be found racing around the country in their campervan and are also keen international travellers.

Neil
After tramping extensively in New Zealand and the Himalayas, Neil decided to share his experience and knowledge on The Akaroa Walk. Neil was a secondary school teacher for 28 years and was heavily involved with Outdoor Education such as running ski and kayak trips, camps and other expeditions. He is a qualified kayak instructor and enjoys adventure and multisport racing, not to mention a spot of paragliding too!

Pauline
A member of the Hospital Tramping Club in Christchurch for 20 years, Pauline has helped to organise and lead tramps throughout the South Island. She has hiking in her blood and in recent years has walked the Canadian Rockies, the Inca Trail in Peru, Annapurna Circuit in Nepal and the Camino across Northern Spain. In 2005 Pauline and her partner Barry, cycled from Brisbane to Cairns while on holiday! Pauline lives on the Banks Peninsula so has a good knowledge of the local history.

Martin
A man well known for his great sense of humour! Martin's hobbies include tramping, diving, fishing and hunting, as well as his great passion for cooking. He was born and raised in Blenheim, so has an extensive knowledge of the Marlborough region. Martin spent a period of time working in the UK and Australia as well as travelling through Europe, Africa and Asia before deciding that the grass was greener in New Zealand!

Mary
For the past 34 years Mary has lived in the Awatere Valley on a sheep and cattle farm that has been in her husband's family for 110 years. She was born and bred in Blenheim and as a child all her holidays were spent in the Marlborough Sounds at their family batch. Mary loves being in the outdoors, with tramping and biking both great passions. For the last 15 years she has been an active member of the Marlborough Tramping Club, leading many tramps both in Marlborough and further afield. Mary had immense satisfaction guiding many alpine tramps climbing the 2885 meter peak of Mt Tapuaenuku, towards the head of the Awatere Valley - a three day tramp with about 80 river crossings and a very dramatic and rugged landscape. When not tramping or biking, Mary loves gardening, helping her husband on the farm and always finds time to devour a good book.

Rachel
A long time member of the Marlborough Tramping Club and outdoor enthusiast, Rachel joined our team in 2007. Her interests include biking, tramping, golf and gardening. She has led many tramps in the South Island with a variety of age groups and abilities joining her. With a background in managing one of Marlborough's top winery restaurants, she has an outgoing personality and enjoys meeting new people.

Rosemary
Rose has been involved in the Forestry and Marine farming industry with her husband for many years. She is an avid reader and has a strong interest in the wildlife of N.Z. As a DOC volunteer Rose has visited Stephens Island (home to the Tuatara) to plant native trees, had a trip to Maud Island tracking takahe, as well as an adventure on Maud Island with a very close encounter with Sirocco (kakapo with an attitude!) - He bit Rose’s finger! She has a great appreciation of the outdoors, including being a keen cyclist and tramper (member of the Marlborough Tramping Club).

Stewart
Stewart was born on the West Coast of the South Island and has a great passion for the wilderness. The majority of his working years were devoted to education, as well as organising and guiding groups in outdoor recreational activities. The mountains, valleys and rivers in Canterbury, Nelson Lakes and the West Coast have been Stewart's recreational playground. He has a particular interest in the local history of the various passes, routes, land features, flora and fauna and personalities associated with early discovery and development.

Winston
A voracious reader with a strong interest in New Zealand history, geology, plants and wildlife, Winston is very familiar with the native flora and fauna and the fascinating pre-European history of the Queen Charlotte Sound. Winston has had some interesting guiding experiences including taking tourists in the Metro Cave System while splashing about down the Nile River on inner tubes. He has spent 16 years working in the Marlborough wine industry so is the man to chat to if you are wanting recommendations on some of the regions award winning wines.