Our Crew

The Team Behind the Cheeky Kiwi Magic

Our passionate guides are the heart of every adventure, famous for their stories, laughter, and genuine Kiwi spirit. Backed by a dedicated crew behind the scenes, we’re the team that makes every Cheeky Kiwi journey seamless, personal, and unforgettable.

Meet the crew

Our Legendary Guides

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I love esoteric things, nature and a dip in the sea mid winter

This cheeky kiwi loves to snowboard which makes winter worth it. Otherwise i would be paddle boarding all the time. I think the scenery in my tours is the best office!!!

Cheeky Simon an (almost) original guide since 2018. A love for NZ regional food and drink. Life mantra "Be yourself everyone else is already taken".

I love being out in nature, swimming, paddle boarding, adventuring with my mates. My personality is warm and bubbly and what makes me cheeky is my humour.

“No door is too big to open” I love showing our stunning country to our overseas visitors. I enjoy all sports and travelling.

The Magic Makers

They may not be in the spotlight, but our behind-the-scenes crew keeps every Cheeky Kiwi adventure running smoother than a freshly brewed flat white. From planning to logistics, they’re the quiet legends turning big dreams into effortless experiences.

As GM, Rhys keeps the Cheeky Kiwi wheels turning and occasionally reattaches them when things get bumpy. He loves getting out from behind the desk to meet guests and partners in person, proving that good business starts with good yarns. Outside work, he’s usually chasing fish, snow, or fresh air, ideally all in the same weekend.

General Manager

Heading up our Reservations Team, Kelly is the go-to for smooth travel plans and unforgettable experiences. A South African turned Wānaka local, she’s a well-travelled adventurer who loves capturing moments, mountain life, and the occasional 90’s hip hop verse (when no one’s watching).

Reservations & Capacity Manager

Outdoor adventurer, foodie, and self-proclaimed wine connoisseur who somehow made chatting for a living my dream job.

Business Development Manager

A lifelong traveller who still thinks New Zealand is the best place on Earth - just add good coffee and great company.

North Island Operations Manager

Aviation enthusiast Has never broken a bone One day wants to visit Antartica

Christchurch Operations Manager

Jono leads the marketing and brand magic at Cheeky Kiwi, fuelled by his love for travel, family adventures, and beach days with sandy toes and big smiles. He makes sure the world knows why travelling with Cheeky Kiwi is anything but ordinary.

Head of Marketing

Born and bred in the Aussie outback with dogs and horses by my side, now embracing the outdoors and new adventures under New Zealand’s sometimes-sunny skies.

Product & OTA Manager

Always after morning hues, strong coffee, and a little more time for all the books that keep piling up even when there's plenty to read. Happiest when exploring new places, being outdoors, skiing, and a big ol' soft spot for a cold Corona.

Bookings Team

Came to Aotearoa to find love - stayed for the mountains, craft beers, the Jet planes and the people! Life mission? To live in a Hobbit Hole

Bookings Team

My happy place to be is either: anywhere in the wilderness, far away from the madding crowd OR a bustling piazza in Italy, drinking espresso and observing the madding crowd!

Accounts Payable & Payroll Administrator

Originally from Switzerland, I have a passion for travel, great food, and hospitality. I’ve fallen in love with New Zealand’s stunning landscapes and friendly vibe, and I’m always keen to explore new places and local flavours. At Cheeky Kiwi Travel, I’m excited to help others discover the best of this amazing country

Bookings Team

Our guests know best

Stories worth sharing

Over 5000 5-star reviews

Award winning New Zealand Experiences

Famously passionate guides

4.9

(3007 reviews)

11/27/2025

Hobbitton tour experience

Grant was amazing. He took great care of us, including keeping us safe, great information about the region and the tour, and really wonderful local tips. He was fun and very attentive. I highly recommend it.

Richard B

11/18/2025

Hobbiton Day Trip

Great day out. Our guide Grant was excellent. Good commentary and very friendly. A beautiful drive even in the rain. Highly recommend.

Michele S

9/18/2025

Great for “Lord of the Rings” Enthusiasts or Just for Fun

Cheeky Kiwi Travel certainly provided us a safe trip out to The Hobbiton movie set, by Nickey. This was an anticipated destination for my husband while we visited New Zealand. We very much enjoyed the countryside on our way to & back from the Hobbiton movie set, and the tour on site of the Alexander Farm was truly fun & enjoyed. It provided our first full day in Auckland with a lovely memory. If you’re looking for something a bit different… then take in this tour. The “Shire” is so cute and interesting!!!

Time2Travel

7/29/2025

Amazing, even on a stormy day

Amazing trip! Even on a very rainy day our tour guide filled us with positive energy. Our guide gave us an overview into everyday life in New Zealand and how our trip was going to look like. The tour at Hobbiton which was operated by the local Hobbiton guide was great! He told us about small secrets of hobbit holes and all kinds of different ways the area was utilised during filming. Had a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon and also due to construction work happening at the site we got ''compensated'' with an amazing Green Dragon steins. This was very kind of them. On the way back we got even closer to our original driver who offered us some cassava chips and told us more about the history and legends of the local people. Also got to stop to try the famous New Zealand ice cream and try the Hokey Pokey flavour. Overall the tour was a 10/10 and would definitely reccomend it to every Middle-Earth fans like us.

Arlet L

3/11/2025

A MUST do excursion when visiting New Zealand

Honestly, it's a 10/10 trip! Simon our 'Cheeky Kiwi' was great, super friendly and knowledgeable about New Zealand. He was great at engaging with the tour group. Loved our chats about British telly, made the 2 hour bus journey fly passed. The Hobbiton film set tour was amazing, 2 1/2 hours and we loved every minute. Plenty of time to take pictures and embrace the Hobbit environment. Big thumbs up to our tour guide Mike, really knows his 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Hobbit' facts, shows he loves his craft. The cafe was great, the pies are a must and we loved the drinks in the Green Dragon at the end.

Tasha

2/10/2025

Highlight of my New Zealand Trip

Wow, this was an amazing excursion for me. Just loved being on the set of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Grant our guide was very knowledgeable of Auckland and gave great information en route. The cafe there had great pies and cakes. The best part was being able to visit the inside of a hobbits cottage. How quaint and cosy and I could just move in and live in the beautiful Hobbiton Village. Long travel to get there but it was so worth it. Love Loved it! A need to do if loved the movies.

Ruth H

7/26/2024

Hobbiton

From start to finish the day was first class. Greg was the best, made the 2hr drive seem like nothing. Highly recommend ☺️

Relax47090767221

6/15/2024

Excellent experience

We had a very safe and enjoyable trip. Our driver/ historian , Don was exceptional with his introduction to island!’s history , culture, music made the journey fun. He was kind and accommodating as we showed up a day early for the tour ( sorry jet lag). Thank you for an exceptional service.

Tourist08104663170

6/1/2024

Great tour to Hobbiton

After another provider cancelled at the last minute I was able to get onboard the Cheeky Kiwi day tour of Hobbiton (from Auckland). Our guide, Grant, was fantastic and full of useful information along the way and included a few tips to get the most out of the tour around Hobbiton. I will definitely look to use Cheeky Kiwi on my next trip to NZ.

Jason M

5/23/2024

Hobbiton

We really enjoyed our trip to Hobbiton !! The driver was great and very informative. We had an appropriate amount of rest breaks. It was an all around pleasant trip and we got some great pics !!

michael k

1/23/2026

Great trip

Excellent, our host Danny was brilliant, helpful informative and full of good chat and humour making a long drive seem like fun, vehicle was very comfortable and easy to view. The small group made it easy to communicate with other passengers would recommend to anyone Cheers Danny

George M

1/23/2026

A wonderful friendly atmosphere throughout the tour and a more personal experience

This was fab! From start to finish Danny was amazing. He was full of knowledge and enthusiasm created a great atmosphere for the tour. The stops along the way were amazing and everything went smoothly including a lovely packed lunch and super comfy mini bus. I would definitely recommend this trip for anyone wanting to get a deeper insight into Milford Sound and the drive along the way!

Joni D

1/22/2026

Brilliant!!!!!

This trip was a lot of fun, it was relaxing, easy and educational. Shu, our bus driver shared her knowledge of the birds and nature as we drive past it. The size of the bus meant that it was more personal, with everyone getting to interact. Although it was a long day, Shu made sure we weren’t bored with frequent stops, choice of music, quizzes and stories. Getting onto the cruise at Milford sound was made very easy and understandable by Shu, it was straight forward and organised. We had an incredible time all round.

Escape08262703092

1/22/2026

Incredible experience

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Milford Sound with Cheeky Kiwi. It is one of the most beautiful landscapes we have ever seen. The day was very well organised and we felt looked after. Our tour guide Amanda was welcoming, friendly and extremely knowledgeable - providing lots of interesting information about the county and local area. We would highly recommend.

Claire W

1/20/2026

Beautiful Milford

Long trip but well worth it. Milford Sound is truly beautiful. We were blessed with good weather and so the cruise was enjoyable and generally comfortable. Our tour guide on the road trip, Joe, gets top marks. He was knowledgeable, helpful and showed concern for our safety and comfort. Well done!

Cha D

1/20/2026

Incredible views with a great tour guide

We had a great trip with our guide Chris. He was very knowledgeable and provided the most amazing soundtrack during our drive, perfectly lining up songs that captured the atmosphere. We even had a game of his own version of Eurovision on the journey back which was great fun. We had a yummy vegan lunch supplied, and grabbed a vegan wrap at the cafe we stopped at on the way.

Charlotte M

1/19/2026

Wonderful time!

Raghav did such a wonderful job in keeping us engaged, entertained and safe throughout our journey to and from Milford Sound. Highly recommend going with this group, as the know the area well and have an easy going personality while attentive to every detail.

Caroline M

1/19/2026

Spectacular and awe inspiring!

Amazing trip, well worth the long drive to experience the beauty of Milford Sound and the sights along the way. Jess was an excellent guide, knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. Highly recommend.

Polly L

1/19/2026

Thrilled I was able to do this. Bucket list worthy

Great guide with all the important tidbits that all travelers love. Fun day with just enough stops along the way for photo opps to remind us of what a spectacular planet we live on. Milford Sound was a dream. We were well cared for and would love to it again

shrinkwrapped3

1/18/2026

Highly recommend day trip to Milford Sound and our guide Rob 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Rob was a fantastic guide, we were really grateful that we were with him today. He was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, warm and a delight to spend the day with! We appreciated his stories along the way - especially in relation to Māori culture and all of his local recommendations. Highly highly rate him as a guide!!

Sarah H

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