Great people. Great places. Great jobs.
There's no better place to spend your summer.
Applications for 2025/26 are now open
He aha te mea nui o te ao
What is the most important thing in the world?
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata
It is the people, it is the people, it is the people
We operate in the most incredible part of our country – guiding walkers on the Milford, Routeburn and Greenstone tracks deep in the heart of Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks.
We employ people to work on and off track who relish meeting new people and will get stuck in and work alongside a small dynamic team to make the guided walk an extraordinary experience for our guests.
We operate eight remote lodges situated on the tracks which are fully staffed to cater for the hospitality of our guests. The lodges are supported by a strong guiding and a great Queenstown based team.
If you are passionate about the environment manaakitanga/hospitality and kaitiakitanga/sustainability, then we want you to join our team.
These seasonal positions start mid October 2025 until mid April 2026.
Watch the video to see where you could be working!
Guides
Our guides are at the heart of every walking experience, ensuring safety, sharing knowledge, and offering exceptional support both on the trail and in the lodges.
As a guide, your top priority is the well-being of our walkers. With a confident, friendly approach, you’ll inspire trust and create a welcoming environment that turns each journey into an unforgettable adventure. You thrive on meeting new people, navigating challenges, and making every walk truly remarkable. This role is as rewarding as it is demanding, both physically and mentally. It calls for resilience, a deep love for the outdoors, a genuine desire to help others, and a strong sense of teamwork.
Lodge Managers
Lodge Managers at Ultimate Hikes oversee the daily operations of our remote lodges on New Zealand’s Milford or Routeburn Tracks, ensuring outstanding guest experiences through exceptional hospitality, dining, and housekeeping.
Key responsibilities include leading and training staff, fostering a safe and positive work environment, managing schedules, ensuring health and safety regulations are met, and overseeing lodge maintenance. Ideal candidates will have strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, along with at least six months of management or hospitality experience.
A Level 2 First Aid certificate, a Manager’s Certificate for alcohol sales, and the legal right to work in New Zealand are also required. The position involves living at the lodge for up to five weeks at a time.
Lodge Manager - Position Description
Apply to be one of our Lodge Managers for the 2025/26 season
Lodge Assistant Managers
The Lodge Assistant Manager supports daily lodge operations, stepping in fully when the Manager is off. They work closely with Lodge Attendants to ensure excellent guest experiences in a remote, dynamic environment. In the Manager’s absence, when not working as a Lodge Attendant, key responsibilities include hands-on leadership, staff mentoring, inventory management, and health and safety compliance.
The role demands strong communication, resilience, flexibility, and a proactive approach to maintain a warm, professional lodge atmosphere aligned with Ultimate Hikes’ values.
Lodge Assistant Manager - Position Description
Apply to be one of our Assistant Lodge Managers for the 2025/26 season
Greenstone Lodge Hosts
The Greenstone Lodge Host supports daily operations at remote lodges on New Zealand’s Greenstone Track as part of Ultimate Hikes’ guided walk experience. Key duties include cleaning, meal preparation, guest service, and stock management.
The role requires hospitality or cooking experience, strong teamwork, resilience, and physical fitness (you will hike between lodges ahead of guides and walkers). Hosts live onsite during 10-day shifts, creating a warm, welcoming environment while maintaining high standards. It’s an opportunity to work in spectacular natural settings as part of a close-knit team.
Greenstone Lodge Host - Position Description
Apply to be one of our Greenstone Lodge Hosts for the 2025/26 season
Lodge Cooks
Our remote lodges on the Milford and Routeburn Tracks have Lodge Cooks who are responsible for preparing high-quality, consistent meals for both guests and staff. Working from a set guest menu, you’ll manage all aspects of the kitchen; planning, preparation, presentation, and maintaining the highest standards of food hygiene. You may also occasionally work with support staff.
You should be confident working independently, remaining organised under pressure, and taking pride in delivering excellent food, day after day. This is a unique opportunity for experienced cooks or chefs to work in a stunning, remote setting. For those newer to the role, training will be available to suitable applicants, offering valuable experience and on-the-job skill development in conjunction with Lodge Attendant tasks.
Most importantly, if you love making and sharing great food, and enjoy creating a welcoming, nourishing experience for others, this could be the perfect fit.
Lodge Cook - Position Description
Apply to be one of our Lodge Cooks for the 2025/26 season
Lodge Attendants
Lodge Attendants at Ultimate Hikes ensure a welcoming, clean, and well-maintained lodge environment on the remote Milford and Routeburn Tracks. They provide daily housekeeping, assist with kitchen duties, and deliver excellent guest service.
Working as part of a close-knit team, attendants uphold health and safety standards and adapt to flexible, varied shifts. The role requires physical fitness, strong communication, a positive attitude, and experience in hospitality or housekeeping, helping create unforgettable guest experiences.
Lodge Attendant - Position Description
Apply to be one of our Lodge Attendants for the 2025/26 season
Guest Services Attendant
The Guest Service team, based in Queenstown, are highly personable people.
This position includes a wide range of responsibilities relating to the wellbeing of our guests. Daily duties include providing advice and information to walkers on arrival, hosting pre-track briefings, retail sales, reservations, and management of walker equipment.
You will be part of a small team and relish meeting new people every day and be ready to get stuck in and work alongside the team to make the guided walk an extraordinary experience for our guests.
Applications for our Guest Services Attendants opens in August. Check back here soon!
Join the team
Guides brief walkers each night on the day ahead.
Providing hot drinks
It's not always sunny at the top
or dry at the bottom
Showing walkers native plants is part of the job
So is a spot of house cleaning
but its the walkers who the focus is on
Make lifelong friends
Fly your flag
Swim in crystal clear (ice cold) water
Cook great food
And share it
Employment FAQs
We've compiled a list of answers to the most common employment related questions. We trust you will find what you're looking for here or in the information sheets above, but if there is something you would like to discuss in more depth, feel free to email: info@ultimatehikes.co.nz for further assistance.
FAQs