ABOUT US
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KAHURANGI GUIDED WALKS
Kahurangi Guided Walks began in 1997. It was founded by John Croxford and for 18 years, John began the tradition of showing people the around the Kahurangi and Abel Tasman National Parks. In 2015 John retired and Jenni Kingston and Thomas (Taj) Rabosky took over the business. Jenni became the sole proprietor from April 2018. Jenni is passionate about the outdoors and her enthusiasm is infectious. Having been involved with Kahurangi Guided Walks since 2007, she has extensive knowledge and understanding of the area and its features. |
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KEEPING IT LOCAL AND SUSTAINABLE
We only employ local guides, porters and drivers who intimately know this area which they all call home. Everyone brings their own stories and knowledge of local history, weather, plants and birds to the track to make your adventure with us memorable and unique. We source fruits and vegetables (whenever possible) from local, organic growers in Golden Bay ensuring you are fed with the best from the Bay during your walk. Kahurangi Guided Walks cares for our natural environment and endeavours to run a sustainable business, as illustrated on our sustainability page. |
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SMALL TRIPS
Most of our trips run with a smaller number of people. Our maximum allowable group size is 12 including guide and porter, but we most often run trips of 5-8 people. We can take groups as small as 2 people and (for a special premium) offer personalised one-person adventures. Contact us with your requests and we will customise a solution for you! |
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DOC APPROVED
We are licensed (Concession No CSN 260) by the New Zealand Department of Conservation to conduct guided walks having met their high environmental and safety standards. All care is taken to respect New Zealand’s unique wildlife and to minimise our environmental impact. Our commitment is to give you the best possible experience in complete safety. |
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OUR TEAM
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JENNI
Jenni Kingston has been guiding with Kahurangi Guided Walks since 2007. As she grew up in Golden Bay and has been tramping in this part of the world since she was seven, she has a wealth of local knowledge, entertaining stories and experiences to share with you. She has inherited her love of walking from her father Derry (who has become a bit of a legend on the Heaphy Track in recent years). Jenni loves introducing people to new places and is always ready to offer her assistance whenever it may be required. When she's not out walking, she is at home enjoying time with her 10 year old daughter. |
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SOPHIE
Sophie Trueman was raised in the Wairarapa exploring the wilderness of the Tararua ranges and the rugged coastlines. Golden Bay has been home for the past two years after spending much of her early twenties travelling Aotearoa, Asia and Australia. She has spent time as a youth outdoor adventure leader, kayak guide, nanny, wool handler and hospitality super star, guided by her love for adventure and challenge. Sophie now spends her time creating a balanced lifestyle by growing her own food, working at the MAD café, volunteering for Luminate festival, keeping bees and selling honey at the local market. |
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REUBEN
Reuben has been delving into adventures for 30 yrs in loads of places you don’t want to go. Occasionally he goes to nice places like Uganda to spy on gorrillas, Papua New Guinea to eat Beetlenut, and Vanuatu to drink Kava. He has participated in hundreds of Search and Rescue missions in NZ and proudly maintains a 50/50 record. A very average surfer but solid on the dance floor. He will hump your load as long as it takes. |
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DANI
Growing up in Asia (but with kiwi parents), Dani has been a traveller from day dot. She moved to NZ at the age of 12 and loved getting into the bush and out fishing with her dad. It wasnt a surprise that as soon as she left school she went travelling overseas again and was off to see the world. She has done epic adventures with her bike cycling from Ho Chi min to Hanoi (2800km) and has been climbing mountains wherever she goes. Dani loves people and culture and has picked up 4 other languages while living overseas making her a polyglot that is full of cultural stories. When she is not out in the mountains she is working as an Empowerment coach teaching people personal development skills and coaching people one on one. Dani started her own business (daniferriercoaching) last year and has been very much involved in the Nelson young professionals and other business networking groups. She is full of beans, loves life and loves sharing stories about NZ birds and our amazing flora! |
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DAVE
Growing up in Motueka, Dave developed a strong interest in the outdoors from a very early age. He has had a long association with both Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National parks and he loves sharing his knowledge and experience of these special areas. Dave has tramped and climbed throughout NZ as well as overseas including South America and Antarctica where he worked as a Field Assistant at New Zealand's Vanda Station. Dave now lives in Pohara (Golden Bay) and in addition to helping with Kahurangi Guided Walks he is a Ranger/Hut Warden on the Heaphy Track during the peak summer months and also helps the Friends of the Cobb checking traplines in the Cobb Valley, one of Dave's favourite areas. |
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Sylvan
Sylvan Thomson is a writer and wilderness enthusiast, with a strong interest in the intersection between literature, creativity and walking. He grew up in Rarotonga, the Channel Islands and Nelson and has traveled widely in Asia, Europe and North America. In 2019, he finally ended up back in Nelson where he alternates his guiding work with growing gourmet mushrooms, writing and landscape gardening. |
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