About us

Andy is a native of the southern alps. He has been climbing since the early ninety's and a guide since 2003. These days he splits his guiding between New Zealand, Antarctica and Japan. Between trips to the deep powder of Japan and the frozen wilderness of the polar plateau Andy loves nothing more than climbing and skiing in the South Islands mountain ranges and in winter if he's not guiding he's more likely out in the backcountry skiing with his partner. Andy is also Head guide at Rising Sun Guides and President of the New Zealand mountain guides association

Dean Staples is an IFMGA Mountain and Ski Guide living in Lake Hawea, near Wanaka, New Zealand and working in New Zealand and around the world. He has guided Everest nine times, and was the first New Zealander to summit Everest from both North (Tibet, China) and South (Nepal) sides. He has climbed six other 8000m peaks in Tibet, Nepal and Pakistan, and multiple summits over 6000m on many continents, both professionally, and for fun! Dean has over 35 years of climbing and mountain guiding experience within New Zealand and around the world, and over 20 years as an IFMGA exam Assessor. He has held Chief Guide positions for over a decade at the guiding company Adventure Consultants and the heli-ski operation Harris Mountains (HMH). Many guides specialise over one or two disciplines, but Dean has managed to amass a elite level of guiding skill across multiple disciplines. He has significant experience at high altitude (including nine ascents of Everest and ascents of six more 8000m peaks), as Lead Guide Heli-skiing (NZ and Canada), as an NZMGA/ IFMGA examiner in both Climb and Ski, and on ascents of technical NZ mountains. Dean has filmed a significant amount on Everest above 8000m, at altitudes that are challenging in which to operate cameras and often works as a Safety Co-ordinator on visiting film projects in alpine or extreme terrain. Dean continues to ski tour and climb for his own enjoyment, and shares a love of mountain adventures with his partner Lydia, the first woman to climb Everest without supplementary oxygen.

Lydia is a mountaineer and Mountain Guide living by the side of Lake Hawea, near Wanaka, New Zealand, with her partner Dean Staples and a cat called Koshka. In 1988 Lydia became the first woman in the world to climb Mt Everest without supplementary oxygen. To date she is the only New Zealander to have climbed Everest without oxygen, and has climbed Everest six times. She has made a total of 10 ascents over 8000m, and been on more than 35 expeditions over 6000m. Lydia is a passionate mountaineer, an IFMGA International Mountain & Ski Guide, holds the Canadian Level 2 “Avalanche Forecasting”, a registered Physiotherapist, BHSc(Physio), and is a professional Inspirational Speaker.

Roy has been guiding for over 30 years with over 25 summer and winter seasons in NZ as well extensive experience overseas. He has worked as a school teacher and has held positions safety officer for heliski operations. He is a senior assessor for the NZ Mountain Guides Association and regularly assesses prospective mountain and ski guides their guiding exams.

Kim grew up in Tasmania where he began tramping and climbing. During a six month trip to the Alps he became hooked on alpine climbing. All thoughts of a normal life dashed, Kim spent the next ten years climbing around the world, pioneering first ascents in Nepal, Alaska, Patagonia and Canada as well as climbing many famous routes in the European Alps. Notable ascents include the North Face of the Eiger, Moonflower Buttress on Mt Hunter, Alaska and North Face of Cholatse.

Kim has worked as a rock climbing guide and outdoor instructor for the last 12 years in Australia before beginning his training as an IFMGA Climbing Guide. He is passionate about helping others develop their knowledge and skills and is a popular guide and instructor.

Cillian was born in Ireland but grew up in the Blue Mountains Australia. Tramping, mountain biking and canyoning soon took a back seat to rock climbing. He has been working as a rock climbing, canyoning and outdoor instructor for 16 years around Australia before starting his training as a IFMGA Climbing Guide.

He has climbed throughout Australia, USA, Canada, Alaska, New Zealand ,Thailand and the European Alps. He currently splits his time between Wanaka and the Blue Mountains in Australia. He looks forward to sharing many adventures with his young daughter in the future.

Andrea is currently back in Italy - we hope to see he back in NZ soon - watch this space.

Andrea is originally from the Dolomites, in the eastern Alps, where he grew up skiing and climbing but has spent most of the last 4 years living and working in New Zealand.

Andrea studied Forestry and Environmental Sciences and certified as an IFMGA Guide in 2009. He has an impressive list of travels and expeditions including Australia, Alaska, Patagonia, Chile, Madagascar, Cuba.

Andrea is a popular guide and instructor, with a calm, confident and methodical approach. Most importantly he is known for his great cooking (after all, "I'm Italian").

I’m a 50 year old mountain guide and ski patrolman.
I’ve been guiding since 1996 (glacier) and mountain since 2002. Started patrolling in 2005 at treble cone and have been there ever since.
I have an avalanche dog called Ziggy and I also enjoy mountain biking, hunting and music.

Tom was NZ's first NZMGA qualified splitboard guide and loves sharing his passion for snowboarding with all those around him. He has been based in Wanaka for the past 17 winters and when not guiding works for Snowsports NZ as the Head Coach of New Zealand’s Freeski and Snowboard teams travelling the globe from one training camp or competition to the next. A former World Cup competitor and 3-time Olympic coach, Tom juggles his time between coaching in the halfpipe, guiding in the backcountry, heli-boarding guiding and spending time with his young family.

Bronwen developed her undying passion for the mountains after her first visit to Nepal at 19 years of age. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Sydney University but she admits "I don’t like sitting down, let alone in an office!"

She has guided Wild Walks in NZ as well as trekking trips in Nepal, Mongolia & Bhutan. In NZ she has done a traverse of the South Island mountain chain in 84 days and made a film about it and has worked as a canyon guide and rock climbing instructor.

Bronwen entered the ski industry as a ski patroller and has spent winters patrolling in New Zealand, Canada and Norway. She now spends northern hemisphere winters ski guiding and teaching avalanche courses in Hokkaido, Japan. Skiing is her favourite way to share time with others in the mountains.

Petrouchka grew up in New Zealand and was introduced to the outdoors at a young age. After completing a degree in music, she took a U-turn and promptly began traveling the world in pursuit of good rock climbing and good skiing. Realising that her passion was in the mountains, she returned home to commence her journey on the mountain guiding pathway.
Unable to stay in one place for too long, Petrouchka has worked as a rock climbing, trekking, sea kayaking and ski guide in NZ, Canada, Australia and Japan. These days she enjoys guiding right here in NZ where she can share her home mountains with others.

Dave has extensive experience ski patrolling in the Craigieburns and has spent the last three winters working as a tutor on Tai Poutini Ski Patrol training program in Wanaka. He spends his summers doing rope access work or ski guiding in Japan. In the past he has guided kayaking and Wild Walks.

Jimmy loves being outside, mountains or open ocean being his preferred habitats. Raised in Wellington, he was drawn to the mountains of the South Island as a teenager, worked extensively throughout NZ in industrial rope access work, got a degree in Maori language, and spent as much time in the mountains as feasibly possible. Jimmy guides in NZ and Japan and loves sharing his enthusiasm for the mountains with others.

Growing up in Perth, West Australia, Dan worked Outdoor Instructor for a few years leading rock climbing, kayaking and bushwalking trips. He soon discovered snow and ice in New Zealand and was hooked on being in the mountains. He is a passionate skier and avalanche education enthusiast.

In 2008 Dan began work as a ski patroller on the ski hills and guiding on the west coast glaciers. He has spent 3 summers as a Team Leader for Aoraki/Mt Cook Alpine Search and Rescue team and Snow Safety Officer for Mt Hutt Ski field during winters.

Dan has also spent time guiding in Antarctica as well as Ski Patrolling and Cat Ski guiding in Canada and Japan.

In his spare time Dan enjoys hunting, fishing and 4WD-ing in his big red 60 series Land cruiser called 'Helga', listening predominantly to Led Zeppelin on vinyl and watching a few modern classic movies. Sometimes even the odd round of golf and a sail on the lake.

Frankie orignates from Wales and has climbed and trekked around the world before settling in Lake Hawea. In 2017 she competed in the epic Godzone multisports race over 9 grueling days of trekking, packrafting and biking. As well as guiding our Wild Walks and instructing rock climbing, her side project is creating the Local Dehy meals with her partner, delicious locally sourced vegetarian meals that you are likely to sample on our Wild Walks. Her knowledge of local flora, fauna and Maori puts even our local kiwis to shame.

Emily grew up exploring the bush and mountains of the Aotearoa's north island. Now she lives in Lake Hawea with her partner Frankie, and ginger cat Kehu and is happiest when her spare time is filled with adventures in the mountains—tramping, rock climbing, skiing or biking, and finishing her days creating delicious food and drinking a glass of pinot!