About us
Our Story
We care deeply about delivering memorable experiences that will exceed your expectations.
meet our teamHow it all started…
Altitude Tours was founded in 2017 based on one simple premise to create the best wine tour in the world.
With a few friends, we got together (wine in hand of course) and planned what we felt would be an epic premium wine tour. Looking at each component of the tour in detail, our goal was to personalise the ordinary and systemise the extraordinary through every step of the tour to ensure we could deliver consistent, top quality and unique wine tours daily.
After significant trial and error in a historic and cluttered market, we had created the top-rated (Trip Advisor) Queenstown wine tour boosting the most 5 star reviews that year, we knew we were onto something!
With the same eye for detail, we started penning ideas (wine in hand of course) for creating or re-creating existing tour offerings and adding our own flare… fast forward 18 months and Altitude Tours was not only a wine tour company, we were taking guests sightseeing to Glenorchy, Paradise, around the Wakatipu basin and providing private charters and transport – we were becoming a ‘small group big adventure’ company.
More tours mean more staff and more space so we moved from our home lounges/kitchen benches into our own offices and operational base and soon after were presented with an opportunity to acquire the top-rated small group Milford Sound coach operator called ‘The Milford BBQ Bus’ which had been operating for over 25 years and had carved out a very unique and personal offering with a cult-like following. This acquisition was a natural addition to our own small group travel experiences and gave us an introduction to sightseeing tours into Fiordland.
Throughout our rapid growth, we committed to continually making sure our tours were delivered in line with our original vision and have spent an enormous amount of time and money training our guides, creating systems and maintaining a high level of product delivery.
Our commitment to detail extends to the creation of our own Altitude wine and beer accreditation which we established with an external consultant. All our guides must have taken and passed this course (theory and practical) to be able to guide any of our wine tours.
We love tourism, we want to not only be involved in the future we are working hard toward regenerative tourism, we want to be a leader in showing the communities we work within and the environment can be improved by tourism.
Covid19 has been a challenging time, so while we were either in lockdown or twiddling our thumbs with little to no customers, we have been head down tail up curating new experiences and are always in search of new adventures which sit within our vision and mission… standby for more Altitude experiences coming soon!
Our vision
To create and operate the world’s best day tours.
Our Mission
To provide unforgettable, sustainable and unique small group premium New Zealand experiences, connecting visitors and the local community in a harmonious way.
We’re serious about creating and curating experiences, if we aren’t in the office, we are on tours constantly discussing and working out how to make them better. We systemise anything we do that is extraordinary and we personalise anything that is by default ordinary.
If you’ve been on any of our tours and have any ideas or feedback (no matter how big, small or crazy) please feel free to email us.
Founders
Nigel Hobbs – [email protected]
Heidi Farren – [email protected]
HUMBLE BRAGS
Multi-award winning tour operator.
We are proud to be a Qualmark Gold awarded company with many of our tours being rated and awarded top within their categories.
WE CARE MORE
Sustainably conscious experiences.
It’s important to us Altitude Tours is an environmental and economic sustainability business.
READ OUR ETHOS
The Altitude Team.
ALTITUDE CO-FOUNDER
NIGEL
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Nigel is a born and bred southern man who has travelled all over the world for the last 20 years exploring and working in locations such as Russia, China, Indonesia, France, Singapore and Australia. He has a huge passion for all things tourism and is focussed on creating world class travel experiences.
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ALTITUDE CO-FOUNDER
HEIDI
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Heidi is a born and bred kiwi girl who hails from the North Island. After finishing school, she moved to Queenstown where she studied Tourism Management and has called this beautiful region home ever since. Having worked in tourism for her entire career in various guiding and management roles, Heidi was looking for a new challenge and after a few months of planning and discussions Altitude Tours was born!
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GENERAL MANAGER
GRAHAM
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Graham grew up in Ireland but has been calling New Zealand home since 2011. Ever since his first travel experiences around Europe through to a six month stint around South East Asia he has loved everything about travel and tourism. Through this he has spent the last 12 years working in tourism in New Zealand where he has always been focused on delivering excellent customer experiences.
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SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
KIM
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Kim’s our sales gal, sharing the Altitude Tours joy around New Zealand and beyond, working with our wonderful booking partners. Originally hailing from Warkworth, north of Auckland, Kim is a converted South Islander having enjoyed the Queenstown lifestyle for over 10 years. A lover of travelling, languages and meeting new people, it’s a no brainer she joined the world of tourism, an industry she has called home since she was 17.
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RESERVATIONS & LOGISTICS MANAGER
SAMMY
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Sammy is originally from Auckland, and after spending 5 years living overseas she decided to move back home and settle in beautiful Queenstown. She loves the outdoors and in her spare time you'll find her skiing or hiking on one of our local trails. She has spent most of her career working in tourism, planning itineraries for people around the world and throughout New Zealand. She has a passion for this region and for helping others get to experience it which made Altitude Tours the perfect fit!
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OPERATIONS MANAGER
TIM
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As Altitude Tours' Operations Manager, Tim brings a steadfast dedication to ensuring seamless tour experiences for every guest. Hailing from Massachusetts, his appreciation for the outdoors aligns seamlessly with the values of our company. A keen golfer, Tim often draws parallels between the meticulous planning of a tour and lining up the perfect shot, emphasising the importance of precision in both. His extensive experience in operations, paired with his deep understanding of customer expectations, makes Tim an invaluable asset to the Altitude Tours team. With his strategic oversight, we're consistently "on par" with delivering excellence.
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RESERVATIONS & LOGISTICS TEAM LEADER
TATIANA
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Tatiana, our youngest Altitude team member, is originally from a small town in Canada. Being a lover of adventure, Tatiana has spent many years exploring and working around the world before deciding Queenstown was the perfect place to live. From hiking in Hawaii, and soaking up the sunshine in Australia, to watching the sunrise on Mt Batur in Indonesia, Tatiana has seen some incredible sights. In her spare time, you will find Tatiana snowboarding up the mountain or out adventuring in the beautiful Otago scenery in her beloved little red car Ruby.
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RESERVATIONS & LOGISTICS
MARRIAH
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Marriah was born and raised in a small town of Washington State where Mount Rainier was quite literally at her doorstep. She came to visit New Zealand back in 2017 where she fell in love, packed her bags and has now called Queenstown home for the last 5 years. She loves hiking and camping and in her free time you might see her out locally on Tobins Track, out in Paradise or just across the way at Moke lake. Being in the hospitality industry for most of her life she loves meeting new people from all over the world which inspired her to want to help people further explore the beauty that New Zealand, the place she loves has to offer which has landed her here with us at Altitude.
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RESERVATIONS & LOGISTICS
GWEN
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Originally from Toronto, Canada, Gwen backpacked Europe and Australia before crossing the ditch to spend a summer in New Zealand. Over 5 years later, Gwen is still in love with the home she has made for herself in Queenstown and when she's not working she loves hiking, biking and baking. Her travels have inspired a passion for helping others experience all that the area has to offer and therefore she's loving working in the tourism industry with Altitude.
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RESERVATIONS & LOGISTICS
AMBUR
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Ambur is from Fort Collins, Colorado, nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains. She's all about the great outdoors. With her experience as a kayak and hiking guide and her passion for camping, and skiing, she applies her skills and knowledge to ensure a smooth, seamless and memorable experiences for all Altitude Tour's guests.
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AMANDA
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Amanda is originally from Scotland, but after travelling the world found her home here in Queenstown and almost 10years later is still as in awe of the beauty of the region as she was on that first flight in. With a passion for travelling and the outdoors you will often find her out on the local trails or off on a new adventure. Coming from a background in social work Amanda has an eye for detail and a love of helping people which means she is perfectly suited to be working in tourism with Altitude.
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MARKETING MANAGER
HANNA
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Hanna had the pleasure of growing up in Queenstown, where adventure, tourism, and hospitality were ingrained in her. Her studies led her to a career in marketing across various industries. Her love for skiing and the outdoors has seen her return home to Queenstown. Where she now combines her passion for the area with her marketing expertise as Altitude's Marketing Coordinator.
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SALES COORDINATOR & GUIDE
ALIA
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Alia has joined the Altitude team from Mornington Peninsula, Australia. Having grown up in a prominent wine growing region of Australia and with experience working at multiple wineries, she is excited to share her knowledge and love of wine with our guests. After travelling North America, working in the outdoors, tourism, and recreation, Alia had found herself here in Queenstown. It’s the perfect location where she is surrounded by her favourite things; lots of wine, mountains to snowboard on, and lakes to float on in the summer!
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GUIDE
ANDY M
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Andy is a born and bred kiwi whose greatest passion is the great outdoors and adventure sports. Andy has been tour guiding in and around Queenstown and NZ since the mid 80’s including 4WD, motorcycling, skiing, hiking, gold mining, nature tours and now adding wine tours to his repertoire. His extensive knowledge, fun personality and love of people makes Andy an amazing tour guide for the variety of tours Altitude Tours operate.
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MICK
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A self confessed ’wine geek’, Mick has been a part of the local wine industry here in Queenstown for over 15 years. Originally from across the Tasman, Mick’s background as a sommelier at Australia’s top restaurants was perfect grooming for his role as a wine guide. His extensive knowledge of the local region and it’s wine has earned Mick the reputation as the guide for the rich and famous, and former clients include some of the world’s hottest celebrities! Mick’s easy going nature and cheeky sense of humour provides a relaxed and friendly tour experience for all involved. He loves to chat and he’s great at tailoring the dialogue to benefit all comers, irrespective of wine knowledge. Mick loves golf!
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GUIDE & FLEET MANAGER
ANDY C
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With over 40 years of experience in the tourism industry, not enough can be said about Andy C and his knowledge and enthusiasm for providing an outstanding guiding experience to each and every guest he meets. When he’s not guiding with Altitude Tours you can find Andy hiking, biking, boating fishing and playing golf (not at the same time). His perfect day is getting outdoors and being active, followed by a glass of local red wine.
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GUIDE
ERIK
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As Kiwi as they come, Erik oozes enthusiasm and passion for Lord of the Rings, wine, beer, and the beautiful Whakatipu region. Originally from a farming background, his entrepreneurial streak shone through and he has dabbled in various business ventures before settling in Queenstown and starting the famous Erik’s fish and chips. His wife Anna now runs this freeing up Erik to share his wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm about the region to Altitude Tours guests.
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GUIDE & MR FIX IT
BEN
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Ben is originally from the UK but has called Queenstown home for well over a decade after falling in love with a gorgeous Kiwi gal… His energetic zest for life and a love for the outdoors is evident through his own local business Paddle Queenstown! When he’s not out on the lake you’ll find him guiding one of our amazing tours with his extensive knowledge and enthusiasm that can’t be matched!
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ANA
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Ana, originally from Mexico, came to NZ 8 years ago with the WHV, and after doing some travelling around the world she has decided to come back and settle down in beautiful Queenstown.
Since she was little, she has been all into nature conservation and also an adventure seeker, she is a passionate rock climber and mountaineer. She likes to say that mother nature is her medicine and her temple.
Ana has an ecotourism background, she loves talking to people and sharing stories and places that will make their journey memorable, and while doing so, she keeps reminding herself to never stop being astonished at the beauty of this breathtaking landscapes that she now gets to call home.
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PAM
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Pam is Southern girl who was raised on a farm.
Having lived in Southland, Nelson and Christchurch she now calls Central Otago home and loves it!
Pam has a nursing background which sees her ensuring guests comfort and enjoyment while we take in this amazing region and all it offers.
In her spare time she loves to hike, swim, garden, read, cook, lunching with friends, drinking good wine... and oh yes, she also loves to drive and therefore being a guide with Altitude is the perfect fit for Pam!
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ASHLEIGH
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Ash is original from a beautiful area at the top of the South Island called Golden bay/Mohua, surrounded by the mountains of Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks.
She has a big soft spot for the outdoors and came to Queenstown on holiday a few years ago and it was love at first sight as soon as she drove down the Crown Range!
Her passions are in foraging, natural medicine our ancestors used and hiking!
Ash loves sharing the beauty of Aotearoa with people from all around the world whilst on tour.
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CHELSEA
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After growing up in the small Fiordland town of Te Anau, Chelsea has always felt most at home in the mountains. From crewing boats along for coast, and guiding the Milford Track, Chelsea has made sharing some of New Zealand’s most iconic locations her day job for over 10years. In her spare time, Chelsea is often out hiking, running the local trails, or studying for her certification in Women’s Health Coaching.
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NEVILLE
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Nev first came to Queenstown as a 16 year old when he won a ski holiday from Auckland, he then returned 2 years later cycling by himself on an old pedal bike, with his sleeping bag and great love of adventure. He instantly fell in love with the Southern Lakes District. Being a keen skier and mountain lover Nev worked at Coronet Peak Ski Resort driving Snow Groomers and driving tourists to Milford Sound.
After gaining his commercial helicopter pilots’ licence in New Zealand he moved to Australia to raise his family. He is now finally back in his “happy place” living in historical Arrowtown. With his lifelong love of skiing and (his new jetboat!), nothing makes Nev happier than to share this passion and the scenery he enjoys everyday when he drives Altitude guests through this paradise.
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JAMES
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James is a proud Queenstown local of 15 years and still loving it. He has travelled around the world, but the beauty and adventure of Central Otago keeps drawing him back. On his days off you can find James hiking the local trails, playing sports such as cricket, golf & basketball, or enjoying a few drinks with friends & colleagues. As a guide with Altitude, James loves meeting people from all around the world and showing them the ‘majestical’ beauty of the most spectacular areas of our region.
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DO
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Do, originally from the Netherlands, came to NZ for the first time in 2016 as a backpacker. Having lived in 4 different countries and traveled around the world, she feels most at home in Queenstown.
The energy and magic that NZ contains makes it the perfect place for Do's imagination to run free and she will take you on an adventure filled with true stories and a touch of fantasy!
As a tour guide at Altitude Tours, Do can combine everything that she loves: Wine, Lord of the Rings facts, stunning views and storytelling. She loves to be part of a beautiful memory that her passengers will hopefully cherish for the rest of their lives and she may even pop up in a few photo albums of the trips to NZ!
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TOM
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Tommy first arrived in Queenstown in 2016, with the plan to just stay for a ski season but 7 years later he hasn't left! He got residency last year and is stoked to be able to call NZ home for good now. When he's not working, Tommy loves to fish, play football, hike and a craft beer every now and again!
As a guide with Altitude, Tommy loves to show guests from all over the world the area he calls home.
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SHELLEY
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Shelley is a Queenstown local with strong ties to the Southern Lakes and Queenstown. After travelling extensively herself she returned in 1985 and joined the tourism sector, travelling the world spreading the word of how special our beautiful country is. Today Shelley enjoys sharing her experiences and family connections with her guests. Being a 3rd generation family member to work on the Milford Rd, she is proud to walk in the footsteps of her pioneering grandfather and father. With historic family ties in Arrowtown and Glenorchy, Shelley’s knowledge and personal connection combined with her fun loving nature make for a memorable Altitude experience.
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GRAEME
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Graeme, a builder by trade, was born and bred in the heart of Southland. He followed his passion for fishing, hunting, boating, hiking, and skiing to Queenstown five years ago, with his young family by his side. Graeme's expertise in the outdoors, combined with his local knowledge, makes him an ideal guide for those seeking adventure and exploration in this beautiful region - a place he affectionately calls his "backyard."
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SHANAY
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Shanay was born in Brazil and spent over a decade in the Amazon region. After finishing her studies she decided it was time to see more of the world. She travelled the world but in 2016 when she came to New Zealand she immediately fell in love with it and decided to call NZ home. Shanay is a skydiver and loves the outdoors but also allows herself some chill Netflix time or a nice dinner out with friends. Holding a masters degree in Linguistics and a passion for nature makes the perfect combo for her to host people from all over the world in Queenstown and our amazing surroundings!
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SHAUN
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Meet Shaun, a true Kiwi lad from the South Island, driven by his passion for the outdoors. Armed with a degree in physical education and sports science from the University of Otago, Shaun found his calling guiding on the iconic Milford Tracks and living in Glenorchy. Now nestled in the heart of Central Otago, he has found a deep appreciation for Pinot and the local wine scene. Shaun's wealth of experience makes him the perfect guide for our tours, showcasing the beauty of Glenorchy, Milford Sound, Queenstown, and offering a knowledgable wine journey. On his downtime, Shaun enjoys hiking, skiing, lakeside dog walks, good food, lawn bowls, and a bit of video game fun.
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KEV
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Kev landed in Queenstown in 2012 from the French Alps for a three-month biking holiday, and as the classic Queenstown story goes, he fell in love with the place and never left! At his happiest travelling around or engaging in sports, you will most likely find him on the Queenstown bike park and mountain bike trails, on the golf course, in a hut for the night, or simply hanging around the lake with a paddle or on a beach towel.
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