About Our Team at Riverside Adventures Waikato

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

Our Team

Memorie Brooky - Business 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.

Memorie is an absolute rockstar and does everything and anything needed in the business!

Favourite place in the Waikato: The Hamilton Gardens.

Sally and Steve Hastie | Owners of Riverside Adventures Waikato

Sally Hastie - Founder/ Sales and Marketing Manager

sally@riversideadventures.co.nz

Sally holds a Advanced Certificate in Business Management. 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. She's also volunteers for St Johns as an Ambulance Officer which she absolutely loves! Sally brings a lot of value to the team with her vast experience and she is a Mum of 3 boys... enough said!

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

Steve Hastie - Founder/ Special Projects

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.

Travel Planner Extraordinaires

Kelly Woodmass - Adventure Planner/ Training and Development Manager

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

Harriet Beattie - Travel Planner/Reservations and Sales

The Kayak Team

Lofty - Lead Kayak Guide

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.

Mak - Lead Kayak Guide

Makayla joined the Riverside Adventures team as kayak guide a couple of seasons ago. She left but couldn't resist and came back this season to one of our awesome leads!

Mak studied Outdoor Education for 2 years and started of in the industry as a caving instructor. Now she's done a bit of everything, abseiling, rock climbing, archery and much much more! We are lucky to have someone with her varied outdoor experience.

She even worked on a cruise ship for 6 months and travelled the world.

Favourite place in the Waikato: Kaniwhaniwha Reseserve - Mt Pirongia

Dan - Lead Kayak Guide

Dan joined the team back in 2022, and slotted in likes he's a part of the family.

Dan is our Flora and Fauna GURU... after years of working at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, if you have a question about this area, he will have the answer!

As a valuable part of the team, he works as a Kayak Guide and schools instructor.

He's got all the stories so if you've got a question... Dan's your man!

Favourite Place in the Waikato:
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari

Walter Hughes

Kaylee Becker

Jess Forkert

Alice Cook

Megs Swinton

Shuttle Driver Guru's

Graeme Martin

Jeremy Maling

Velodrome Bike Shop Crew

Richard Blayney

Ashton Neighbour

Rylan Green

i-Site Team

Ivy Drower

Tash Couzner

Beverley Rogers

'THE' OG's (originals)

Mike & Ann Paget - Founders

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.