Testimonials

‘A very professional guide and great company. He took time to explain to us what walks were possible/practical each day depending on the weather and the impact it would have on the surrounding rivers. If you are city dwellers it is very comforting to know that your guide is thinking of the safety of the group. [He] certainly kept us well fed as well. We are looking forward to future trips in the beautiful mountains around Wānaka which is a refreshing change and takes us out of our comfort zone for a few days at least.’

— Michael, Siberia Hut Trip

‘Thank you again. That was an awesome day out and I really appreciated how generous [our guide] was with his time and knowledge. He crammed in more than I thought possible in a day.’

— Megan, Remarkables Alpine Rock Climbing Course

‘It was 4 days I’ll never forget! The experiences I had I only want to grow on. I set out to accomplish a task, but I got so much more! You showed me a whole new world with your sport and I can’t thank you enough! Thanks so much for doing a great job at coaching someone who had no idea what they were doing lol. I work with some great leaders so I know one when I see one! I am a beginner climber and he gave excellent instruction on how to be safe while taking me out of my comfort zone. I’ve found a new love for this sport and it’s thanks to him! Absolutely exceeded my expectations!!! Thanks Wānaka Mountain Guides!’

— Landen, Mitre Peak Ascent

‘They have a wide range of different courses to pick from for every interest and skill level. They were also very responsive to emails and have very experienced guides. Would recommend!’

— James, Summer Mountaineering Course

‘Myself and two friends (who’d never done any back-country touring before) skied/boarded with Wanaka Mountain Guides at Treble Cone a couple of days ago. He did a great job with finding some fresh powder and managing the day in a way that meant we all had fun and ended the day with some great memories.’

— Mark, Introduction to Ski and Splitboard Touring Course

‘I Learnt heaps on my course, it was a wonderful experience. WMG has very experienced and knowledgeable guides who share this knowledge with skill, expertise, and grace. Highly recommended.’

— Stuart, Avalanche Skills Course

‘A great local company offering backcountry tours. Less people, fresh lines and opportunity to enhance your backcountry skills. Our guide, was exceptional. He picked a great route, great skiing in variable conditions, and included some snow science along the way. Highly recommended.’

— Nathan, Remarkables Backcountry Tour

‘I did a day ski touring trip with WMG with Tim as my guide. He was excellent at communication before I arrived in NZ as well as sorting out some travel logistics for me. Tim was very helpful and great at explaining what we were doing. He took the time to give some ski tip instructions and made sure that everyone in the group was looked after in terms of ability while touring. It was a wonderful day out. Thank you.”I did a day ski touring trip with WMG with Tim as my guide. He was excellent at communication before I arrived in NZ as well as sorting out some travel logistics for me. Tim was very helpful and great at explaining what we were doing. He took the time to give some ski tip instructions and made sure that everyone in the group was looked after in terms of ability while touring. It was a wonderful day out. Thank you.’

— Sheila, Remarkables Backcountry Tour

‘I started climbing with Tim 14 years ago. I often wonder what on earth he thought about me and whether or not he should take me up a mountain, but with his patience and perseverance, I summitted my first mountain, Mt Aspiring, followed by many other summits after that. I thoroughly recommend Tim and Wanaka Mountain Guides for their services and professionalism for beginners through to advanced climbers.’

— Joy, Private Guiding

‘First class guide with excellent skills with safety being the priority. However, even his cooking was good! :-)… overall had an amazing adventure! Tim managed all aspects of our safety efficiently and professionally. It was a truly great experience! Tim did a first-class job guiding us with his in-depth knowledge of the mountain. He was efficient, professional, and helpful with all aspects of the trip. Very safety conscious and very patient given I was a bit slow at times! It was a really fun and memorable adventure. I would thoroughly recommend having Tim as your mountain guide.’

— Murray, Aspiring Ascent

‘[Our guide] was everything you could ask for in a guide, quick and capable with the rescue, very generous with sharing knowledge, a great cook and I always felt he had the right attitude with risk management etc.’

— Paddy, Glacier Ski Tour

‘Professional, competent, friendly, and patient.’

— Greg and Colin

‘Really good  no1 fun day. Perfect conditions, great guide, got everything out of the trip that we wanted and more: fresh tracks, beautiful scenery, stunning weather, great company, and very safe and knowledgeable guide.’ 

— Wayne, Treble Cone Backcountry Tour

‘Fabulous, knowledgeable, interested in making sure we had an enjoyable day and that we gained some important tips to identify avalanche terrain and rescue techniques.’

— Brenton, Avalanche Skills Course

‘Tim was excellent at communicating and explaining the content. He did it in a way that was easy to learn and not too much all at once. Super nice guy.’

— Kayden, Backcountry Ski and Splitboard Course

’10/10. Extremely Knowledgeable. Fantastic Group Facilitation Skills. Great Teacher. Passionate about Skiing, Mountains/ Weather/ Snow Pack. Incredibly Patient. Cool, Calm, and Collected.’

— Fiona, Avalanche Skills Course

‘Excellent – great knowledge and very good at simplifying potentially complex information and presenting it in a way that we all understood.’ 

— Andy, Avalanche Skills Course

‘Tim is absolutely brilliant. I feel safe at all times with him, yet he doesn’t stifle me and gives me the freedom to go on my own when I feel comfortable doing so. He makes me feel relaxed and at ease both on and off the mountain. His local knowledge is incredible and seems to be able to pluck a great adventure out of the hat somewhere no matter what the weather is doing at the time. He’s the best guide I’ve had by far!’

— Marcus, Aoraki / Mount Cook Ascent

‘Tim showed a high level of experience, knowledge, and professionalism in all areas of the course and were also able to convey their knowledge in a logical way that made it easy to progressively learn and practice all the skills. The skills were also taught at a rate that meant I was continually challenged to think about what I was learning and what to do next, but also in a way that made sense and gave us time to absorb all the information so everything came together at the end when we consolidated our learning on the final day on the mountain.’

—Katie, Summer Mountaineering Course

‘Tim is a very friendly and easy guy to get along with, yet he is always still very professional. He has an uncanny knack for seemingly being able to pull a rabbit out of the hat despite the odds stacked against such a feat. Even with the very average weather we encountered, we still got quite a lot done.’

— Mark, Private Guiding

‘He was extremely professional at all times. He had a quiet confidence that was admirable yet he wasn’t arrogant. He was quick to correctly judge my abilities and let me be challenged just beyond my comfort zone enough to feel accomplishment. I quickly felt that I could trust him. He was obviously very capable and I could see that he was never really struggling to do any moves or in fitness so this encouraged me also. He let me take the lead when he knew I was capable which was great as I was able to feel greater risk and yet know that he was on the ball with belaying. I couldn’t have asked more from a guide – I know that I was perhaps more energetic than some of his clients but he rose to the challenge of keeping me entertained and kept me busy! He also was a really good cook on the Mountain – his meals were nutritious and filling… just what I needed!’

— Anna, Mount Aspiring Ascent

‘Tim did an outstanding job of creating building blocks of learning – e.g. around crevasse rescue – so each of us was able to assimilate the learning involved at a rate that was appropriate for each of us. He also very skilfully managed and created situations where we could test ourselves at a level at which we were comfortable, without specifically calling this out. Tim is exceptional as a guide. Tim brings a number of qualities to guiding which are very difficult to teach and which make him stand out to me.’

— Ruth, Summer Mountaineering Course

‘Thank you for your patience and good humour. Pretty much everything I did last week was new and challenging and generally way outside my comfort zone. But despite having by far the least experience of the group you managed it in such a way that I never felt I was too much of a drag. I could not honestly say I enjoyed everything as I was doing it but I am really pleased I did do it and I am looking back with great fondness on the week. I am going to try and continue rock climbing (and to do it without whimpering) and I am determined to master prusiking. I will be ready for crossing any glaciers around Sydney.’

— Duncan, Summer Mountaineering Course

‘During this trip in particular, I was so impressed with Tim’s technical knowledge and skills that it reminded me of just how little I know and how poor my ability is in comparison. Very happy to continue this way and would recommend others to going guided. Felt totally safe and confident in his abilities at all times. He has a very relaxed and easy manner, and I felt we got on really well. I’m not normally the most sociable of people (maybe that’s why I normally climb on my own!), but I felt very comfortable and relaxed with him the whole time. A really nice guy, and would love to climb with him again.’

— Marcus, Private Guiding

‘Tim thinks holistically about our experience and learning – all the pieces fitted together beautifully and culminated in a great final day/morning. He has a great talent for appearing to effortlessly develop contingency plans that still keep us on track even when the weather is totally unpredictable.

Tim beautifully navigates the line between humour, warmth, playfulness and complete professionalism and retaining true authority. This is an art and he’s mastered it. He’s a delightfully genuine guy. He also has the patience of a saint. This I think is an essential requirement for all guides!!’

— Ruth, Summer Mountaineering Course

‘Professional, competent, friendly and patient.’

— Greg and Colin

‘Very good guiding, very good cooking, very good company.’

— Robert, Private Ski Guiding

‘Great team at Wanaka Mountain Guides. A well organised, professional team of experienced guides who make each mountain adventure exciting and rewarding. Looking forward to the next adventure in the hills! Highly recommend.’

— Arthur, Private Guiding

‘[Our guide] was very knowledgeable, patient and good company. He planned our time very well, despite losing a day to bad weather. Feedback was always constructive and encouraging, even when I struggled with the ice climbing! I would not hesitate choosing him again.’

— John, Four Day Ascent

‘[Our guide] had a diverse bunch of people in his group and managed them all well. He was calm, knowledgeable and easy to learn from.’

— Aaron, Summer Mountaineering Course