Meet our Experts!

Travel is better when it is customized. It's more personal, more rewarding and more fun!

We are joined by an exceptional team of local field guides and experts. Our outdoors specialists all have significant knowledge in their  fields and we do not hesitate to recommend their services as they have been valued partners.

Director - Owner

VERONIKA VERMEULEN
German speaking
Taupo/Tokora/Waikato

Office Support - Administration

SARAH WILSHER
Wanaka/Central Otago

Our Personal Guides

STEPHEN POPPERWELL
(Musician, Luxury B&B owner)
Wanaka/Central Otago

Stephen had a long career as a musician in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra but the lure of the beautiful mountains of the South Island were such that a few years ago he moved with his wife to live in Wanaka. Since then he has driven and guided for several companies. He is passionate about the area and has a great knowledge and stories to share, in particular about Central Otago and the West Coast. Stephen is committed to helping others to enjoy the region and loves the company of visitors from other countries. He has travelled overseas many times and driven throughout Europe on countless occasions. "I can’t think of a better way to spend a day than with good company and beautiful New Zealand passing by!"

ANDREW MILLSON
(Snow sports Instructor)
Wanaka/Central Otago

Andrew was born in the countryside of old England, but grew up in his early years in the mountains of Germany & Austria. Some years later he returned back to the British Isles where his passion for the countryside began, by growing up on a small farm surrounded by the South Downs Nation Park, in those early years learning the ways of the countryside from old gamekeepers. Andrew’s love for all things country lead him on the agriculture collage, where he obtained qualifications in Estate management, Conservation & Game Management. After leaving collage this profession has taken him all over England, Scotland, and Europe utilising his varied knowledge in this line of work. In more recent years Andrew has worked all over the World more in an advisory capacity, helping to develop and link sustainability between farming, forestry, shooting and conservation, primarily specialising in driven game. Part of this role was also advising on the purchasing potential of sporting estates and farming land. In the past 10 years he has been able to run this alongside his other great love skiing and guiding and spending more time in the mountains and snow, than out. Andrew holds the highest qualifications in ski instruction from New Zealand and Austria with International recognition from the (ISIA) International Snowsports Instructor Alliance in ski & snowboard. Andrew has worked in many world-class resorts and has been involved with prestigious clients from all over the world, as an instructor and guide, helping private clients and families get more out of their skiing and time in the mountains. Andrew is a professional guide who will help you relax and get the most from your New Zealand Experience.

STEVE DUNCAN
Auckland/North and Central North Island

Steve has spent most of his working life in general management positions with large public companies. His last role was representing New Zealand’s famous wool products to customers around the world, which involved regular travel to many different countries including Asia, the Middle East, North America and Europe. This international exposure enables Steve to easily relate to the many overseas guests who tour with Aroha Travel, and to share and compare their culture with the New Zealand way of life.
Participating in a variety of outdoor activities has always been a normal lifestyle for Steve. Today his recreation time is spent on or near the sea as a fisherman, as well as enjoying the countryside by bike and by foot. These interests take him all over New Zealand, which enables an easy conversation with the people he hosts on the diversity of the country. Having seen much of the world Steve appreciates the magnificence New Zealand has to offer visitors. He not only enjoys proudly showing these sights to visitors, but equally enjoys getting to know the people who holiday and tour our great county.

BRUCE MAUNSELL
(Area scout for LOTR, restaurateur)
Te Kuiti/Waikato 

ROSS BARNES
(Ex. Dept. of Conservation, Cave guide) 
Waitomo /Waikato

Ross is an affable person who enjoys interaction with people of all cultures. He is committed to ensuring guests experience an authentic taste of New Zealand. His rich knowledge of New Zealand has been garnered over 40 years Guiding. Ross was born and raised on a Sheep and Beef farm in the foothills of the Southern Alps. In 1970 He discovered his passion as he was employed as a guide at the Waitomo Caves. While guiding he also worked at the Waitomo hotel. He left the caves to help a friend develop and open the Roselands Farm show and Restaurant where he spent a number of years conducting a farm shows and guiding a horse drawn cart ride to the restaurant. Ross then joined the Dept of Conservation where he was employed as a ranger. The Main focus of his Job was not only the protection of Native Flora and Fauna, but also the construction and design of walkways. 2 of his creations are rated in the top 10 short walks in New Zealand. During the 20 years at the Dept Ross and his Wife opened a B&B and animal petting farm and guided guests on bush walks. Ross then returned to cave guiding. This time helping to develop and open a new cave system on his Son’s property where he still can be found guiding today.

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Our Partners

Mark Orbell
Owner/Ridgeline Adventures/Wanaka

Jonathan Larrivee
Chief Pilot/Fiordland helicopters/Te Anau

Jonathan has been flying helicopters for 20 years, accumulating over 10,000 hours of flight time – 7000 of which are in MD 500 series helicopters. Over half of his experience has been in wild animal capture and recovery, the remainder supporting commercial fishing boats, mineral exploration, seismic and survey operations. He spent a number of years flying overseas, mainly in Alaska. He is in his 6th year as chief pilot of Fiordland Helicopters, and he thinks a better job would be hard to find!

Tom Loughlin
Maori specialist/Lake Taupo

"Ko Tauhara te maunga, Ko Waikato te awa, Ko Taupo te moana, Ko Ngati Tuwharetoa te iwi, Ko Ruingarangi te hapu, Ko Te Rangiita te whare tupuna, Noreira tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa." 

Now you know where Tom comes from!   Tom has grown up in the outdoors and has come from a long line of Ngati Tuwharetoa, who have lived the life of harvesting and cooking food in Te ngahere, The Bush. This is where you will find Tom as your host, your guide and your friend. You will also be delighted to know that Tom has travelled extensively for over twenty years, honing his skills as a qualified chef, throughout the Pacific, Europe, UK, Australia and New Zealand. His 'The Kai Waho Experience' is the only Maori Cultural Activity that provides a detailed insight into Maori Kai (Food) and the outdoors where the Kai is harvested, preserved/cooked, and stored. Tikanga (Sacred rules) Karakia (Prayer), Kaitiakitanga (Guardian ship of guests), Manakitanga (Being the humble host). These are all what makes up The Kai Waho Experience. He mihi nui. 

Phil Robinson
Senior pilot/Air Safaris/Tekapo

Phil was born and brought up in the UK and moved to New Zealand almost 10 years ago, beginning his flying career in the hills and over the ocean at Kaikoura on the South Island’s East coast. A love of mountains since childhood steered him towards the scenic mountain flying that he now enjoys every day with Air Safaris, one of New Zealand’s original and largest scenic charter companies. Phil came to Air Safaris in 2006, and considers he has struck gold with a job that he loves, working with a great team in a place that he wants to live!

"The constantly changing weather patterns, the beauty and excitement of the terrain and the mixed fleet of fantastic aircraft are key attractions of the job, and the fact that our passengers are having a great time makes for a very happy environment in the aircraft cabin! Sometimes I have to pinch myself to realise how good I have it!" All Air Safaris pilots live and work either in Lake Tekapo in the rugged Mackenzie basin or in Franz Josef on the West Coast. A shared passion for aviation and for the outdoors keeps the team enthusiastic and keen to pass this on to all their passengers.

 

Chris Brennan
Fly fishing guide/Lake Taupo

Chris Brennan was born and bred in the Taupo region of New Zealand's North Island. His knowledge of local fly fishing waters and hunting areas is unparalleled. Chris has been guiding full time since the age of 17 and has forged relationships with large property owners in the area and has access to vast tracts of private land for your enjoyment. It's our philosophy that people make the experience, with Chris you get someone with a genuinely recognised reputation as a fishing and hunting guru. You also get a young man with a genuine passion, humility and desire to provide the ultimate experience for his guests.

Phill Barclay
Owner-Floatplane pilot/Volcanic Air/Rotorua

Phill’s role is to oversee the day-to-day operations of Volcanic Air.