Caitlin is an Auckland-raised outdoor lover, at home among the mountains, and has now found her place in Reefton in the West Coast region of New Zealand. Conservation and respect for Aotearoa New Zealand are ingrained in Caitlin, and she guides with enthusiasm, leading with a simple philosophy: don't forget to slow down and take in the view.
Caitlin Todd - Guide
Tell us about your hometown?
Less of a hometown, more of a homecity! I was born and raised in our largest city, Auckland. My family and I spent our time enjoying the local parks and tracks especially around the Waitakere Ranges. In the summer time we also took advantage of the many beaches that you can access all around Auckland.
What do you do when you're not working or hiking?
I like to strike a balance between doing not a lot and getting out! I love being in the outdoors. Camping and finding good swim spots during the summer, climbing, and slowly getting into mountain biking! In my down time I also enjoy reading and cooking up creations in the kitchen.
As a guide what's your top tip for someone new to hiking in New Zealand?
Take it slow and take your time. The tracks and trails offer so many opportunities to see and experience amazing flora and fauna, as well as spectacular views and landscapes. It's easy to miss the beauty when you rush!
How do you stay motivated on a long day on the trail?
Having company is a great balm to boredom and losing motivation! My friends and I keep ourselves entertained with word games, riddles and sharing of lots of good trail snacks. Packing a good dinner always gets me through to the end of the day as well. However I also enjoy hiking on my own, in which case a large playlist of my favorite songs and podcasts and embracing the opportunity to have time to myself with my thoughts (a great passer of time).
Do you have a favourite trail snack or meal?
After years of being on the trail, through a lot of trial and error, I have found my perfect snack list that comes with me on any hike. Sour gummy worms, Whittakers chocolate block, salty crackers with hummus and an abundance of muesli bars.
What’s one place you haven’t hiked yet but would love to explore?
The wild West Coast of the South Island. Having just moved to Reefton I am excited to have this whole area as my backyard, and look forward to the challenge of the tracks.
Kiwi-Style Hiking
Great Walks
Hiking Tours
Alpine Hikes
Custom Groups
