Our Team create great experiences
We are super proud of our guides, and the team behind the scenes supporting them in the field …
Our guides and support team are without doubt our most valuable assets. Together our whole team works create the experiences our guests value so highly. Our guides are passionate about the outdoors and our wonderful landscapes and environment. They are multi-disciplined professionals, safely guiding and interpreting our trails by day, while hosting you with terrific home-cooked fare pre and post trek. They are storytellers and adventurers. And they are supported by our office team, many of whom have guided before and are now dedicated to ensuring the success and safety of your trek. Our team look forward to welcoming you, and creating your next great memorable journey.
A selection of current team members:
Kate – Yugambeh country / Queensland
Kate grew up in country WA, gaining her love for the natural environment at an early age on stations and coastlines in the Pilbara region. Since then, she has travelled Australia extensively, working in the Northern Territory, Tasmania and now semi-based in Queensland as the Tassie winter and cold is not her forte! The bay of fires was her favourite for the summer season, as it’s hard to beat those stunning coastlines! She is about to start a degree in Environmental science, as protecting and preserving for the next generation to enjoy is a huge factor in her becoming a guide in the first place.
Stephen – Nipaluna / Hobart
Having a love for the outdoors was the primary reason Stephen trained as a surveyor. However his passion for travel and sharing the outdoors with others, morphed into wilderness tourism. This included marine wilderness adventures on Canada’s remote West coast and expeditions to polar regions on small ships. He first trekked in Tasmania as a student and has now returned to call Hobart home where he can continue a lifelong pastime exploring wilderness areas.
Stephen is at home in the mountains but loves the variety of iconic destinations Park Trek visits. He looks forward to sharing any of the Tasmanian trips with you.
Jason Reeve – Sydney / Gadigal Land
Originally an Adelaide boy, Jason has lived in various states across Australia before finally settling down in Sydney. It wasn’t until this final move to Sydney in 2016 that he discovered his passion for exploring the outdoors and that journey of discovery continues today. Starting with small hikes, it did not take long before he wanted a bigger challenge and began multiday hiking. in 2020 he completed the Great North Walk in NSW over 10 days (a 270km challenging trail between Sydney and Newcastle), then another 230km extending that hike on to Taree. Most recently, Jason tackled a huge solo 600km, 20 day trek traversing Tasmania from top to bottom (Devonport to Fortescue Bay via the Overland and Three Capes Track). Currently Jason works full time at Ancestry.com whilst juggling his global travel, hosting regular community hiking events to raise money for charity and helping to lead awesome Park Trek adventures.
Jess Bradley
Jess’ love of the outdoors began from a young age growing up by the ocean near Newcastle. Her love for hiking started later once a move to the Gold Coast gave her access to the World Heritage listed National Parks within the Gold Coast Hinterland. With a background in Youth Development and Outdoor Education, she has a passion for connecting people with outdoor spaces to create memorable experiences for all her guests. Now living as a nomad, Jess travels throughout the year to experience the best that Australia has to offer. Her love of the ocean, surfing, rock climbing, and hiking makes the Three Capes tour one of Jess’ favourites!
Hollie Hind – Tasmania / Lutruwita
Hollie is Tassie born and bred and a keen lover of the outdoors. If she isn’t sharing knowledge about the plants and rocks around, she is definitely sharing bad jokes! Hollie moved to celebrate city life in her early 20s, and undertook degrees in the behavioural sciences and education. After 5 years, she returned to the awe of nature and never looked back. Nowadays, Hollie spends her time frolicking up the mountains and through the trees, enjoying the views along the way.
Jamie – Wurundjeri Country / Melbourne
Jamie loves hiking, but his ultimate passion is for wildlife. Whether it’s to go birding or to photograph animals, he takes every opportunity to get outdoors. Since graduating from his Psychology honours degree in 2019, Jamie has worked in disability and as a hiking guide. He has now realised that he is meant to work with nature and is looking to go back to study Ecology and Environmental Science alongside his guiding. This season he is looking forward to sometime in the Flinders Rangers and another season in the Top End!
Beth
Beth is part of our amazing Tasmania Park Trek Crew. Beth has a passion for the outdoors and all things associated with nature. Her current goal is walking all the Abels (158 of Tasmania’s Mountains over 1,100m tall). In her spare time, you’ll see her out walking, rockclimbing or adventuring somewhere new.
Heidi
Heidi originally studied as a marine biologist and has spent 12 seasons in Antarctica. Recently, Heidi spent six months living on remote Maatsuyker Island off the southwest coast of Tasmania, where she was the volunteer lighthouse caretaker. When bushwalking, Heidi enjoys identifying birds and is a member of the Birdlife Tasmania Committee. When asked what is her favourite walk in Tasmania, “It’s too hard to decide!”
Emma
Emma is an avid rock climber, bushwalker, and all-round outdoor enthusiast who believes that movement is medicine, and that quality time spent in the Tasmanian wilderness with good people is an experience without comparison. When not exploring Tasmania’s rugged mountain ranges and dramatic coastlines, Emma is a physiotherapist, pilates instructor & yoga teacher. You might even be able to coax an impromptu class out of her!
Gillian
Gillian believes whether you are young or old, experienced or just wishing to get out and about to explore Mother Nature, there’s a hiking trail with Park Trek just perfect for you. Gillian has always loved to holiday incorporating hiking into her travels. Over many years she was a guide for overseas travel, now she takes the opportunity to hike in her own backyard to share her love of the outdoors whilst enjoying the soothing benefits of taking a walk in nature with her guests.
Bianca
Bianca has a lifelong passion for the outdoors and insatiable curiosity about all things in nature. She has a background in education and coaching, she loves to share her knowledge and information about of many Australia’s wild places with all of her guests. When not out exploring on a Park Trek tour, she can usually be found on a downhill mountain bike track, baking sourdough bread or relaxing at remote campsite.
Sam
Sam grew up bushwalking the Victorian Alps and Gippsland from the young age of 13. He owes his love for bushwalking and the natural environment to his dad for introducing him to it and taking him bushwalking from a young age. Sam started out doing short day walks, and has recently taken to bushwalking above the snow-line on overnight trips. Sam is new to professional guiding but is absolutely drawn to it and the possibilities to see many beautiful places around Australia. Sam has a multitude of experience and a teaching background to assist with leading tours and educating our guests all about the areas we travel to and the unique characteristics about each location.
Guide testimonials, why our guides love working at Park Trek …
“There are many walking companies in Tasmania, all providing a slightly different niche and selling to a different audience. What makes Park Trek standout is they have the niche that most guests want, and they sell trips correctly. This means trips are not oversold, guests know what to expect, and its a happy experience all round for guests and guides”
“We work in the adventure and experience industry, and that means that sometimes despite the best planning, things sometimes go wrong in the field. If this happens the office crew have your back and are supportive to get things back on track”
“I love working for Park Trek because of the diversity of the tours, one week you’ll be walking the incredible Tasman Peninsula in awe of the largest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere then the next you are walking through the dense Tarkine Rainforest! The support and information that comes from the Operations Team is also incredible!”
“Working as a Park Trek guide has been a challenge worth taking. Like some of our hikes, the challenge is part of the reward. The team and other guides I work with are knowledgeable, respectful of our environment, love the outdoors and nature. They blow me away with their dedication to their profession and it is contagious. Guests are varied and leave all their stresses behind when we hit the path … it is a delight to see them unwind. I finish a hike with a smile on my face, my body wanting a hot bath and many new friends. I feel privileged to work with a company offering these amazing tours”
All our guides are seasoned professionals, qualified and accredited for the benefit of our guests. Required qualifications include:
- Wilderness First Aid, Remote Area First Aid or equivalent or higher certifications,
- Specific first aid certifications including CPR (HLTAI009), Emergency Life Support (HLTAID010),
- Car (Class C) or MR / HR drivers licence endorsed for PPV/CPV in the relevant State in which they guide,
- Certificate or Bachelor in Guiding, Outdoor Recreation or Outdoor Education, or equivalent to two full years of guiding experience,
- Food Handlers Certificate
- Local knowledge and familiarity of trails, habitat and geography.
