Beg or borrow an old bike inner tube and cut off a circle of rubber, these make excellent make shift sink plugs which always seem to be missing when you want to wash your socks. Irene
ABOUT THE ACTIVE TRAVEL COMPANY
Active Travel Company is all about helping people actively engage with the countries and cultures that they are visiting.
It is not all about trekking, cycling and walking - we offer plenty of more leisurely and rewarding ways to explore your destination - from cooking classes, volunteering at orphanages or schools to soaking up the atmosphere, travelling by river, train or by road.
Escorted Tours, Small Group Tours, Tailor-Made Travel, Walking, Cycling and Trekking.
Be a traveller - not a tourist!
OUR PEOPLE
Ross McRobie - Co-Director
As well as owning and being the big boss at the Active Travel Co.. Ross is also currently the Chairman of Lake Wanaka Tourism. Whilst Ross won't be putting your tour together, he is always keen to get stuck in - so you never know where you might see him!
Irene Schrieber - Adviser
Borneo is Irene's second home and she has now been leading tours there for over 18 years. She has travelled extensively through South East Asia, Africa, South America, China, Mongolia and Russia and is rich source of information. Some of her local relationships now span two generations a fact that surprises many clients and they often mention that they have experiences that no amount of money could buy. In her spare time you will find Irene in the great outdoors or busy with in her Olive Grove or hosting people at the Tarras B&B she runs with her partner Ray.
Lynette Cray - Travel Consultant
She has lived in the North of Thailand, led tours to Vietnam and is passionate about Africa and dreams of returning one day soon. Lynette is also our group specialist and in particular school tours, having organised tours to Vietnam for New Zealand schools such as Christs College and Mt Aspiring College. Lynette is involved in a number of community groups in her spare time including Friends of Tarras School and Rural Women.
Natasha Cooper - Travel Consultant
Natasha literally fell into travel after meeting Irene at a social event over 4 years ago. Leaving her previous life as marketer for large corporates behind, she has become an expert on all thing Otago Central Rail Trail plus anything off the beaten track or a little more adventurous in Asia and beyond. Natasha is Mum to a four year old and has recently started competing in some of the numerous running and cycling races that operate in Central Otago.
Isabella Meneses - Travel Consultant
Orginaly from Brazil, Isabella has been settled in New Zealand for 6 years. An experienced travel agent she has worked for one of Brazil's largest travel agency chains and since in New Zealand has worked in similar roles. She has travelled widely in Thailand, Australia and New Zealand and naturally in South America. She is an expert in putting together tailor-made travel to South America utlising her extensive network of local contacts to get you off the well beaten tourist tracks.
Heidi Morris - Tour Escort Asia and Rail Trail Guide New Zealand
Tireless Energy is how clients describe Heidi. She have worked as a tour escort in Vietnam, guided on the Rail Trail and long distance cycling tours crossing the vast Australian Outback from South to North and East to West. Heidi has travels have taken her to numerous corners of the world. Back home in Wanaka she will be found cycling, delivering courses for the Mountain Safety Council, getting involved with numerous community projects and having a great time with her grandchildren.
Ngarie Graham - Tour Escort Asia
Ngaire hails from Christchurch and has worked as one of our tour escorts for several years and has been bitten by the travel bug. A chef by trade Ngaire has owned several cafes through the years and is now semi retried. An interest in the local cuisine is always forefront of any tour she is leading and sampling the local fare always adds an extra degree of interest. Her travel sorties have taken her to Borneo, Africa, Vietnam, China, Mongolia, South America and the Antarctic.
Elke Evans - Rail Trail Guide New Zealand
Originally from Austria, Elke has lived in Scotland, in an Aboriginal community in the Outback of Australia and supported motorcycle tours throughout New Zealand. A hospitality professional by trade she has lectured in front of house service at tertiary level. Settled in Central Otago with a nice Kiwi bloke she is very much a New Zealand girl these days. When not guiding you will find her behind the wheel of a bus servicing the small rural school of Tarras and negotiating the icy Winter roads getting the local rugby teams to their games all over the region.
Mr Mu - Guide Yunnan Province, China
Mushangxun or Mr Mu as he is affectionately known hails from Lijiang in northern Yunnan Province. Proud of his Naxi Ethnic minority heritage Mr Mu prefers guiding in the rugged mountains bordering Tibet than life as an English teacher for which he is trained. He guides all our tours to the Tiger Leaping Gorge and treks in the Snow Jade Dragon Mountains where he delights in introducing us to members of his family who seem to inhabit even the remotest of mountain villages. The folk songs he entertains us with leaves a haunting memory long after the tour in finished.
Larry Siga - Head Guide for Mulu, Headhunter Trail, Limbang & Miri , Borneo
If anyone has the ability to adapt and enjoy both jungle longhouse life and city life in Borneo it is Larry. He is a walking encyclopaedia on jungles plants, insects and animals as well as his own Iban culture. During our headhunter trail expeditions we stay at Larry’s longhouse where his father Siga is the headman. Speaking several languages and with the ability to relate to both young and old alike our clients always go home having made a lifelong friend.
OUR PARTNERS
The Active Travel Company is proud to hold the New Zealand GSA's (General Sales Agreements) for the following companies:
Sunway Safaris - Africa
We are proud to have been associated with Sunway Safaris for the past 6 years and to be their exclusive agent in New Zealand. Their local staff hail from 6 Southern Africa countries and have a deep rooted passion for Africa, during your safari they will share this in depth knowledge with you. They are outdoor experts whose talents range from creating delicious, wholesome meals in the wilderness to keeping you informed and safe on your journey. Working behind the scenes the tireless research and attention to detail is what creates these fun-filled African adventures and sets them apart from other companies.
The Indochina Trekking Company & Trails of Indochina - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand & Myanmar
As the leading tour companies in Indochina these two related companies sell their tours exclusively through the Active Travel Company in New Zealand. As a small and specialist company they work tirelessly to bring our customers authentic and personalised cultural experiences. While others may be packed into overcrowded mini buses our travellers will be cruising along in modern vehicles and boats, staying in well researched accommodations, kayaking in aquamarine waters, trekking in the thick dense jungle, motor biking over cloud shrouded mountain passes or riding elephants at the newly developed elephant sanctuary in Laos. Travelling with the same company throughout Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand Laos and Myanmar ensures smooth running and consistency of tour quality.