{"id":17,"date":"2022-02-23T15:29:36","date_gmt":"2022-02-23T02:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wanakamountainguides.co.nz\/?page_id=17"},"modified":"2026-03-12T00:59:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T11:59:00","slug":"our-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/liyanitsolution.online\/wanakamountainguides\/our-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Our Story<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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W\u0101naka Mountain Guides is proudly locally owned and operated by certified New Zealand mountain guides and offers personalised mountain adventures throughout the Southern Alps \/ K\u0101 Tiritiri o te Moana. This means that all aspects our guiding services are managed by guides with direct experience delivering all the trips and courses that we offer. We utilise a\u00a0small team<\/a>\u00a0of local, established guides and commit to operating\u00a0sustainably and regeneratively<\/a>\u00a0to look after our people, communities, and mountain playgrounds for the future.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Our extensive knowledge of playing and working in the mountains in New Zealand and overseas allows us to tailor quality guiding services for our valued guests. These include visitors wishing to sample our local area, those looking to expand their skills and prepare for their self-led adventures, and experienced mountaineers with specific goals. Everyone is different and our custom experiences reflect this.\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As mountain experts, our guides are committed to mountain education and sharing their knowledge of safe and enjoyable mountain travel and activities. Working directly with some of NZ\u2019s most experienced guides and leaders in the field ensures that our clients receive industry-leading instruction covering the latest techniques. Check out our Knowledge Base for technical advice, route descriptions, articles, and our Downloads for course resources.\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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We\u2019re proud to have joined the ranks as a Love W\u0101naka Impact Partner \u2013 committing 1% of our business\u2019 proceeds to support local environmental efforts. This means that every time you book a trip or course with us, you\u2019re helping to protect and regenerate of the environment at the heart of our home.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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WMG is a supporting partner of\u00a0Protect Our Winters NZ<\/a>. You can donate to POWNZ by adding a $10 donation to your trip or course payment, or directly\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Lake W\u0101naka\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Our home is\u00a0W\u0101naka<\/a>\u00a0is in the Southern Lakes region of New Zealand\u2019s South Island \/ Te Waipounamu. The region is surrounded by mountains and is a year-round hub for all outdoor activities including rock climbing, trekking, mountain biking, and skiing. The W\u0101naka and H\u0101wea lakes cater for kite surfing, paddle boarding, and kayaking and its tributary rivers and streams provide opportunities for pack rafting and world-class canyoning.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The town is the gateway to the valleys and peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park. A few hours drive north provides access to either the eastern or western glaciers and peaks of Westland and Aoraki \/ Mount Cook National Parks and to the south lies Fiordland National Park.\n

\nIt is a privilege to live in such a beautiful area with incredible access to the outdoors. This makes it our responsibility to care for this place for the future.\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Our home is\u00a0W\u0101naka<\/a>\u00a0is in the Southern Lakes region of New Zealand\u2019s South Island \/ Te Waipounamu. The region is surrounded by mountains and is a year-round hub for all outdoor activities including rock climbing, trekking, mountain biking, and skiing. The W\u0101naka and H\u0101wea lakes cater for kite surfing, paddle boarding, and kayaking and its tributary rivers and streams provide opportunities for pack rafting and world-class canyoning.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Our home is\u00a0W\u0101naka<\/a>\u00a0is in the Southern Lakes region of New Zealand\u2019s South Island \/ Te Waipounamu. The region is surrounded by mountains and is a year-round hub for all outdoor activities including rock climbing, trekking, mountain biking, and skiing. The W\u0101naka and H\u0101wea lakes cater for kite surfing, paddle boarding, and kayaking and its tributary rivers and streams provide opportunities for pack rafting and world-class canyoning.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Our Story<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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W\u0101naka Mountain Guides was founded in 2007 by mountain and ski guide Hugh Barnard and his partner Laetitia Campe. Tim Steward joined in 2021 and took over as Managing Director and Chief Guide in 2022. Tim brings 15 years of experience guiding based from W\u0101naka including managing other large guiding services and providing technical and safety advice, and audit services to other adventure activity operations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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In 2024 we moved into Kea Lodge to give us more space for operations and, most excitingly, being able to offer comfortable accommodation for our guests. A place to connect with others who may be on other trips with us. With the uncertain nature of the New Zealand weather, the Lodge gives us the ultimate flexibility.\n<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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W\u0101naka Mountain Guides is a Worksafe registered provider of adventure activities and a\u00a0Department of Conservation Approved Business.<\/a>\u00a0The adventure activities certification demonstrates compliance with the\u00a0Safety Audit Standard for\u00a0Adventure Activities<\/a>\u00a0and therefore provides confidence in a high standard of technical expertise and safety.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Our guides are certified through the\u00a0New Zealand Mountain Guides Association<\/a>\u00a0which is\u00a0a member of the\u00a0International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations<\/a> (IFMGA).\u00a0 The IFMGA qualification is the highest level of mountain professional certification\u00a0available and is held by around 7000 guides based in 20+ member countries worldwide. Achieving this level of certification is the culmination of a long process of personal and professional development and proves extensive skills in instruction, leadership, decision-making, and safety management.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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