Stephen
A lifetime of travel and wilderness tourism has led Stephen to hiking adventures in Tasmania. His first treks centred around the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, but branched out to far flung areas of the world like the Himalayas, Andes and closer to home NZ. He has crossed the Pacific under sail and kayaked the Murray River. Although trained as a surveyor he’s spent more time at sea captaining and guiding from the Inside Passage of North America to Antarctica. A love for the outdoors and an aesthetic appreciation for all things wild is what drives this lifestyle. While sharing the wonders of the outdoors with people is what he most enjoyed.
Beth
Beth is part of our amazing Tasmania Park Trek Crew. It is evident that Beth has a passion for outdoors and 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!”
Mercedes
Mercedes calls the Dandenong Ranges her backyard now and that’s where you can find her hiking and exploring. Before her Aussie adventure, Mer’s passion for outdoors took her to Finnish Lapland where she chased the Northern Lights and instructed (cold) tourists in ice swimming in the Baltic Sea. Then she spent two years taking travelers around Spain, France, Italy and Portugal and hiking El Camino de Santiago 14 times with different groups. In her spare time she enjoys balancing nature with history doing short city tours around the CBD. She’s a fan of handball and bad jokes, and as a proper Spaniard, she loves to cook for her guests on the tours!
Andrew
Andrew is a seasoned Park Trek guide and has a vast knowledge of bird watching, geology, botany, climate and history. He has worked as an engineer and a teacher as well as having travelled extensively around Australia and the world. Andrew enjoys preparing delicious meals using fresh and local produce. His relaxed manner, professional approach and ability to talk about any topic will ensure you get the most out of any trip you take under his capable leadership.
Simon
Simon is truly passionate about his home state of Tasmania and a self-confessed national park geek. After 20 years in finance, Simon decided to get out of the office for good and pursue his love of the outdoors with a new career in guiding. Simon joined the Park Trek team in early 2019 and also fills his time as a Discovery Ranger – a role where he has honed his interpretation skills in front of budding environmental scientists and some of the toughest primary school critics you can imagine. Having travelled extensively throughout Australia and around the world, Simon is always happy to return home to Tasmania and to share its wonders with our guests.
Mondira
Mondira was born in India but has live more than half of her life in Melbourne. From her childhood, she can remember the love of outdoors and sneaking out to go to forest walking until late at night with their 8 dogs. She has done the Everest Base hike, Rocky Mountains in Canada, Inca trek in Peru, Milford Sounds in New Zealand and many in and around Australia. Her recent adventure was a 2-week drive through the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, Oodnadatta Outback track and Uluru doing thousands of kilometres in her four-wheel drive. Working with Park Trek has been great for Mondira as she gets to meet such diverse and lovely group of people with so many stories to share.
Dries
Dries was born in Belgium and as a member of Boy Scouts has enjoyed the outdoors since his childhood. He was lucky enough to travel every country in Europe with his family‘s campervan and was introduced to hiking at a very young age. After completing his Master Degrees in Medieval History and European Politics, he moved to Africa where he lived and worked on a Big 5 Wilderness Reserve. He traded the African bush for Australia and has been living here for the past 4 years. Dries has a soft spot for all the amazing animals that call Australia home, mammals, birds and reptiles in particular. Some of his favourite outdoor experiences have taken him around the globe including Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas, Bardia National Park, the Scottish West Highland Way and a jungle survival trek in the northwestern corner of Thailand.
Robyn
Nature and wilderness form a big part of Robyn’s life. She has wintered and summered in Antartica, and spent 10 months as a volunteer caretaker and weather observer on Tasmania’s remote Maatsuyker Island, home to Australia’s loneliest lighthouse. For more than 20 years, Robyn has guided on ship-based tours to Antartica, Arctic, Norway coast and Scotland. At home in Tasmania, Robyn spends time guiding with Park Trek, and writing her latest novel, Cold Coast, will be published in late 2021.
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!
Niki
Niki’s passion for hiking has taken her all over the world. From hiking in Pakistan, to doing an 80 day thru-hike in America, to tackling the ‘Worlds Most Dangerous Mountain Hike’ in China, and even hiking from the North to South of Iceland with nothing but a tent, sleeping bag, and A LOT of tuna!
Niki’s varied experiences in hiking globally will undoubtedly shine through in her guiding.
Niki will bring a positive and encouraging attitude no matter the weather or terrain, as she wants to share her love and undeniable passion for the outdoors with you. During Niki’s time away from guiding, she can be found volunteering at a yoga and meditation retreat. She is a kind guide and just wants you to genuinely enjoy your experience.
Gillian
Gillian believes whether your 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.
Jamie
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.
Anni
Anni loves life best when she is outdoors. She has explored nearly all the corners of Tasmania with only a few places remaining on her list to see. In 2014, she took the opportunity to walk the Tasmanian trail, 480 km from Devonport to Dover over 26 days.
When she is not working with Park Trek, she is either driving down a dirt road on an adventure or seeking out interesting places to walk her dog. Bronte, off lead. Being in nature is what inspires her to enjoy life and all that is has to offer.
Sam
A Sam grew up bushwalking around 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 on bushwalks from a young age. Sam started out doing short day walks, and only recently has taken to bushwalking above the snowline on some overnight trips. Sam is new to professional guiding but is absolutely drawn to it and all 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.
