Our Team

A long-time local with guiding, skippering and kayak instruction credentials, Shay helps keep the field operation running with practical experience and humour.

Chelsi brings adventure tourism training, operational support and reservations experience to the team.

Jacinta combines outdoor education, guiding and first-response training to support safe guest experiences.

Paddy has more than a decade of Abel Tasman guiding experience, plus international outdoor education and adventure travel behind him.

Jack first joined as a kayak guide in 2015 and returned to the coast after time travelling and training in engineering.

Sarah brings environmental passion, photography experience and guiding seasons in New Zealand and Australia.

Originally from Holland, Sjors has been part of the guiding team since 2006 and is now firmly rooted in Motueka.

Krystal trained in adventure tourism and has guided around the South Island, Australia and Japan before returning to Abel Tasman.

Rod combines sustainability and outdoor education training with kayaking, tramping, climbing and distance running.

Gareth has been sea kayak guiding in Abel Tasman since the early 1990s and still sees the park as a place to refresh.

Ollie brings sailing, climbing and sea kayak instruction experience from England and Norway.

A seventh-generation local of the Abel Tasman region, Hazel guides guests through her family’s ancestral landscape.

Brydie brings environmental science, psychology, hospitality and wellbeing interests to the guiding team.

Raised on the Tutukaka Coast, Riki shares a strong connection to moana, ngahere and outdoor learning.

Sophie studied sustainability and outdoor education, with sea kayak and outdoor instruction experience in New Zealand and Australia.

Neve grew up with happy Abel Tasman memories and now helps guests discover the same coastline.

Motueka-raised Sam grew up exploring the park and now shares that local enthusiasm with visitors.

Rewa has deep family connections to the region and has guided with Wilsons since 1999.

Karin moved from teaching into tourism and has worked with Wilsons since 2015.

A seventh-generation local and eldest son of founders John and Lynette Wilson, Darryl grew from family holidays at Torrent Bay into guiding, lodge building and leadership.

Sandra has a tourism marketing background, international travel experience and has supported Wilsons sales and marketing since 2004.

Lucy brings a varied background in marine biology, ski media, scientific editing and track guiding to the Wilsons story.

Aaron settled in the Kaiteriteri region after Christchurch and has been part of the reservations team since 2012.

Originally from Warwickshire, Yvette joined the reservations team after years of New Zealand travel and retail management experience.

Claire combines travel, tourism and corporate travel experience with local Nelson knowledge.

Linna has travelled widely through Europe, Asia and the Middle East and has worked with Wilsons since 2008.

Marijn moved from the Netherlands to Motueka and brings hospitality and local visitor experience to reservations.

Jo grew up in New Zealand, travelled overseas, then returned to study adventure tourism and join the team.

Craig helped build the family lodges, trained with Ruth Pretty and now leads lodge hospitality and menus.

Shannon moved from guiding into cooking, lodge management and guest care after several seasons with Wilsons.

Cat brings tourism, hospitality and baking experience to lodge menus built around fresh ingredients.

A Motueka local who loves the outdoors, beaches and travel.

Ra brings DOC, forestry, landscaping and outdoor instruction experience into lodge hospitality.

Kell draws on luxury super yacht service experience and a love of cooking.

Cristian settled in Nelson after travelling New Zealand and has worked in the lodges since 2024.

Kadeisha brings energy for cooking, family, dancing and the outdoors.

Tegan has hospitality roots, education study and a strong appetite for travel and adventure.

Originally from Chile, Piero enjoys sport, cars and the quiet pace of life near Abel Tasman.

Raised around the top of the South, Hannah loves biking, tramping, climbing, swimming and snorkelling.

Bailey brings barista, housekeeping, waitressing and guest service experience.

Jade studied neuroscience and psychology and brings a love of nature and the sea.

Izzy studied psychology and sociology and values being close to moana, maunga and ngahere.

Murray has worked in Abel Tasman since 1999 and is a qualified Inshore Launch Master.

A Motueka local from a boating family, Alan has worked on Wilsons boats for more than 20 years.

Jack moved from outdoor leadership and kayak guiding into skippering after seasons in Abel Tasman and overseas.

Raised in Motueka and part of the Wilson family, Seb brings engineering and maritime experience to the fleet.

A Nelson local with a lifetime around fishing, sport and the Tasman coast.

Anjelo brings adventure tourism training and a strong interest in outdoor experiences.

A Nelson local and Abel Tasman Youth Ambassador with deep enthusiasm for the outdoors.

A local with DOC ranger training and conservation programme experience.

Graham has family ties to Wilsons, motor industry experience and a long history with Torrent Bay Lodge.