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

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

(3553 reviews)

5/4/2026

Hobbit Trip

Our trip from Auckland to the Hobbiton Movie Set was seamless and so much fun. Trent, our driver, made the whole experience—he had our tickets ready at arrival, played great music, and shared fun stories about New Zealand along the way. The set itself feels like stepping into The Lord of the Rings—absolutely magical. Highly recommend!

Jorida C

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

7/17/2026

Best tour!

My sister and I thoroughly enjoyed our Milford Sound tour. Our guide, Benny (if I heard his name correctly), was fantastic. He shared lots of interesting and helpful information throughout the journey, making the drive just as enjoyable as the destination. He was also very patient and made plenty of stops so we could take photos and videos for our TikToks, which we really appreciated. What stood out most was how much he cared about the local wildlife. On our way back from Milford Sound, we saw three keas, and unfortunately someone had thrown bones out for them. Benny stopped to remove the bones so the birds wouldn't eat them. It was wonderful to see how much he genuinely cared about protecting New Zealand's wildlife. Thank you for such a memorable experience. We would highly recommend this tour!

Princess Mae I

7/17/2026

The perfect small-group experience for an unforgettable day at Milford Sound!

Booking with Cheeky Kiwi was the best decision we made. The small-group minibus was incredibly comfortable and took all the stress out of the long drive. Our guide Lynette was brilliant—fantastic with the kids, full of local knowledge, and perfectly timed our scenic stops to beat the big tour bus crowds. The boutique cruise itself was spectacular and felt much more personal and premium than the larger boats. Seamlessly organized and worth every cent. Highly recommend!

shishir c

7/17/2026

Super great!

Great experience! The landscapes are breathtaking, the cruise is great and our guide Raghav was super nice, conducting us safely and sharing plenty of interesting information with good sense of humour. Super thanks!

Felipe G

7/16/2026

Amazing experience!

Went with the whole family this time and once again, it did not disappoint!! Never a dull moment with Danny the tour guide from Cheeky Kiwi! Interactive, fun and very approachable! Definitely will recommend!! Noah says hi btw 👋

Paolo D

7/15/2026

Nature at its best

Amazing trip!! Beautiful views!! A lot of nature. Relaxing. The tour guide was amazing. Great energy and knowledgeable. Book it! You will not regret it.

Youness

7/15/2026

A Day at Milford Sound

We had an incredible experience on our Milford Sound tour, and a huge part of that was thanks to our guide, Danny. He is incredibly knowledgeable about New Zealand and shared so many fascinating facts throughout the journey. His passion for his job really shines through, and his enthusiasm made the whole trip fun, engaging, and unforgettable. Thank you, Danny, for making our Milford Sound experience so special. Highly recommend!

Seaside11208169965

7/15/2026

10 out of 100

This is the best tour I had so far. It’s definitely worth doing this Milford Sound trip with cheeky kiwi and especially having a cheeky guide, Danny, who’s not only very friendly, but also makes the trip informative, entertaining and light. It’s raining so we got a good display of waterfalls along the way. The weather was rough—strong winds made the waves go wild—but it made the cruise even more exciting! Never a dull moment and will definitely go back and do it again with Danny as guide 🤞🏽

Renea P

7/14/2026

Amazing trip

LOVE IT! Simply love the entire trip!

Fam Y

7/14/2026

A must do in Queenstown, even if it’s raining and windy!

Had an amazing experience chasing the waterfalls in Milford. Danny, our guide did an amazing job guiding us and telling us fun facts. The sad part was it was raining and cloudy all morning, but that made it so much more special since everywhere we looked were waterfalls. Cheeky Kiwi did an amazing job organizing everything and making sure we got to stop at epic photo areas. It’s a must do when in queenstown and I am glad I chose cheeky kiwi

Adam K

7/14/2026

A must do experience

What an absolutely unforgettable experience! The Milford Sound Small Group Tour and Cruise from Queenstown was worth every single penny and every minute of the day. If you're visiting Queenstown, this should be at the very top of your bucket list. A huge thank you to our tour guide, Jason, who truly made the journey exceptional. His knowledge of the region was incredible, and he shared fascinating facts and stories throughout the trip. He was friendly, personable, funny, and always happy to help, making everyone feel comfortable and looked after. The small group setting made the experience feel much more intimate and personal than a large coach tour. The drive to Milford Sound was just as spectacular as the destination itself. We stopped at a variety of scenic locations along the way, each offering breathtaking views and plenty of opportunities for photos. Every stop showcased another incredible part of this country’s natural beauty. The Milford Sound cruise was simply unforgettable. Even though we experienced very rainy weather, it only added to the magic, with countless waterfalls cascading down the cliffs and creating some of the most breathtaking scenery we've ever seen. By the end of the trip you’ll be grateful for the rain. This tour exceeded all our expectations. From the incredible scenery and well-planned stops to Jason's outstanding guidance and the intimate atmosphere, everything was perfect. We couldn't recommend it more highly—it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that everyone should have on their bucket list.

Madison C

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