Dan has always been a devotee of the outdoors. A progression from agriculture to tourism started with his role as a hiking guide in Spain in the late 90’s, and later as a backcountry guide in New Zealand. Dan still gets out and about guiding some trips and has the enviable job of tour research and development too. He also has a reputation for getting out on a lot of his own cool hiking trips.
Having grown up in rural New Zealand it was no surprise that this country girl returned to work involving the outdoors. Anne tried life as a city slicker with a commerce degree but packed in corporate life when she met Dan. Anne is the face of Hiking New Zealand at international trade and travel conferences and the strategist in the office. Anne also does a lot of trail running, mountain biking and hiking.
Even before he could walk, Malcolm was being carried through the New Zealand wilderness in a pack on his father’s back. Since those early days, he has hiked, climbed, sea kayaked, and mountain biked throughout New Zealand and the globe. He squeezed in time to get a science degree in physical geography and co-authored a guidebook, Classic New Zealand Adventures. Based in Auckland Malcolm keeps the North Island team singing and itineraries humming.
Michelle has a background in tourism operations & publishing. After a break to look after her children she joined up with the Hiking New Zealand team. Michelle is a cheerful outdoor obsessive and her enthusiasm for anything active is simply contagious. When she’s not out mountain running with groups of likeminded women, she’s putting her boundless energy into keeping the rest of us free-range adventurers in line. Michelle is our women’s group travel specialist.
Martin has always had a great interest in exploring the natural world and this has been the main thread throughout his life. After studying Earth Sciences at university, he began a long career as a high school teacher focusing on outdoor and environmental education. After a couple of seasons guiding, He couldn't be happier to now have a management role at Hiking New Zealand which still allows him to get out on trips, where he can practise his favourite pastime: being outdoors in nature.
Anna (Ngāi Tahu) has always loved the outdoors, having grown up camping, hiking and fishing with whānau (family). With a love of the natural environment, sports and adventure, she has spent many nights off the beaten track in the wild Te Wai Pounamu (South Island) back country. Anna has worn many hats, having lived on a rural farm, owned an outdoors shop, travelled the world and being mum to her two children, she is passionate about showing her home to other adventure seekers.
Originating from the deep south, Kerry embodies our team's passion for the great outdoors, seamlessly fitting into our shared love for nature. In her earlier adventures, Kerry served as both a cook and a tour guide, navigating tours across Europe and New Zealand. Transitioning from the world of golf and ultra-running, she now indulges in the quieter joys of lawn bowls and cycling. With Bottle Lake forest right at her doorstep, Kerry is often found exploring its trails.
Marios does not have the most Kiwi of names, but since arriving in New Zealand over 20 years ago he has not stopped exploring. Marios has ventured widely into the recesses of these uplifted islands, sometimes researching for walking and historical guides. He has been privileged to meet some extraordinary locals and gain snippets of history and culture which give depth to the landscape and his interpretation for his guests.
Growing up close to the Southern Alps with active hikers for parents developed in Jeremy a real passion for the outdoors. He has been lucky enough to turn this love into a career, working as an outdoor instructor and guide across the globe for nearly 20 years. He loves having a job in his playground and sharing his great enthusiasm for adventure travel and discovery.
Kath originally hails from Oregon on the west coast of America. Soon after stepping off the plane when she arrived New Zealand in her early 20’s she knew she would make her home here. These days it is a beautiful organic farm shared with 6 other families in the winterless Far North where she grows most of her own food and has recreation on her doorstep. Kath’s love of nature and a practical outdoor life have seen her work range from landscaping to running a small tree nursery, and nowadays guiding to which she brings an infectious enthusiasm for all things ‘kiwi’.
Hailing from Canada, Oli relocated to New Zealand following his retirement as a professional cyclist. With a strong desire to stay connected to the outdoors, he explored the backcountry of New Zealand and was immediately captivated by the unique flora and fauna and equally impressed by the strong conservation values of the Kiwis he met along the way. This lead to Oli joining our conservation team. Embracing his true passion, Oli now utilises his enduring stamina on both our conservation projects and as a guide.
Born and raised on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf, Louis spent his childhood enjoying the great outdoors and being introduced to Aotearoa’s conservation ethos. Homegrown and overseas adventures, a degree in International relations and Sociology, and working/volunteering across a range of conservation projects followed. All of which has culminated in Louis’ passion for connecting people to Aotearoa’s outdoor heritage, places, and species. A lover of stories, Louis hopes his enthusiasm and anecdotes will bring these places to life.
Justin grew up on a dairy farm in the Manawatu region of the North Island. Wanderlust drew him away to work as a Department of Conservation ranger at a number of locations around the country, interspersed with periods of travel in Asia and South America until earning an income forced him home again. For over a decade guiding has satisfied Justin’s wandering spirit. A degree in sustainable communities with an immense and balanced knowledge of New Zealand history makes Justin a compelling person to chat to. Along the way, Justin has gained an intimate knowledge of New Zealand’s natural and cultural history and myriad other things. He communicates this knowledge and connects other travellers with New Zealand’s special places.
With a diverse and adventurous career Adrienne has worn many hats. Mentoring at-risk youth and teaching primary kids in classrooms in NZ and Australia. Parachute packer and later ops manager for skydivers. Trapping and remote conservation work on the Chatham Islands and in the Southern Alps. Guiding hikers through New Zealand's wild landscapes is second nature to someone who grew up in an outdoorsy Nelson family. Adrienne has a science degree (BSc) and is a conservationist at heart. She is truly at home in the outdoors, whether its sea kayaking, mountain biking, camping, hiking or surfing. Under all those hats is a big beaming smile!
Ali’s pathway to guiding has been through extensive experience teaching outdoor skills here in New Zealand and overseas. As well as the assurance of safe leadership Ali brings to guiding a wealth of ability to get alongside our guests and help them get the most out of their journey. When not out guiding Ali works as an outdoor instructor and volunteers his time, providing young people with outdoor opportunities on a mentoring programme, and along with his partner fostering rescue dogs.
Juanita is a passionate educator and seasoned traveller. A born and bred Kiwi, despite the Spanish name, Juanita first started guiding in 2008 after a career with the New Zealand Army that took her to Antarctica. Her love of nature and the outdoors led her to a Masters in Biological Sciences and a Teaching Diploma. Juanita now combines guiding with teaching and has recently worked with the NZ Defence Force youth development unit. Her adventures have taken her to Peru, Nepal and Southeast Asia.
Viv is far from his origins in Corsica but truly has made New Zealand his home, not only through marriage to a kiwi but by developing a deep connection to place - through extensive exploration of our backcountry hiking, working in conservation to protect vulnerable bird species, and as an outdoor guide. Viv brings infectious enthusiasm on all his adventures. He currently lives in Arthur’s Pass village deep in the Southern Alps where he is active in the community as a volunteer firefighter, and trapper for the local wildlife trust.
Kelsi Henderson - Guide:Kelsi brings to work in the outdoors a multitude of applicable skills, honed as a keen recreationalist from her home range of Southland across the length and breadth of Aotearoa, and not least in her people-facing roles as youth worker and busy solicitor. A shift to summer guiding has allowed a deeper dive into the rest and adventure the outdoors offers in the off season, and the opportunity to share this nature connection and experience with others. Kelsi’s organisational ability, safety consciousness and bubbly, optimistic attitude assure a smooth journey.
Marie Burlot - Guide:Marie first worked in tourism on the Eiffel Tower in her native France. It was during a trip to Aotearoa that she discovered even greater heights among the mountains as a client on a guided hiking trip in the North Island. She fell in love with the landscape and later, a guide, so soon left France for a new life in the outdoors here. Work as a language teacher was soon followed by guiding French and English speaking groups through both islands, which she has now been enjoying for nearly 10 years. An experienced hiker in the European Alps as well as our Southern Alps, she considers the wilds of Aotearoa her favourite place to explore, and discover more about to share with her groups.
Simone is originally from Switzerland but with over 14 years spent on this side of the world she’s a well acculturated Antipodean. A love for the outdoors and adventure has recently led Simone into nature conservation and work to preserve New Zealand’s taonga (treasured) bird species in the remote backcountry. Masters level study in Psychology, work as an administrative professional and in hospitality and childcare round out her CV. To guiding Simone brings a wealth of organisational skill and enthusiasm for being in, sharing information about and caring for the natural world.
Matt Hall-White - Guide:Growing up in New Zealand and Australia, Matt has always been curious about the world around him and, for the past 15 years, he has made it his mission to experience the great New Zealand outdoors. An active leader in the New Zealand Alpine Club, Matt has loved hiking and running in the wilderness areas of the mountainous central North Island, and like all good Kiwis, he’s been ticking off the best of the South Island too. Matt has more than a few strings to his bow, and a cracking laugh he always travels with.
Hailing from Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, Caitlin began to find her niche in the outdoors with family and school experiences and an outdoor and adventure education course. She truly found her “tūrangawaewae” (a place where one belongs), far from her urban upbringing with a move south and work in isolated bush clad valleys of the Southern Alps where she strived to protect vulnerable native bird species from predation by introduced pest animals. Caitlin transfers this connecting experience to outdoor guiding and instruction, with considerable enthusiasm for fostering in others an awe and appreciation for our wild places through experiences in nature.
Georgia’s enthusiasm for interaction with the natural world is evident in her desire to get out amongst it at every opportunity, whether through demanding adventurous pursuits or slow appreciative forest meanders. Following work in equestrian services out of school, she found her niche in outdoor instructing and guiding through degree studies in sustainability and outdoor education. Georgia’s love of sharing Aotearoa with guests through memorable immersive experience and boundless energy and work ethic bring a great vibe to the trips she guides.
Fleur’s home in rural Nelson steeps her in nature and abundant recreational opportunities. Backed by this infusion and a wealth of travel and life experience, she delights in introducing international visitors to everything special about her backyard and delivering a great travel holiday experience. With experience in roles as diverse as tour guide, lodge host, flight attendant and first aid trainer, travellers can rest assured they will be well looked after.
