Meet our Guides

Meet our Guides

Are you planning to travel with a private tour guide on your visit to New Zealand? Your guide will help create the experience of a lifetime, with personalised attention and a vast range of knowledge.

Because your private tour guide is essential to your New Zealand experience, we have carefully selected the best guides in the country. Our tour guides are friendly, knowledgeable, and highly experienced at ensuring every part of your tour flows smoothly.

All of our New Zealand tours are extremely well planned. We craft each itinerary using in-depth local knowledge about New Zealand and each destination on offer. Planning your New Zealand tour around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, we provide helpful tips and honest, expert advice. We have one very important goal–to create an inspired itinerary for each individual or group that exceeds their expectations.

The team at New Zealand Guided Tours goes the extra mile to make sure that we understand you and your expectations, connecting you with the real New Zealand and for some Middle-earth.

Planning your Private Tour of New Zealand

We start by gaining an understanding of what you want from your experience. Speaking to you over the phone or corresponding via email, we listen carefully to what you have to say. We ascertain what you like and don’t like, as well as the type of accommodation you require. In addition, we discuss specific destinations you want to visit or attractions that are a ‘must see’ on your vacation.

Our team understands firsthand the geography, pace, and objectives of our travellers when creating New Zealand tours. When designing your itinerary, we either modify an existing tour or start from scratch. We create an exciting tour within the budget and time frame that you have set.

Our guides are trained in first aid and hold Passenger Endorsement licences to uphold the highest level of safety. They also have a permit to operate guiding activities on Public Conservation Land.

All guides are a member of the Proguides Association and are a permanent resident or citizen of New Zealand, two ensure in-depth local knowledge. Above all, they’ll make sure everything is running smoothly behind the scenes to ensure you can relax and enjoy your New Zealand trip and experience this stunning destination we call home.

Meet our Guides

Patrick Griffin – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

Hi I am Patrick, I am passionate about showcasing what New Zealand has to offer and have intricate knowledge about New Zealand’s secret spots and of course all the must visit locations and attractions. If you are interested in a guided tour of New Zealand and want a personalised experience taking advantage of priceless local knowledge, I would love to show you our piece of paradise. I have owned and operated businesses for the past 30 years, and have a background in the telecommunications and building industries. A classic kiwi bloke at heart being born in New Zealand and lived in both the North and South Islands.

Contact : info@newzealandguidedtours.com
Phone: +64 3 443 2111

Patrick Griffin – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

Wayne Johnson – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

Wayne started his career in television and traveled the length and breadth of New Zealand and the world extensively, on many news and current event assignments. Wayne also had the pleasure of filming the early Operation Nest Egg Kiwi Recovery Program at Auckland Zoo in the early 1990s and filmed young Kiwi chicks being released back into the wild to boast our mainland Kiwi stock. In 2014 Wayne joined the ranks of the tourism industry here in New Zealand as a personalised guide and driver and over the years Wayne has had the pleasure of showing New Zealand to the rest of the world and sharing his love for this great little country that he is so very proud to call home.

“It is indeed my pleasure to not only host and share what New Zealand has to offer with its scenic beauty but also show off its cultural heritage when I welcome guests into the very friendly and relaxed way of life that we all enjoy here in New Zealand. The New Zealand great outdoors is a real passion of mine. I have a passion for environmental conservation and I celebrate and applaud the work of either community groups or individuals, whose contribution on a daily basis is to make our world a better place in any way.“

Contact : info@newzealandguidedtours.com
Phone: +64 3 443 2111

Wayne Johnson – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

Terry Thomsen – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

I have 15 years experience tour guiding with an emphasis on nature guiding. I drive/guide small private groups and also act as field guide and tour manager for larger coach tours. Much of the latter is for study and educational tours including US university programs.

My book The Lonely Islands was published in 2021. The book is about why New Zealand has the native plants and animals that it has – their origins and how they adapted to New Zealand’s unique environment. The book was underpinned by my MSc studies with a focus on ecology and biogeography.

My guiding style is personable and always professional, and I bring to it my knowledge and knack for story-telling. I also enjoy showcasing Lord of the Rings Locations to those interested.

Contact : info@newzealandguidedtours.com
Phone: +64 3 443 2111

Terry Thomsen – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

Sally Green Bartolomei – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

Kia Ora, I am a Kiwi and travelling is my passion. Aotearoa is the land of my birth, and I know it very well after a lifetime of hiking and 12+ years of guiding and accompanying groups large and small through its ever-changing landscape. Having lived in both islands with a honed understanding of history, geology, flora, fauna, culture and the people of this land I am keen to share this knowledge with visitors at their pace and with their interests at heart and I currently work as a tour guide throughout New Zealand from North to South and East to West. Bilingual (English/French), I have also worked as a fixer, scout, interpreter and guide for international documentaries on NZ and Maori culture. When not guiding I travel, hike and plot new adventures and projects. Adaptable, personable, dynamic and professional I look forward sharing New Zealand with you.

Contact : info@newzealandguidedtours.com
Phone: +64 3 443 2111

Sally Green Bartolomei – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

Gunther Hammer – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

Gunther is an experienced Tour Guide. His background being an ex Outdoor Education Instructor and High School Teacher, enhances his passionate for sharing our unique country with visitors. Extensive experience and qualifications in the New Zealand outdoor sector has led Gunther to the path of Tour Guiding, with his specialty being walking and cycle tours. NZ culture and history, Maori tikanga and environmental issues are also close to his heart. Gunther grew up in Germany and emigrated to New Zealand in 1980, being multilingual in German, English and French. Having lived and worked in New Zealand for over 42 years, Gunther is local and can’t wait to share our beautiful country.

Contact : info@newzealandguidedtours.com
Phone: +64 3 443 2111

Gunther Hammer – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

Alan Richardson – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

Hi I am Alan, I settled in Wanaka after years of city hopping around New Zealand in pursuit of a career in the primary products export industries. For work or leisure, I have visited many countries and made a particular effort to experience diverse cultures and religions. I have visited all of the Modern 7 Wonders of the World, plus quite a few other places that could be on an expanded list. At home I have walked all Department of Conservation’s Great Walks in the South Island of New Zealand. I enjoy snow and water skiing, golf and both trout and seawater fishing. I am a member of the Rotary International organisation and I’m particularity active with their international student exchange programme. I love to take every opportunity to share my local knowledge and passion for New Zealand with visitors.

Contact : info@newzealandguidedtours.com
Phone: +64 3 443 2111

Alan Richardson – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

Dirk Nicasi – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

I’m a driver/guide offering heart, good service & excellent local knowledge for groups up to 20. My passion’s always been adventure & travel. I’m privileged to reside in New Zealand. During the 90’s as a Free Lance Tour Guide I began guiding Belgians & many Europeans through New Zealand, Australia & Africa. I’m a avid photographer and ambassador of our natural world, and love to document and share knowledge of our environment and cultural treasures. I look forward to travelling at your pace and sharing my knowledge with you.

Contact : info@newzealandguidedtours.com
Phone: +64 3 443 2111

Dirk Nicasi – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

Marina Coleman Tour Guide for New Zealabd Guided Tours

Kia Ora! My name is Marina and I am Italian born but a New Zealand citizen since 2010. Although I am not an original “kiwi” as such I consider myself one and brought my family up here in New Zealand with my kiwi husband. I love to show off this country I now call home and I do this by providing my clients a unique story of NZ through two different traditions and cultures. I have acquired knowledge from being in the tourism industry for over 20 years and can’t wait to host you on an exceptional journey throughout New Zealand!

Contact : info@newzealandguidedtours.com
Phone: +64 3 443 2111

Marina Coleman Tour Guide for New Zealabd Guided Tours

Suzanne Darragh – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

I’m Suzanne Darragh from Aotearoa/New Zealand. Travel is one of my life-long passions. I initially trained as a Registered Nurse which allowed me to journey to 48 different countries over twenty years and experience remarkably intrepid adventures. I encountered some of our world’s greatest rivers, mountains, jungles and deserts meeting myriad peoples, cultures, music whilst witnessing awe-inspiring natural and man-made landscapes. In-between times, I wrote a thesis, played a lot of music and had my own health practice after re-training as an acupuncturist/drama-therapist. I have been guiding here in Aotearoa/New Zealand for the past 15 years. We are blessed with breath-taking natural beauty, Maori culture, world class foods, fresh air, wine and fashion. You may also come to appreciate NZ film, along with discovering some of our notable artists, musicians, writers and sports people who excel both at home and abroad. As your tour leader, it is my privilege to showcase our country and share my knowledge and expertise with you. I look forward to ensuring you have a wonderful trip.

Contact : info@newzealandguidedtours.com
Phone: +64 3 443 2111

Suzanne Darragh – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

Daniel Griffin – Tour Guide for New Zealand Guided Tours

Hi I am Dan and I would love to be your guide for your New Zealand experience. I’m a kiwi and have been guiding small and large private groups and also guide coach tours. My main focus has been magical Fiordland and I have in depth local knowledge specialising in Doubtful and Milford Sounds. I love taking my guests off the beaten track and show casing New Zealand and it’s many hidden treasures. I pride myself on ensuring I travel at a pace that suits you so you get to experience New Zealand’s secrets and spots only known by locals.

Contact : info@newzealandguidedtours.com
Phone: +64 3 443 2111