Employment Information
About Active Adventures
The Active Adventures HQ is located in Queenstown, New Zealand, with operational bases in Christchurch (New Zealand), Billings, (USA), Lima and Cuzco (Peru), Barcelona (Spain), and Kathmandu (Nepal). Seasonally, we hire local Hiking Guides Drivers and Hiking Guides Cooks in New Zealand each year. In our other destinations, we hire Trip Leaders and Guides on demand.
Here are some useful links to information about our team, both in the office at HQ, and our guiding team out on the road. We've also included a link to our videos page so you can get a better idea of what we do here at Active Adventures.
Meet our Guides
Watch our trip videos
Jobs by Region
New Zealand - our main intake period for new guides (in New Zealand) is in July and early August each year. We advertise on the online platform SEEK, so be sure to keep an eye out around the end of June/beginning of July. Feel free to email your questions and CV to the Hiring Manager and the recruitment team at guidejobs@activeadventures.com – and we can tell you more about this fabulous job!
The purpose of these roles (Guide/Driver and Guide/Cook) is to guide and host our guests on our all-inclusive, small group adventure travel trips in and around New Zealand.
Our guides are responsible for taking our guests around different parts of the country on a scheduled itinerary hiking, biking, dining and staying in beautiful destinations along the way.
Our trips range in length from 5-14 days. The objective is to provide our guests with a safe and awe inspiring experience when travelling to New Zealand with Active Adventures, creating a memorable trip of a lifetime for them. Our summer season starts early October and goes through until late March to early April.
Daily responsibilities include providing informative Hiking Guiding on a variety of tracks and trails, providing exceptional customer service, caring for our guests, driving our vehicles safely and legally throughout the duration of the trip (Hiking Guide Driver only) and arranging, preparing and/or cooking well presented meals for the duration of the trip (Hiking Guide Cook only).
Experience and skills required:
- Hiking Guide Drivers – individuals who are keen to guide, host, drive, hike and much more. You must have a Class 2 license, P endorsement and Food Safety Certificate (or the willingness to obtain prior to employment commencing).
- Hiking Guide Cooks – individuals who are keen to guide, host, cook, hike and much more. You must be confident in the kitchen and have a Food Safety Certificate (or willingness to obtain prior to employment commencing).
- Both roles:
- A passion for meeting new people
- Experience and knowledge of hiking safely in the NZ outdoors
- Able to communicate and relate with a diverse range of people
- Ability to work independently with a variety of co workers and suppliers throughout the country
- An ability and willingness to learn a new wide range of skills
- Leadership skills
- Individuals who are punctual, enthusiastic, motivated and professional
- Clear verbal communication skills
- Safety conscious at all times
- Ability to pass a pre employment drug and alcohol test
- Food Safety Certificate
- Ability to be away from home for up to 14 days
- Knowledge and experience of New Zealand's flora, fauna, culture and history
- Team players with initiative and patience
South America Trip Leaders:
- Local Guide Qualifications
- Previous guiding experience
- A commitment of 2 years
- First Aid Certificate
- Safety conscious at all times
- Organised, hardworking, tidy and efficient
- Calm under pressure
- Punctual
- Enthusiastic
- Well-groomed
- Caring
- Motivated
- Professional
- Physically fit with a healthy personality
- Mature persona and excellent people skills
- Experience, knowledge & a keen interest in the outdoors especially hiking
- The ability to be away from home for extended periods (Eg: 2 weeks at a time)
- Leadership skills
- Proven group management skills in an outdoor setting
- Clear verbal communication skills
- Knowledge and experience of Peru, Ecuador or Patagonia’s flora, fauna, culture and history
- Ability to relate to people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds
- Exceptional customer service
- Outgoing, positive, friendly and able to stay that way for the whole trip
- Team players with a huge amount of common-sense and patience
Active Adventures South America Trip Leaders are hired and trained as required locally in Peru, Ecuador and Patagonia. If you’re interested in applying then please email: guidejobs@activeadventures.com with a detailed covering letter explaining what you can bring to the Active Adventures South America experience.
Himalayan Trip Leaders
Active Adventures work with international guides that are trained to guide in Nepal. They work closely with our operational team in Nepal to deliver our Active Adventures Himalayas experience.
European Qualified Guides
Hired and trained as required locally with Active Adventures international trip leaders joining the operational team in Europe on the ground from time to time.
Behind-the-scenes HQ Team
As we continue to grow and evolve, occasionally roles become available in the office. We have a team of hard-working staff made up of sales, customer service, marketing, accounts, IT and operations staff. We advertise these roles on SEEK, so be sure to keep an eye out! Our head office is based in Queenstown, New Zealand. Our recruitment and selection process involves an assessment of different factors, including a very thorough interview, practical testing, written assessments and at times a trial in the office.
If you’re interested in working for Active Adventures then please keep an eye out on SEEK or feel free to get in touch for any current vacancies. They may be fairly few and far between; our staff have a great habit of sticking around!
