Introducing our Spring 2023 Queenstown Adventure Guide Program Instructors

Our field instructors are inspiring people who provide a safe and transformative experience for our students. They are people who you can trust, who remain supportive even in challenging circumstances, and who take a genuine interest in your well-being and safety. Basically, they're a bunch of epic humans!

So without further ado, it's time to meet your instructors for the Queenstown Adventure Programs in Spring 2023!

QUEENSTOWN ADVENTURE GUIDE PROGRAM (GROUP 1) | INSTRUCTORS: JAMIE AND YASMIN

JAMIE MARR

Jamie moved South from Auckland 9 years ago, settling into Aoraki Polytech which grew his interest in the outdoors. Since leaving school he has worked as a glacier guide and climbed in America, France, England, Australia, and of course New Zealand. His early years in Queenstown started with a lot of local rock guiding and managing Climbing Queenstown. Now qualified with Rock 2, Alpine 1, and ARML5, he has his sights set on the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association (NZMGA). He is also a member of the Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue Team. Jamie is passionate about delivering high-quality instruction that challenges and encourages people to get the most out of their outdoor experience, whether it be mentally, physically, or spiritually.

YASMIN SMITH

Pure Exploration Instructor Yasmin

Yasmin grew up in Wanaka and got introduced to rock climbing at high school. In 2018, she decided it was now or never to pursue her passion as an outdoor instructor and completed the Otago Polytechnic Outdoor Education course in 2019. Since then, she has been working as a Via Ferrata guide and rock climbing instructor, spending any free time climbing throughout New Zealand, Australia and Europe. When it's too hot to climb, she can be found canyoning and swimming in beautiful Lake Wanaka. She wants to provide amazing experiences through practical learning and encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to challenge themselves.

QUEENSTOWN ADVENTURE GUIDE PROGRAM (GROUP 2) | INSTRUCTORS: SCOTT AND CUALANN

SCOTT BICKLEY

Pure Exploration Instructor Scott

Scott hails from Central Otago in New Zealand. He has worked in the outdoor industry for around 7 years in a variety of roles, with a focus on outdoor education and guiding. He is always up for going out hiking, biking, kayaking, and skiing around his beautiful backyard in Queenstown, also called the Adventure Capital of the World. When looking out onto the mountains, Scott can’t help but have a smile on his face. Sharing these places and his sense of excitement with people is something that he finds truly rewarding.

CUALANN RICHLEY

Pure Exploration Cualann

Cualann started his outdoor career at a young age undertaking his first caving trip at three years old with his Dad, He has been hooked ever since. Having grown up amongst outdoor instructors, he realized early on there was little else that gave him such drive and passion as the outdoors. In work, he took an interest in outdoor education and working with young people to empower them to achieve their goals and push themselves.

In his personal time, he developed a healthy obsession with caving, climbing, and walking. If he wasn’t on a rock, he was underground, always looking for the next adventure. After two years of multi-day canoe expeditions and hiking expeditions through the Australian bush and alpine regions, he decided it was time for a change and opened a paddle boarding and kayaking centre in Wales with his partner. Now craving a new challenge and adventure he has come to New Zealand, as he has always dreamed of doing, to see what’s in store.