Great people. Great places. Great jobs.
There's no better place to spend your summer.
Applications for the 2024-25 season are closed.
Thank you for your interest in Ultimate Hikes. New Season applications will open in July 2025.
He aha te mea nui o te ao
What is the most important thing in the world?
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata
It is the people, it is the people, it is the people
We operate in the most incredible part of our country – guiding walkers on the Milford, Routeburn and Greenstone tracks deep in the heart of Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks.
We employ people to work on and off track who relish meeting new people and will get stuck in and work alongside a small dynamic team to make the guided walk an extraordinary experience for our guests.
We operate eight remote lodges situated on the tracks which are fully staffed to cater for the hospitality of our guests. The lodges are supported by a strong guiding and a great Queenstown based team.
If you are passionate about the environment manaakitanga/hospitality and kaitiakitanga/sustainability, then we want you to join our team.
These seasonal positions start mid October 2024 until mid April 2025.
Watch the video to see where you could be working!
Lodge Attendants
Lodge attendants live on site in one of our remote lodges on the tracks and perform a variety of daily duties to ensure the smooth running of the lodge. The provide a great experience for guests when they come in from the track each day.
Duties include housekeeping/cleaning, laundry, food preparation and service, bar service, and greeting guests.
When you are not working - there is a wonderful world of nature to appreciate and plenty of time to work on personal projects or enjoy time with your team.
Applications are now closed.
Greenstone Lodge Hosts
The Greenstone Track lodges have a lodge host, who, with the assistance of the guides provide a welcoming and memorable experience for our guests.
This requires catering and housekeeping for up to 24 guests plus staff each day, along with lodge administration, ordering and receiving supplies, and general maintenance of the lodge.
Living in a remote and dynamic environment presents all sorts of challenges and things can change rapidly. Lodge hosts are the link with the lodges and our Queenstown based team and must primarily be exceptional communicators and have a practical and calm attitude.
Applications are now closed.
Lodge Cooks
Each lodge has a head cook and assistant cooks to prepare food for guests and staff. You will need to be able to produce good quality and consistent meals according to the set menu whilst displaying the highest standards of food hygiene. You will be a key part of a team whose passion is to provide an amazing experience for our walkers.
There are opportunities for experienced chefs and cooks to show leadership and training on the job and for people interested in attaining new skills.
Most importantly, you must love making and sharing good food!
Applications are now closed.
Guest Services - Attendant
The Guest Service team, based in Queenstown, are highly personable people.
This position includes a wide range of responsibilities relating to the wellbeing of our guests. Daily duties include providing advice and information to walkers on arrival, hosting pre-track briefings, retail sales, reservations, and management of walker equipment.
You will be part of a small team and relish meeting new people every day and be ready to get stuck in and work alongside the team to make the guided walk an extraordinary experience for our guests.
Applications are now closed..
Guides
Guides are an integral part of our walks - providing safety, information and general support for our guests on track and in the lodges.
As a guide your main priority is the safety of our walkers on track and providing support in a cheerful and confident way. You will relish meeting new people and making each guided walk an extraordinary adventure for our guests.
This is a physically and mentally demanding job, that requires resilience and a passion for the outdoors, for helping people and on being a great team player.
Applications are now closed.
Lodge Managers
Each lodge has a manager and a relief manager who lead the team in providing a welcoming and memorable experience for our guests.
This requires leading and motivating a team of up to 14 people - overseeing catering and housekeeping for up to 50 guests plus staff each day, along with lodge administration, supervision of ordering and receiving supplies, and general maintenance of the lodge.
Living in a remote and dynamic environment presents all sorts of challenges and things can change rapidly. Managers are the link with the lodges and our Queenstown based team and must primarily be exceptional communicators and have a practical and calm attitude.
Applications are now closed.
Relief Lodge Managers
The relief manager works closely with the manager and takes responsibility on the manager's days off. On other days they will be working alongside the lodge attendants to ensure a great experience for our guests each day.
Living in a remote and dynamic environment presents all sorts of challenges and things can change rapidly. Managers are the link with the lodges and our Queenstown based team and must primarily be exceptional communicators and have a practical and calm attitude.
Applications are now closed.
Join the team
Guides brief walkers each night on the day ahead.
Providing hot drinks
It's not always sunny at the top
or dry at the bottom
Showing walkers native plants is part of the job
So is a spot of house cleaning
but its the walkers who the focus is on
Make lifelong friends
Fly your flag
Swim in crystal clear (ice cold) water
Cook great food
And share it
Employment FAQs
We've compiled a list of answers to the most common employment related questions. We trust you will find what you're looking for here or in the information sheets above, but if there is something you would like to discuss in more depth, feel free to email: info@ultimatehikes.co.nz for further assistance.
FAQs