About us
Our Story
We care deeply about delivering memorable experiences that will exceed your expectations.
meet our teamHow it all started…
Altitude Tours began in 2017 with one simple idea: to create the best wine tour in the world.
Armed with a vision (and a glass of Pinot in hand), a few friends set out to design a premium wine-touring experience that combined deep local knowledge with incredible hospitality.
We obsessed over the details personalising the ordinary and systemising the extraordinary. After some trial and error, we launched what quickly became Queenstown’s top-rated wine tour, and in 2021, we were awarded the title of World’s Best Wine Tour. We knew we were onto something
From there, things snowballed. We expanded our offerings to include scenic tours to Glenorchy and Paradise, private charters, and premium sightseeing experiences around Queenstown. The concept of ‘small group, big adventure’ was born.
In 2019, we acquired the legendary Milford Sound BBQ Bus – a cult favourite that had been delighting guests for 25+ years. This opened the door to one of Aotearoa’s most iconic destinations and allowed us to bring our style of touring to the stunning Fiordland region.
As our team, fleet, and product range grew, so did our commitment to excellence. We invested heavily in guide training and even developed our own Altitude wine and beer accreditation, ensuring that every wine guide is certified and every experience delivered to the highest standard.
Today, Altitude Tours offers unforgettable small group day trips across the Queenstown Lakes and Fiordland regions, with premium vehicles, passionate local guides, and consistently exceptional reviews. In 2025, our Milford Sound Experience was ranked one of Tripadvisor’s Top 20 Experiences in the World — a proud moment for our whole team.
We are also proud to be part of the Tourism Innovation Group, embodying their values of customer experience, sustainability, and innovation raising the bar for premium travel experiences in New Zealand.
We believe tourism can be a force for good. We’re committed to sustainable practices, deep local partnerships, and creating meaningful connections between visitors and the places they explore. From the vineyards of Gibbston to the peaks of our national parks, we’ll keep crafting experiences that are as unforgettable as the landscapes themselves.
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.
Our Values
Keep It Real / Kia Pono, Kia Tūturu
We show up with integrity, honesty, and openness — always real, always authentic.
Sweat the Small Stuff / He Hua Iti, He Hua Nui
It’s the little things done brilliantly that create extraordinary experiences.
Love Our Place / Manaakitia i Tō Tātou Taiao
We care for our environment, communities, and future generations.
Make It Personal / Whakawhanaungatanga
We personalise the ordinary and systemise the extraordinary.
Brave the Future / Kia Māia, Kia Auaha
We push boundaries, embrace change, and lead with innovation.
Better Together / Kotahitanga
We support each other, celebrate together, and create space where everyone belongs.
Our 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
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
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
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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FLEET MANAGER
BEN
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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ACCOUNTS MANAGER
AMANDA
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
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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KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER
ALIA
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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RESERVATIONS & LOGISTICS MANAGER
TATIANA
Tatiana, a valued member of the Altitude team, originally comes from a small town in Canada. As a passionate adventurer, she has spent several years traveling and working around the world before choosing Queenstown as her perfect home. From hiking in Hawaii and basking in the sunshine of Australia to witnessing unforgettable sunrises on Mt Batur in Indonesia, Tatiana has explored some of the world’s most amazing places. When she's not working as our Reservations and Logistics Manager, you’ll find her snowboarding down the slopes or exploring the breathtaking Otago landscape.
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RESERVATIONS & LOGISTICS TEAM LEADER
GWEN
Originally from Toronto, Canada, Gwen’s journey began with backpacking through Europe and Australia before she made her way to New Zealand for a summer adventure. Years later, she’s still captivated by the beauty and lifestyle of Queenstown, the place she now calls home. As our Reservations and Logistics Team Leader, Gwen combines her love for the area with her passion for helping others discover all it has to offer. When she's not working, Gwen enjoys hiking, biking, and baking. Her travels have fuelled her dedication to the tourism industry, and she’s thrilled to be part of the Altitude team, helping others facilitate amazing experiences for our guests.
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ACCOUNTS & LOGISTICS SUPPORT
MARRIAH
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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TAMARA
Originally from Scotland, Tamara came to New Zealand for a short visit but, like many who visit Queenstown, fell in love with the area and decided to make it her home. With her exceptional attention to detail and dedication, she plays an important role on our Reservations and Logistics team at Altitude Tours. When she’s not at work, Tamara enjoys combining her love for pasta bake with staying active through running.
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HANNA
Born and raised in Finland, Hanna has always had a deep love for the outdoors. Passionate about hiking, rugby, and the world of Lord of the Rings, it's no surprise that New Zealand caught her heart. What began as a 9-month backpacking adventure has now turned into calling Queenstown home. With a background in tourism from living in popular destinations in Finland and France, Hanna is thrilled to bring that experience to Queenstown. As part of our Reservations and Logistics team, she’s dedicated to ensuring every guest has a seamless and unforgettable experience in this stunning part of the world.
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ANDY M
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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SHELLEY
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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JAMES
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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ERIK
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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ANA
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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CHELSEA
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
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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DO
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
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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SHANAY
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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ASHLEIGH
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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KEVIN
Originally from China, Kevin has been calling New Zealand home for over 10 years, with most of this time spent in the stunning Queenstown region. He came to Queenstown initially for a photography job, but quickly fell in love with the breathtaking landscapes and the vibrant, welcoming community. Kevin appreciates the friendly atmosphere and the rich diversity of cultures that make the area so unique. In his spare time, Kevin loves exploring the region’s beautiful tracks on foot or by bike, always seeking new ways to enjoy the outdoors. His passion for Queenstown and its surroundings makes him an ideal guide to show you the best this incredible place has to offer!
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SHAUN
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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BETH
Born and raised in Porirua, right behind the Whittaker’s chocolate factory, Beth’s journey has taken her across New Zealand and through a variety of exciting careers. She made a bold decision to leave her long career in the Police Force and retrain in Outdoor Adventure and Education. When Beths not guiding, Beth stays active by mountain bike trail riding, motorcycling, kayaking, and even diving into f powerboat racing. Her diverse experiences and adventurous spirit make her the perfect guide for Altitude Tours!
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