The Active Adventures HQ is located in Queenstown, New Zealand, with operational bases in Christchurch (New Zealand), Billings, (USA), Lima and Cuzco (Peru), Nijmegen (The Netherlands), 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.
NOW HIRING - Hiking Guide Drivers and Hiking Guide Cooks for our New Zealand 2023/2024 summer guiding season (starts 29th of September 2023).
Email your questions, cover letter, and CV to Lee and Kaleb and the recruitment team at guidejobs@activeadventures.com - and we can tell you more about this fabulous job! Applications close on Sunday 6th August 2023. Applicants for this position must have the right to work in New Zealand.
view role on seek
What we are looking for in our Guides and Trip Leaders
New Zealand Hiking Guide Driver:
- Full Class 2 licence and current passenger endorsement for small and large vehicles
- First Aid Certificate
- Food Safety Certificate
- Safety conscious at all times
- Great people skills, the ability to empathise, and recognise what a group or individual needs.
- Organised, hardworking, tidy and efficient
- Calm under pressure
- Punctual
- Enthusiastic
- Well-groomed
- Caring
- Motivated
- Professional
- Reasonably fit with a healthy personality
- Mature persona and excellent people skills
- Pass a pre-season drug test, support & be a part of our drug free workplace and safe working culture
- Experience, knowledge & a keen interest in the outdoors, especially hiking
- The ability to be away from home for extended periods (e.g: 2 weeks at a time)
- Leadership skills
- Group management skills
- Clear verbal communication skills
- Knowledge and experience of New Zealand’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

New Zealand Hiking Guide Cook:
- Food Safety Certificate
- First Aid Certificate
- Safety conscious at all times
- Great people skills, the ability to empathise, and recognise what a group or individual needs.
- Organised, hardworking, tidy and efficient
- Calm under pressure
- Punctual
- Enthusiastic
- Well-groomed
- Caring
- Motivated
- Professional
- Reasonably fit with a healthy personality
- Mature persona and excellent people skills
- Pass a pre-season drug test, support & be a part of our drug free workplace and safe working culture
- Experience, knowledge and a keen interest in the outdoors especially hiking
- The ability to be away from home for extended periods (e.g 2 weeks at a time)
- Confident in the kitchen
- A flair for food presentation
- Empathy when catering for mixed dietary requirements
- Leadership skills
- Group management skills
- Clear verbal communication skills
- Knowledge and experience of New Zealand’s flora, fauna, culture and history
- Ability to relate to people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds
- Exceptional customer service
- Attention to detail
- 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 New Zealand guide roles are advertised in a number of South Island publications and on SEEK each year, generally from mid-June. Alternatively you can email: guidejobs@activeadventures.com with your application and detailed cover letter explaining what you could bring to the Active Adventures New Zealand experience.
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
New Zealand 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 New Zealand trip leaders joining the operational team in Europe on the ground from time to time.
Behind-the-scenes 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: lee@activeadventures.com. They are fairly few and far between; our staff have a great habit of sticking around!