Staff

Trips and Tramps was started by Dave and Naomi Hughes in 1988. Building the business from humble beginnings, their reputation grew based on strong family, community and conservation values. Very satisfied customers and strong local support ensured the business has thrived. In October 2007 they sold this business onto Steve Norris, a long term employee, his wife Kate, and friend Ron Hielkema and partner Annie Wallace. Real Journeys, a larger,privately owned family business also have an interest. All bring considerable experience to the partnership and a commitment to providing quality tourism activities in Milford Sound and wider Fiordland area.

In September 2008 Trips and Tramps purchased Fiordland Wilderness Experiences - www.fiordlandseakayak.co.nz another highly valued local tourism business offering sea kayaking in Milford and Doubtful Sounds. Offering one day and multiday options for the interactive traveller with a sense of adventure.

Trips & Tramps Staff

Owners

Steve Norris is a dedicated, long term employee of Trips and Tramps. Coming to Te Anau to guide on the Milford Track, he has worked in the tourism sector for over 15 years both in New Zealand and abroad. A well known community figure he enjoys sharing Fiordland’s special places to visitors from all over the world. In 2009 Steve's commitment to conservation efforts were formally recognised when he recieved the Department of Conservation Southland Individual Services to Conservation Award “for his consistent and dedicated leadership in community conservation efforts, his tireless enthusiasm as a keen conservationist influencing tourists, Kepler challenge runners, friends and family, and for being instrumental in pest-trapping programmes".

Kate Norris graduated with a Parks and Recreation Diploma from Lincoln University and moved to Te Anau to work on the Milford Track for the Department of Conservation. For the last 8 years she has worked in the tourism field in a reservation and information capacity. Currently with a young family, Steve and Kate combine the demands of three young children with managing the business and getting into the outdoors as much as possible.

Ron Hielkema has a Diploma in Outdoor Recreation and Leadership from Auckland University of Technology and has worked in the tourism industry for over 13 years both in New Zealand and overseas. Most of his professional outdoor career has been spent guiding small groups on land and sea, particularly sea kayaking in Fiordland National Park. Today most of his energies are spent managing our sea kayaking operation Fiordland Wilderness Experiences while enjoying skiing, tramping and relaxing in his own time.

Steve Norris tour driver enroute to Milford Sound

Kate Norris kayaking with Fiordland Wilderness Experience group on Milford Sound

Ron Hielkema doing the tea break on Milford Road

Your Guides & Drivers

“This is not just our job… it’s our life and passion.” Our local, enthusiastic staff are what makes Trips and Tramps special. Each one of us has a special affiliation to Fiordland and Milford Sound, drawn to the area to pursue our outdoor interests we have made Te Anau our home.

We are joined by a dedicated team of locals to ensure you have a great day out. All share enthusiasm for the history and natural aspects of Te Anau, Milford Sound, and Fiordland.

Steve Mancer is a keen outdoor enthusiast holding a Diploma in Outdoor Leadership. His skills as a Bush Instructor have seen him giving students in his care an insight into the outdoors during his 25 years as a technology and outdoor pursuits teacher. His love for Fiordland has seen him return to this area 3 times and only proves that this is just an amazing place to live and work. His local knowledge of the area as a keen tramper and bus driver is happily passed on in a friendly and passionate way. He now says he has his “dream job” driving the majestic Milford Road and showing people from all over the world around ‘his office’.

John Carter is loved by children and adults alike with his extensive knowledge of the Fiordland ecology and easy going personality.He is renowned for showing guests the special things along the Milford Road, including the rare Blue Duck which most people would otherwise never see. Passionate about conservation, he is actively involved in stoat trapping projects and has worked extensively in Fiordland with a wide range of skills to draw from including bee-keeping, film projection, conservation fieldwork with the Department of Conservation and environment education with youth based at Doubtful Sound. His wife Caroline's home baked biscuits he brings daily are legendary on the Milford Road

Hunter Shaw is a keen conservationist and long time resident in Fiordland. An amazing nature guide he enjoys sharing his vast knowledge of flora and fauna with visitors. He has played a key role restoring Pamona Island on Lake Manapouri, working from track cutting in the early days to regularly checking stoat traps. As a member of the rat eradication team, he helped load rat bait into a bucket slung beneath a helicopter. Deer and possum monitoring have been key roles performed by Hunter along with his trusted dog Sky.

Will Lee divides his time working as both a Trips & Tramps nature guide and Fiordland Wilderness Experience sea kayak guide. His laid back nature and sense of fun ensures visitors have an amazing day in Fiordland and return home with special memories of the area.

Catherine Brimecombe is our botony expert and great company on the guided walks. Into habitat restoration through weed control she is involved with the Manapouri Wilderness reserve, and a new project clearning the shingle islands of the Eglington River beside the Milford Road. She divides her working time with Trips & Tramps, the Department of Conservation and developing a unique-to-Fiordland children's game called Button Up in Fiordland.

Chrissie loves to share her zeal for international travel and the great Fiordland outdoors.

Andrew moved to the area for the lifestyle and enjoys showing visitors the special places off the beaten track along the Milford Road.

Dave the great man himself who started Trips and Tramps loves to share a yarn of his Fiordland adventures.

Megan is the friendly, knowledgeable voice on the phone, having worked at Milford Sound before moving to Te Anau with her young family.

Hunter Shaw transferring Robins from an island on the west coast to Pomona island on Lake Manapouri

Catherine Brimecombe enjoying Lake Marian

Conservation and Community Support

Trips and Tramps enjoy a close relationship with the community and local Te Anau Department of Conservation team. We participate in the Sustainable Tourism South Project "aiming to continually improve and promote the environmental, social, cultural and economic sustainability of tourism businesses in the Southland region".

We are keen supporters of local events, providing both logistical and financial support. In 2007 a major grant of $6,000 was given to the Fiordland Health Trust in support of the new medical centre. Other recent donations have been made to local events, including the Kepler Challenge Mountain Run and Bluff Oyster Festival, Te Anau Fishing Competition, and organisations including Te Anau Child Care, Te Anau School, Fiordland Kindergarten and Invercargill Lions, to name just a few. All employees are encouraged to be actively involved in community groups and we will provide a paid day each year for staff to volunteer in a local project or event.

In the Cleddau Valley we are involved in a stoat trapping project, dealing to an introduced predator decimating our vulnerable native bird populations. On all our tours we employ a non-extractive policy, and follow the Department of Conservation Environmental Care Code to minimise our impact which travelling through Fiordland National Park.