Michelle brings her energy, humour, and all-in attitude to our team. She designs women’s hiking trips and planning logistics with military-level precision if she's not chasing her teens (or a new trail). After swapping a dental clinic for New Zealand’s adventure playgrounds, she found her true home in tourism. As Hiking New Zealand’s Women’s Group Travel Specialist, Michelle is the go-to for active getaways that are as empowering as they are fun. With her love for the outdoors, natural flair for connection, and an ever-growing gear stash, she’s all about sharing big laughs, wild places, and unforgettable experiences.
I was born and bred in Rangiora - though I haven’t stayed here my whole life! In the '90s, I cut the apron strings and took off to Japan, followed by England and Europe for the classic Kiwi overseas adventure (OE). When I returned to New Zealand, I met Hamish - now my husband and the father of our two teenagers. His work took us to Rotorua for five years, and that’s where I made the switch from being a Dental Practice Manager to working in Tourism. Rotorua is a hub for Māori cultural tourism, geothermal activity, and more recently, adventure tourism. It boasts an incredible network of mountain bike trails through the forests and offers everything from zorbing to luging. I credit Rotorua's trails for cementing my love for mountain biking.
I’m usually wrangling a couple of teenagers, pets, a husband, and making the most of the nearby trails for running, hiking, or biking. The valleys and ridgelines of Canterbury’s foothills offer easy access to some incredible forest and alpine environments. They’re right at the foot of the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana, and all within a 30-minute drive from home - Mt Grey, Mt Thomas, Mt Richardson, and Mt Oxford are some of my favourites.
If I’m not doing that, I’m probably planning my next adventure with the girls! There’s always an adventure race, multi-day hike, rogaine, or mountain bike trip that needs to be done.
One year, my bosses here at Hiking New Zealand gifted me a lightweight inflatable pillow to take hiking. At first, I rolled my eyes thinking, "What? I’m old school—I don’t need that!" Normally, I just stuff my puffer jacket into my sleeping bag, and that usually does the trick. But I have to admit, I never leave home without the pillow now. I get the best sleep!
Yes, I do! Sprinkles - sprinkles, you ask? Let me explain. I take porridge (rolled oats) for breakfast when I’m hiking, but after a few days in a row, it needs some excitement. So, I bring a bag of toppings to up the protein (and the fun): nuts, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, chocolate chips, shredded coconut - you name it!
I’ve got so many bucket list hikes I still want to tick off, and I’m lucky to have a group of mates keen to do them with me. Over the last couple of years, we’ve been doing multi-day hikes with our teenagers during the school holidays. It’s hard to pick a favourite, but Mueller Hut and the Routeburn Track stand out. As well as the classic New Zealand tramp, the Three Passes which I completed with a friend.
Mueller Hut is a challenging, steep hike that you can do in a day, or you can stretch it to two days and spend the night in the hut (which I highly recommend). It’s an out-and-back hike that rewards you with a 360-degree panorama of glaciers, ice cliffs, vertical rock faces, and of course, New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki / Mt Cook.
The Routeburn Track is best enjoyed over three days, though there’s some logistics involved since the start and finish points are in completely different national parks. You can hike it in either direction, but I recommend starting in Fiordland National Park (The Divide) and finishing in Mount Aspiring National Park (Routeburn Shelter). That way, you get to enjoy more time descending into the stunning Routeburn Valley, and you’ll finish closer to Queenstown—just a 45-minute drive back to civilisation. You will tramp among huge valleys, waterfalls, jewel-like lakes and of course, soaring mountain peaks.
The Three Passes is one for the adventurous—we took four days tramping through some of the most dramatic and varied backcountry in the Southern Alps. Hiking east to west, we ticked off Harman, Whitehorn, and Browning Passes, with everything from tussock basins to rocky climbs and multiple river crossings. Our weather window was spot on. With jaw-dropping scenery and terrain that kept both brain and body fully engaged, it was a hugely rewarding experience.
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