Meet the Ultimate Hikes team
Many people make up the experience of an Ultimate Hikes guided walk. Meet the principal players who work all year round to improve the service to our walkers and ensure the season runs smoothly. Every season we are joined by guides, lodge staff and customer service staff who bring enthusiasm, great skills and a wonderful zest for life. It is all of these people who make Ultimate Hikes the adventure of a lifetime for our walkers.
 Noel Saxon - General ManagerEnlarge image |
Noel and his family have been living in Queenstown for 8 years, the past 3 1/2 working at Ultimate Hikes. A West Coaster at heart he has a keen interest in the outdoors and grabs his tramping boots every chance he can get to head out on the tracks "checking operations…" Noel particularly enjoys meeting and working with good people and he's passionate about the experiences Ultimate hikes provides for staff and walkers. |
 Shaun Liddy, Head GuideEnlarge image |
Shaun has been a part of the Ultimate Hikes team since 2004, after completing a Bachelor of Physical Education at the University of Otago. Having guided on all our walks, he now leads our team of guides on the Milford, Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks, ensuring all our walks are operated in a safe, informative and enjoyable manner. Passionate about the area and natural history, Shaun finds sharing his knowledge and assisting our walkers to be a hugely rewarding part of his job. |
 Andrew Jolly - Operations ManagerEnlarge image |
Andrew has been with Ultimate Hikes for three years. He manages track logistics, and lodge maintenance and development. Andrew has 25 years of construction experience behind him and knows the challenges of working in a National Park. He has previously worked as a project manager, on iconic local developments such as the Queenstown Airport, and the Sir Edmund Hillary Centre at Aoraki Mount Cook. His off track interests are golf and adventure fitness. |
 Robert Romauch, Queenstown operationsEnlarge image |
Robert has been involved with Ultimate Hikes since 1982, originally based in Te Anau. He now works in the Queenstown Office overseeing the daily activity of the walks and works tirelessly to ensure the season operates as seamlessly as possible. He is also a very keen supporter of the Canterbury Crusaders (Rugby Union regional team), and is always looking for new converts. |
 Craig Douglas, Sales & Marketing ManagerEnlarge image |
Craig Douglas took over the reigns of Ultimate Hikes' Sales and Marketing Department in 2012. He adds it to his other challenging role of General Manager Sales & Marketing for NZSki, making him an all rounder for seasonal activities based in Queenstown. Craig came to Queenstown in 2010 after 14 years at Fisher & Paykel in Auckland. He is no stranger to the South though, growing up in Dunedin and holidaying in Queenstown since he can remember. He first walked the Milford Track in the 1970's and lives in Arrowtown with his family. |
 Sandra Whiting, ReservationsEnlarge image |
Sandra is the voice of Ultimate Hikes - she is the first point of contact for walkers to discuss their bookings and provides them with all the information they need to choose their personal experience. Sandra has been booking walks for over 5 years, bringing 25 years of customer service and retail experience to very good use. Her favourite thing is to see the walkers arrive here to embark on what is for many, a long anticipated adventure. |
 Dickon Gray - Customer ServiceEnlarge image |
Dickon is on his 3rd season at the Ultimate Hikes Centre and his first running the team. Dickon is responsible for greeting the walkers, ensuring they have all the necessary equipment, and his team also run the briefings the evening before the walk. Dickon is originally from Brighton in the UK, and enjoyed last winter in the northern hemisphere (Canada and England). |
 PaddyO'Connor, Food & Beverage ManagerEnlarge image |
With 18 years experience in the food industry, Paddy has the enviable task of sourcing produce for the sumptuous meals made on site at the lodges on the tracks. He also sources products for the tracks that blend with our environmental policies, and which neatly work to eliminate the amount of waste to be removed from the Tracks. |
 Margot Archibald, Purchasing Manager, RetailEnlarge image |
Margot has spent 3 years at Ultimate Hikes, researching and purchasing the latest styles and products for sale in the Ultimate Hikes Centre. Each year she works with some of New Zealand's iconic brands to source the best quality clothing, ideal for safety and comfort on the Tracks. She also sources an assortment of products should our walkers choose to equip themselves on arrival or if they forget essential items. Maybe the most famous product Margot has sourced is foot fleece, no hiker would be without it! |
