Our Kiwi Team

The best New Zealand travel team on the planet

Running outstanding New Zealand trips requires an outstanding and hugely experienced team of individuals that above all else, know and love New Zealand. First and foremost, we’re Kiwis – we live and breathe New Zealand and we’re determined that your trip with us be the adventure of a lifetime!

We’re a passionate team of knowledgeable travel experts and outdoor enthusiasts with countless years of experience. We’ve explored the world from Africa to Antarctica, and now we’ve come home to our roots in New Zealand.

Our founders are pioneers in the adventure travel industry, having established and worked with some of the biggest names in New Zealand travel. Experiencing first-hand the highs and lows of larger companies, we decided to keep things real, authentic and local with New Zealand Trails.

Our mission is to focus on what we know best and that’s New Zealand. New Zealand is our home and our passion, and you can be sure that when you travel with us, you’ll enjoy the very finest service, a warm Kiwi welcome and an incredible overall experience.

Meet our founders

Nigel

A born adventurer, Nigel spent his formative years after university driving overland trucks on multi-month safaris from the UK to Zimbabwe. He eventually returned home to set up an award-winning travel company, as well as what would become New Zealand’s largest dive centre.

Nigel has been running New Zealand travel companies now for over 20 years. 

As a founder of New Zealand Trails, Nigel is proud to have introduced thousands of happy guests to our unrivalled scenery and is now focussed on making the company the best adventure tour company it can be.

Outside of work, Nigel loves long-distance off-road cycling. He's recently cycled the length of New Zealand, and in 2019 cycled the Tour Divide route from Banff Canada to Antelope Wells on the USA/Mexico border.

Jodi

Bright and brilliant, after graduating university Jodi left New Zealand to hike, trek, snowboard and run her way around the globe. Her travel endorphins still firing a decade or so later, she leapt at the chance to work at New Zealand Trails alongside Nigel.

Jodi knows New Zealand like no one else and loves sharing her expertise to help guests plan their dream trip. Jodi is the voice and heart of New Zealand Trails and chances are she’s the first person you’ll talk to when you give us a call!

Amanda

With an unbeatable eye for detail and an intrinsic understanding of what it takes to run an outstanding tour, Amanda has your trip completely under control.

After years of running and guiding incredible New Zealand trips, she knows exactly what goes into creating an unforgettable, hassle-free vacation of a lifetime for our guests. She’s the ultimate organiser, with no detail too small to avoid detection. You can relax, Amanda’s got this!

Find a local tour guide

Of course, the real stars of the show are our amazing New Zealand tour guides. Kiwis born and bred, they’ll guide you throughout your trip, sharing their home and country and exemplifying the best of what it means to be a Kiwi!

Learn more about our guides here.