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About us...
Kia Ora!
 Adventure South has been operating active holidays throughout New Zealand for more than 18 years and we are able to say with the utmost confidence that we can offer the best cycling, trekking and adventure itineraries ever available in New Zealand.
There's simply no other collection of New Zealand itineraries that can match the geographic coverage, originality and overall quality of our adventures.
For many years travellers to New Zealand have come to walk the classic trails like the Milford or Routeburn Tracks or cycle the West Coast roads. These trails and routes offer a great insight into some awesome regions, but we're here to show you that there are many, many more trails and cycling routes in our great country that are the new frontiers in adventure tourism - beautiful, scenic, and without the crowds.
At Adventure South we are proud of our many guides who have passed through the company. They bring their humour, compassion and caring and ensure that you have a great vacation and right degree of personal challenge. Behind our guides exists another band of office staff, dedicated to providing the infrastructure and safety net to your holiday, ensuring that the details are complete and correct.
Let Adventure South introduce you to the natural wonder that is New Zealand, join one of our small group, environmentally responsible, value packed adventures!
Geoff Gabites, Director Adventure South
Office Staff
First line of contact is likely to be either Tim de Jong our Operations Manager or our administration staff - Ayaka Yoshikawa, Pep Cremers, Rachel Brownie or Ann Gillies. Our depot manager Rudi Vargaya-Conza keeps things ticking over at our base, and it is here that we will meet and brief those of you whose tours depart from Christchurch.
top ^ Tim de Jong
I have been working for Adventure South for four years now in an Operations & Sales role. Prior to this I had over 10 years on the road as a cycle tour guide, leading tours throughout New Zealand as well as in Australia, Vietnam, Italy & the USA. I have a special passion for Vietnam having travelled & guided there for many years and have created our Mekong Delta & Limestone Landscapes tours in this amazing country. During the busy New Zealand summer season I coordinate the movements of our fleet of 13 vehicles, 80 bikes and approx 15 guides, as well as occasionally being let of the office to guide tours.
In the winter I switch to more of a sales/marketing role, including creating and planning itineraries for private groups and working on our new itineraries in New Zealand. Winter in the tourism industry is also our holiday time and I am very excited about my coming vacation in Portugal. I had planned to have a complete break from cycle tours, only to find by pure coincidence that a new bike trail passes right through the village where I will be based for six weeks. Some things are just meant to be, so watch this space for Adventure South tours in Portugal!
 Ayaka Yoshikawa
I’m from Japan, living in New Zealand for five years now. Some people call me a half kiwi for living in this country for that long and for speaking with kiwi accent! I left my home country as soon as I finished school and lived in Nelson for about a year studying English, Tourism and Hospitality. I learnt the kiwi style of tramping & mountain biking while in Nelson. I also enjoy skiing & snowboarding as I grew up in the snow country Hokkaido.
Surfing & ocean swimming became one of my favourite sports living in Christchurch for the last four years though. My decision to come down to Christchurch to study another three years at university was made without any hesitation. I love the beauty of this country and the fact that people here seem to focus more on recreation & leisure in their free time! In the course of my three years study of Recreation Management and Outdoor Leadership at Lincoln University, I started working for Adventure South as an internship student.
It’s been just over three years now since first being involved with this company. My main role is Reservations, but somehow I recently extended my role to plan & lead a cycling group to Japan! Our first Japan trip is happening in July 2008, I’m so delighted to be given this opportunity and excited to show people my country around.
Pieternel Cremers
 Kia ora! I am sure that seeing my name above will raise some questions, so let me briefly introduce myself. My name is Pieternel (pronounced as Peter-nel or just Pep) Cremers and I was born and raised and up until recently still living in The Netherlands. That should explain the difficult name! I have had the opportunity to explore Australia and New Zealand during a year of travelling in 2003/04 and fell in love with the beauty of these two countries. New Zealand especially appealed to me because of the great variety in landscape and outdoor possibilities. Some of you might remember me as I was the intern at Adventure South during the first half year of 2008 for my course in International Tourism Management and Consultancy. During these six months I fell in love with New Zealand even more. The helicopter ride out of The Remarkables mountain range is something I will never forget. Coming from a completely flat country this is something I don’t see or get to experience very often! Other than travelling, I really enjoy hiking, dancing (zumba!), learning Maori and scuba-diving. During our last (European) summer I was lucky enough to go to both Kos and the USA.
Getting to know the National Parks in the US has added another interest to that list, I’m afraid! Recently I have graduated from uni and was given the opportunity to come back to New Zealand for a third time to work as the reservations manager here at Adventure South (they must really like me ;). No need to really think about that one and so here I am; very excited to be back and I look forward to explore New Zealand’s lifestyle and beauty even more.
Rachel Brownie
 I’ve been with Adventure South for three summer seasons now!! (I can’t believe that they have put up with me for so long!). I work closely with Tim in sales and with general enquires that come in. The Otago Central Rail trail is also my baby – so if you are thinking about going on that tour you will most likely end up dealing with me.
Although I was born in Australia I spent a lot of my youth in New Zealand. This meant lots of time to go tramping all around the South Island (and we all know that’s the best island!). Before coming to work at Adventure South I had been living in London, teaching indoor ice climbing – something a bit different for central London.
The main reason I moved back to NZ was just to be near the real outdoors, teaching ice climbing indoors just doesn’t compare to actually getting out there and tramping! I wouldn’t classify myself as a real ‘heads down bums up’ kind of cyclist but I do enjoy the odd cycle race every now and again and I do own some lycra cycle clothing!
This picture was taken at the recent Around Brunner bike race. We sponsor the fancy dress so a few of us from the office took the lead and dressed up! Around Brunner is the biggest race in the South Island with 1200 participants – its 130km and is a lot of fun! From L to R we have Craig as the Riddler, Ayaka as a jockie, Pep as a cricketer, me as Alice in Wonderland and Geoff as Superman!
Josh Harris
 I help maintain the fleet of bicycles at Adventure South. I have been working as a cycle mechanic for many years, am Shimano qualified and have built the odd bicycle - tandems and touring bikes. My love for bicycles was cultivated while cycle touring in South America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. I think it's the best way to see a country, to meet the people in a new place and just to get around while travelling. Like most of the staff I enjoy riding to work, and I like to get out in the Port Hills for some mountain biking. When I’m not working at Adventure South, I do contract bicycle maintenance through my mobile cycle services business, PedalOn. I really love being a bike mechanic and especially like working with Adventure South. They are great people, friendly and enjoyable company and make an excellent pot of tea.
 I'm the new accounts girl at Adventure South. Having spent the last 15 years living in Australia we made the decision to move our family back to NZ to install the love of outdoors life and adventure into our two active boys and show them what it means to be all things kiwi! Prior to leaving NZ, I graduated from Uni of Otago with a degree in Zoology and spent some time living and travelling in Northern QLD as an Naturalist on the Great Barrier Reef before making Sydney home for the next few years where I developed a career in administration and marketing in various roles including event management with the Australia Day Council, managing education programs for GPs in the medical industry and most recently a part-time position as an Office Manager with a graphic design firm. I know - a little far removed from accounts! Ive also completed a Postgrad Certificate in Business Administration which was a good grounding for my role at Adventure South. Other interests are baking, running and cycling (to burn any calories I may have eaten while baking...) and I also dabble in photography.
Babette van Biljouw
 Hello, my name is Babette and I am the new intern at Adventure South. As you can see my name is not exactly an English name and that is since I am from the Netherlands (yes, another dutch employee). I am twenty years old and studying International Tourism Management & Consultancy at NHTV in Breda, The Netherlands. For the next six months I will be learning just what it means to work with a company that is dealing with tourism. Before I came to New Zealand I travelled to Singapore, Cambodia and Thailand for a school project, which was absolutely great! Furthermore I have seen almost all the countries in western and central Europe. Besides working I am planning to see a lot of this beautiful country during the six months that I'll be living here.
Adventure South Guides
Every couple of months we will profile some of our guides in depth but this does not mean we favour them above the others as all of our guides are very special to us and to our clients!
Supporting us over the summer months is a team of some 10-15 guides with some exciting, specialist skills. Amongst other things our guides have cycled around the world, climbed to the highest peaks in New Zealand and the Himalayas, worked in Antarctica, have degrees in Botany, are qualified chefs, have had their photographs published world-wide and have written travel journals and hiking guide books. As guiding work is seasonal a tour guide needs to be multi talented and during the off-season our guides are involved in many diverse activities from managing ski-fields to courier driving to teaching and consulting. Of-course to be a guide you must be a traveller at heart and many of our guides use the New Zealand winter period to travel, hike and cycle overseas.
 Bas Kruisselbrink
Bas Kruisselbrink is one of our most senior guides with 8 seasons under his belt for Adventure South. If his surname sound a little un kiwi to you than you are right. Bas was born in The Netherlands in 1961 and was litterally raised on a bicycle. At the age of 16 he cycled with a friend from Holland to Spain and Portugal and that was the start of a life full of cycling adventures, the longest one a five and a half year cycle ride around the world through 44 different countries. A year and a half ago he cycled 3500 km from Sydney to Cairns predominantly using gravel roads in the Australian bush. Cycling and travelling is in his blood and he loves sharing his cycle expertise with other people. Bas is a very keen cycle mechanic and keeps our cycle fleet up and running in the winter months while he is not guiding. Bas was trained as a mechanical engineer and studied business management in London. He managed a leasing company for the importer of Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche in The Netherlands, but that became too much of a life in the fast lane for him. After visiting 87 countries he thinks that New Zealand is the best place to be! Besides Dutch and English, Bas is fluent in German and proficient in French and Spanish.
Louise Vargaya-Conza
 Born and raised in Dunedin, after graduating collage I worked first as a veterinary nurse, but spent my spare time pursuing my passion for biking, hiking and kayaking and volunteering for the Department of Conservation and Search and Rescue. Eventually decided to turn my passion for the outdoors into a career, i studied Outdoor Recreation and have never looked back! Since then I have been lucky enough to work in some of the most beautiful areas in New Zealand and abroad and met lots of amazing people in the process. At present I am studing some papers in ecology by correspondence and hope to continue my work with DOC in the future, helping maintain the special places i guide in. I have been at Adventure SOuth two summers now, along with my husband Rudy, who is also a guide. In the winter we chase the good weather back to his home town of Arequipa, Peru and to get to work and place in the Andes (and I get to practice my Spanish!).
Alison Richards
 I am passionate about New Zealand so am delighted to be back guiding this season. From a farming background, my love of nature began at an early age. School teaching was followed by a retail business, while experience in the outdoors was accumulated over many years involvement with a Tramping club, Alpine Club, the Mountain Safety Council and during private trips. Having explored much of the South Island while tramping and climbing and especially since having had adventures in South America, Africa, Vietnam, and Europe, my appreciation for New Zealand has intensified. My current interests include tramping, climbing, mountain biking, sea kayaking, and travel. In guiding what motivates me is meeting people from all over the world and helping to make adventures memorable.
 Ivor Heijnen
Studying Outdoor Education in winter and guiding for Adventure South during the summer season, I live my life as much as possible in the outdoors. That’s where my passion is, and whether it is biking, hiking, climbing or white water kayaking, for me it’s about sharing those journeys with others. I have been a guide with Adventure South for two years now, and I am looking forward to sharing more experiences of New Zealand’s amazing landscapes, its unique flora and fauna and its great culture with our clients.
Originally from The Netherlands, I could say that biking is in my blood. After finishing a bachelor of commerce and a brief stint as a press officer for the Dutch government, I soon realized that my future would not be working in an office. The opportunity arose to move to New Zealand and after working as a caregiver for people with an intellectual and physical disability, I started a new degree and combine that with working as a guide for Adventure South. After finishing my studies this year I will be a certified outdoor educator, with awards in bush craft and rock climbing instruction, and pre-hospital emergency care.
 Duncan Ritchie
Born, brought up and educated in the south of the South Island and living in Wanaka, Otago, I have worked as a geologist for many years in 10 countries including Antarctica, in South America and extensively in NZ.
I come from a traditional kiwi tramping and mountaineering background and have worked outdoors all of my life. As well as geology I am often employed in a variety of other fields including farming, skiing and guiding. Travelling around in the wonderful outdoors and the enjoyment and interest of meeting a huge number and variety of different people is what I like about guiding. My guiding experience includes trekking and cycling trips in NZ, Patagonia and Antarctica over an 11 year period.
Steve Tulley
 I have really enjoyed my first season guiding with Adventure South. It has been great having the opportunity to introduce clients to the New Zealand back country. Meeting clients from all walks of life, with many laughs along the way, has been a particular highlight for me.
Guiding allows me to continue my life long interest in the outdoors - including mountaineering, tramping, skiing, fishing and cycling. When I am not guiding I am still lucky enough to be working outdoors in my own beekeeping business. I look forward to the start of the 2009/10 season.
My overseas travel includes trips touring in Europe, climbing trips to Tibet and Nepal, Chamonix and the Italian Alps. Two years ago I went cycle touring in southern France with my wife Ann. We have two children Sophie age 9 and Christopher age 14 who enjoy the outdoors as much as we do. Family trips to the Pacific Islands are a highlight and our trips to Rarotonga have resulted in supporting the sole beekeeper in Rarotonga by hive inspections, providing industry advice for the importing of queen bees. I am impressed with the diversity of trips on offer at Adventure South and see this as one of its strengths.
 Clark Pollitt
Kia ora, this is my third season with Adventure South, prior to that I spent the last ten years teaching outdoor and environmental education at the Christchurch College of Education. I have a great love of the outdoors and take every opportunity to have adventures either in the mountains or on the sea.
This may sound strange but I love mountain running, I guess it's a freedom thing moving across the terrain as swift as you can. I own a very beautiful penguin sea kayak and have many adventures kayaking around our coasts. To be a tour guide has been a dream of mine for many years. I can't think of a better way to spend my time than giving people the opportunity to have adventures in the beautiful wild places of Aoteroa New Zealand. I'm really looking foward to meeting you. In the mean time Kia kaha which is Maori for be strong and stand tall.
 Rudy Vargaya-Conza
Hola, I am originally from Peru although some people confuse me for a pacific islander. I married a kiwi (Louise, another guide here at Adventure South!) last year, after meeting her in Peru two years ago (lucky me). Since then we live part time between Peru and New Zealand. I have a degree in computer science and a degree in tourism management from Peru. I started guiding hiking tours in the mountains of Peru in 2005 and haver been working for Adventure South for the last two seasons. At present I am doing depot work (getting trips ready etc) and going out on some cycling tours. I really enjoy working in NZ and I've had an unforgettable experience in my whole time living here, love New Zealand, its my favourite country - after Peru that is.
 Qui prend mari, prend pays! After a life in the Far North, I trade the mocassins for good tramping boots which took me to Latin America and Northern Africa as a tramping and sea kayaking guide. From -40C to +54C I manage to set camp, chat with locals and try new recipes! It's in New Zealand that I've hang my rucksac, what a play ground! Infinite possibilities of tramping, discovering, climbing, paddling, cycling and wine tasting! This country was made for me! I just love the climate cause I get the -40C and +54C in the same day! My boots are always ready by the door for the next adventure. There is a lifetime of learning and adventures on those 3 islands. I am very happy to be part of the vibrant Adventure South Team as I can share my passion for the outdoors and my love for New Zealand. See you on the trail!
Brian Farrant
 From my days in school, and on into work as a bridge construction engineer, I spent my leisure time organizing and leading private hiking, skiing, kayaking and cycling trips for my kiwi friends, a great introduction to working as a tour guide in the outdoors of New Zealand . Then in 1988 I began work as an independent guide for a number of New Zealand and US companies, guiding a wide range of tours from road cycling to off road mountain biking These tours dovetail nicely with my other interest growing cherries and new potatoes organically for local orders, which keeps me busy in the spring .
When not working you will find me out hiking, cycling or skiing with my son's, as they too grow up to enjoy life in the outdoors.
Geoff Venning
 Hi, this is my first season with Adventure South and I am really excited. I have known Geoff since 1992 when we both became involved in Tourism. In 1992 I set up "The Mountain Bike Adventure Company Ltd." hiring out bikes at the top of Mount Cavendish and the Christchurch Gondola. In 2,000 I lived for 6 months in South Korea Recruiting Western English teachers. Previously I have helped manage several different Tour companies and also the Christchurch College of English Language (we had 600 Japanese students). For the last 12 months I have been a driver/guide for Stray Travel, based in Auckland and sharing our beautiful country with thousands of International visitors over a 3 week tour, 7 days North Island and 16 days South Island including our unique Stewart Island. On a personal note, I like keeping fit by running or biking 3-4 times weekly and in the past have competed in many Marathons and Triathlon Multi-sport races including our famous "Coast to Coast" one day World championship race. Welcome to our amazing land. I look forward to sharing with you some special experiences which I hope stay with you a lifetime!
Rossco Daubney
 Having lived in several countries and travelled to a great deal more, NZ is where I can call ‘home’...a place of majestic mountains and stunning scenery from cape to cape and source to sea! My name is Rossco and having guided groups both in and out of NZ since 1994, I feel privileged to be able to share my knowledge and excitement of our beautiful piece of the world with you..Aotearoa!
In a previous life I was brought up on a farm, ventured through business and went travelling in 1989 (of which I still spend approx 5 months per annum out of NZ). A love of all things sporting and the great outdoors, encompassed with an appreciation of photography and wine – not necessarily in that order – (my pics get better with the more wine YOU drink ) has bought me to work for Adventure South since..well ages ago! As kiwi as Lemon and Paeroa , fish n’ chips and Buzzy Bee –( Google that one), interests include triathlon, multisport, sea kayaking, hiking, and biking as well as discovering ‘new’ places with hoots of delight and laughter abound. Never one to be too serious, the only thing I may be qualified for is fun! Between and after tours I can be found at times with my ‘waterfront apartment’ aka Campervan, around The Top of The South kayaking and/or coffeeing (is there such a word?) or on the world’s best No 2 green at the Tasman Golf Club.
Kate Rafanelli
 This is my first season as a guide at Adventure South. After graduating with a BSc in Applied Science in the UK, I went to Italy and raced as a driver with BMW and Lotus in several Touring car Championships and 24hr races. At the same time I worked as an instructor for Guidare Pilotare, teaching advanced handling and safety driving skills to a huge variety of people with different backgrounds and life experiences. Our teaching methods were based on the philosophy skills and safety in all disciplines are really acquired by an equilibrium of the mind. I have seen so many people enter and then leave driving courses as changed individuals, mainly because they experienced and achieved things they previously thought were impossible on a personal level. This meant that in other areas of their lives they are able to consequently affront situations with another level of self belief, control and enjoyment. Being involved with people in this kind of role gives me personally an enormous sense of achievement and pleasure.
Towards the end of my motor racing career I had started sculpting Marble for pleasure and this is how I discovered New Zealand! I was invited to a Stone Carving Symposium in New Plymouth and as soon as my foot stepped onto the tarmac from the plane I knew this was the place for me. .. New Zealand has this kind of effect on a lot of people!
I have been a resident in New Zealand for 7 years, I love technical mountain biking and also have a BHSc in Complimentary Medicine.
Mission Statement
“Small groups, Great Guides, Superb Holidays” This comment encapsulates Adventure South. It didn’t come from a long and tortuous strategic planning process, but rather it came from a client review form summarising their vacation experience. Somehow I don’t think we could have done better!
Company Values
Caring, Professional, Passionate.
We do care - about our clients, their welfare, happiness, and enjoyment. We care about our environment, our small communities and the values they hold in being a Kiwi. We care about our relationships and our reputation. We care. Professional is a broad term. For us it means that we will do whatever we agree to do – to a standard that meets your expectation. We will try to get it right – first time! Passion is what we look for in our guides over anything else. Passion to provide the best customer service, to share the best our country has to offer, and a passion to show our company in the best possible light.
Adventure South takes very seriously the responsibilities that come with being one of New Zealand’s leading Adventure Tourism operators. As well as our commitment to the environment & sustainable tourism we are also very involved in quality initiatives within the New Zealand Tourism Industry.
 This is an independent quality audit process conducted by a joint venture organisation representing the New Zealand Tourism Board. The audit is very comprehensive and expensive. (which may explain why some companies choose not to engage in it). The audit examines virtually every aspect of our company’s operation – from safety plans to employment, financial planning to vehicle maintenance. The process is unique to New Zealand and the envy of most countries’ national tourism organisations.Adventure South has engaged in this audit process since its inception some four years ago. Our lowest score has been 88%.
Established by Landcare Research, the carboNZero process has been established to assist companies identify, minimise and offset their carbon footprint. The process is run by Landcare who then require another independent, comprehensive and expensive audit of our result. Once these results are confirmed, our excess carbon footprint is calculated and Adventure South pays for its emissions. Adventure South is the only tourism operator to have completed a full company carboNZero process. Since 2001 we have lead the tourism industry in our practices having become the first New Zealand company to achieve Green Globe’s certification process.
 NZTIA is the umbrella organisation for the tourism industry. Membership is voluntary and fees are based on staff employed. The organisation provides industry leadership and coordination, responding to membership issues. For the past 3-4 years Geoff Gabites has been elected as an industry Board member representing our outdoors sector.
 Cycle Tour Operators New Zealand (CTONZ)This organisation is dedicated to promoting cycle safety and professionalism among New Zealand cycle tour operators. Membership is voluntary and progress relies on participants putting aside personal rivalries and acting for a common good. As a founder member Adventure South is totally committed with our operations manager Tim de Jong currently chairing the organisation.
Department of Conservation (DOC)
Adventure South work very closely with NZ's Department of Conservation to ensure that our impact on NZ's National Parks and reserves is minimal. We are licensed concessionaries and a portion of your tour payment goes to DOC towards park management.
Adventure South has been strong supporters of the professional guiding orgnansation, ProGuidesNZ. Five of our guides are full members and Clark Pollitt, one of our senior guides is on the Committee.
 Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)
ATTA is dedicated to raising the profile of adventure travel in the world market providing valuable services for its members. This organisation also assists in defining "best practice" and operating standards as well as encouraging sustainable and environmentally and culturally sensitive adventure travel practices.
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