Tom and Jaimee took on Escape Adventures NZ back in 2022. Having been in business together for over 12 years from preschools to farming and specialty Agri businesses servicing New Zealand. They are a kiwi family who enjoys sport, an adventure and spending time outdoors, taking advantage of the amazing tracks and walks their local region. Jaimee and Tom are self-professed late starters in the travel world. Developing their passion over the last few years, with opportunities to explore further afield as a family. All these roads have led to Escape Adventures and continuing what Mandy and John started all those years ago!
Clare is our treasured Tour Operations Manager. Growing up near Rotorua Clare has always been a bike lover, ripping laps round the Whakarewarewa forest. Before moving to the South Island Clare travelled extensively naming Nepal as one of her favourite destinations. Nowadays snowboarding, mountain biking and volunteering in the community also high on the agenda whilst supporting her two sons in their sporting pursuits. She thrives on expecting the unexpected and working round tricky logistics challenges.
Alice’s role is all about tour communications, she would love for everyone to choose cycling as their preferred way see the world. Her fulfilment comes from helping to make cycle touring dreams come true, whether that’s planning a trip or leading the tour itself. She has been with Escape since 2019 working in NZ, Africa and Kyrgyzstan (so far). Outside of work it is all about mountain biking and empowering women to get involved! Nelson has become home since arriving in New Zealand 10 years ago.
John is the founder of Escape Adventures, new trip dreamer upper-er, ‘follow ya nose’ route finder, trusty team and tour leader, fix-everything man, and vital cuppa tea boy. Mandy is the ultimate sidekick, turning her hand (and pedals) to literally anything. Together they searched out the most amazing cycle touring routes around the world and developed relationships with people in remarkable places – which has grown Escape Adventures cycle tours to what they are today.
Joseph is from Nairobi City in Kenya. He is a family man and father of two. A treasured team member working on our Kenya & Tanzania tour since 2008! “The glue” holding everything together. You’ll find him behind the wheel of our support vehicle, in the kitchen and helping anywhere or with anything that needs doing! He will give you a real insight into life in East Africa and the occasional Swahili or bongo drum lesson.
Affectionately known as “Brucie T” after honing his bush skills and pursuing a career as an Outward Bound instructor and sea kayak guide, Bruce spent 23 years in the NZ police force, and now he’s a bike guide! Bruce is living the dream ‘van life’, travelling NZ with his wife Annie. He loves being closer to their grandchildren…when he’s not out riding his bike, scrambling up rock walls, kayaking down raging rivers or leaping tall buildings in a single bound.
Zoe emigrated from big city England living, and discovered Nelson, NZ is her happy place. She loves the outdoors and has found bike packing is the perfect combination of exploring beautiful places & sampling tasty snacks! You’ll also find her dabbling with playing saxophone in a swing band and loves a good pot of tea, with a book in the sun.
Meet Sam, our local fix it man and interpreter on our Cambodia cycle tours. Sam is a coordination magician, and also loves to cycle. Having a varied background including buffalo hearding and being a Buddhist monk there is never a lull in conversation. His love for people and invaluable local knowledge makes him a vital component of our team!
Kegan is an enthusiastic explorer with a passion for incorporating indigenous cultures into tourism and outdoor education. Her background of outdoor instructing in New Zealand, and a hobby list that includes kayaking, caving, tramping and mountain biking lets you know you are in good hands! Prepare to be amazed by her mean origami cranes and ridiculous riddles on tour in Kenya and Tanzania.
Brian doesn’t do things by halves, climbing big mountains, riding bikes impossible distances – he likes a big challenge. A native of Nelson, he went to school with founder John Etherington and a chance meeting many years later led him to working with the Escape team over the last decade on the Kyrgyzstan and China & Tibet cycle tours. Off the bike Brian enjoys good coffee, walks with his dog Bosko and following the unpredictable fortunes of the Kiwi cricket team.
Gaylene has enjoyed sharing her passion for outdoor adventures with others for much of her adult life. This has taken the form of outdoor instructing, guiding, high school teaching and volunteer leadership within clubs. Cycle touring, transalpine tramping, and dance fill much of her spare time. Gaylene and her partner, Tony, are natural explorers, always wanting to find out what’s around the next corner, their base in Golden Bay is the perfect launch pad for all kinds of adventures. Gaylene loves people, and will endeavour to make sure you are comfortable, safe, well-fed and happy in your travels.
Collie hails from both France and Australia, living a nomadic life of travel and adventure. With a background in hospitality and outdoor guiding she followed the snow to Queenstown, where it was the incredible mountain biking that stole her heart! When she’s not cycle touring, Collie can be found exploring the Otago regions multitude of trails, climbing rocks and hiking up mountains. A true foodie, you can be sure there will always be snacks and yummy food on tour! And cheese (of course).
Alex is an ex Colombian policeman with the anti-narcotic’s special division (yikes!) – now with 3 years training as a professional tour guide, he has in-exhaustible knowledge of everything Colombian and loves to share his country with you. Our main man in Colombia, interpreting, coordinating drivers and helping with all the mad logistics that make for an amazing cycle tour. In his spare time, he loves to read, cook and take his family and wife Paula on weekend excursions.
We love this man! Dezy is our man in Madagascar – born in Antananarivo of the Mirina tribe, he lives in Tana with his wife Asmira, daughter and son. Along with Tuki and Erick, he looks after us for everything Malagasy, drives support vehicles and an awesome ambassador for his country. In his younger years, Dezy managed to escape the boredom of studying economics to play football for the Madagascar National football team – so he is not only our star but is a bit of a star with the local kids on our riding route!
Born in Dannevirke, Hannah Morris (Kidd) spent time on the West Coast before settling in Methven, Canterbury. A talented sculptor by day, Hannah also juggles instructing spin classes and regularly participating in adventure races around the country like Spring Challenge!
A mother of two teenage boys Hannah is also immersed in the local mountain biking scene and passionate about people spending time in the outdoors. You will find Hannah on our Canterbury Peaks to Plains and Marlborough Molesworth Epic Cycle Tours this year.