About Our Team at Riverside Adventures Waikato

About Us, Our Team: Riverside Adventures

Meet our experienced team at Riverside Adventures.
You are in safe hands with our passionate local guides who have undergone extensive safety training.

We recently rebranded, find out more

Our Team

Sally and Steve Hastie | Owners of Riverside Adventures Waikato

Sally Hastie - Business Manager

sally@riversideadventures.co.nz

Sally holds a Advanced Certificate in Business Management, and a Certificate in Emergency Care.

She has a passion for the outdoors, and being able to bike, kayak and visit the glowworms as part of her job is perfect. After spending many years in the Airline, Tourism and Customer Service industries her emphasis is on creating lasting memories for her customers. Sally brings a lot of value to the team with her vast experience and she is a Mum of 3 boys aged 5 and under... enough said!

Favourite place in the Waikato: Raglan Beach, or any bush adventures with the family.

Steve Hastie - Operations Manager

steve@riversideadventures.co.nz

Steve holds an Advanced Diploma in Travel and Tourism and has been very fortunate to have travelled extensively. He has held various roles in the Airline industry, but has also done everything from delivering ice sculptures in London to driving massive dumptrucks in a coal mine in Central Queensland! Steve had a stint as a tutor at the NZ School of Tourism, and is dedicated to ensuring all guests enjoy their experience with us. He is passionate about constantly improving our products.

Favourite place in the Waikato: the Karangahake Gorge.

Memorie Brooky - Business Development Manager

memorie@riversideadventures.co.nz

Memorie has been with Riverside Adventures since October 2021 and has a long history working in Customer Service and Tourism. Most recently as manager of the Matamata i-SITE, Public Relations Association and as a tutor at the NZ School of Tourism. Memorie has played in Brass Bands most of her life and holds a Diploma in Music Production and Performance, and a Diploma in Tourism Operations and Visitor Information Endorsements.

Favourite place in the Waikato: The Hamilton Gardens.

Kelly Woodmass - Adventure Planner

kelly@riversideadventures.co.nz

Kelly has spent many years in the Travel & Tourism industry as a Flight Attendant, Travel Agent, worked on Cruise Ships and of late Head of Training at the NZ School of Tourism in Hamilton where Steve and Memorie both worked alongside her.

We are excited to have someone of Kelly’s calibre in our team to offer a personalised booking service for those wanting to ride the amazing trails in our area.

Favourite place in the Waikato: Te Awa River Ride

Lofty - Lead Guide/Shuttle/Maintenance

Lofty is our resident adrenaline junky!

He has a certificate in adventure tourism and started work life as a rock instructor but quickly found other things he liked so started doing them for work too including, ski patrol, kayaking, rafting, skiing, mountain biking, and hiking to name a few. Following these areas in sport and work have taken him to some cool places around the world!

Lofty is one of our Lead Guides, Shuttle drivers and looks after our bike fleet.

Favourite place in the Waikato: Te Miro MTB Park, but love showing people all over our amazing region.

Kaperiera - Kayak Guide

Kaperiera has joined the Riverside Adventures team as kayak guide and shuttle driver and comes to the team after enjoying an enjoyable career in the hospitality industry.

Being an accomplished musician, Kaperiera has had the privilege of travelling around to many beautiful places in New Zealand. Kaperiera has also spent the last 8 years teaching music to people of all ages in both the Waikato and Bay of Plenty and is loving being able to enjoy more the outdoors that working at Riverside Adventures provides.

Favourite place in the Waikato: Planting her feet on top of her ancestral mountain, Kakepuku.

Makayla

Kayak Guide

Mike & Ann Paget

After 20 years of lakeside living, Mike and Ann have recently moved to the Coromandel. Mike and Ann ran the business at its inception and operated all aspects from taking bookings, marketing and guiding while Sally and Steve were still in Australia.

With a very keen interest in the business still they help remotely as well as spend busy weekends here in the Waikato driving shuttles and helping out where they can.