01/10/2026
EXCITING OPPORTUNITY - The Cardrona Horse Treks & ATV Adventures is hiring!
We are on the lookout for our next superstar horse trek and quad bike/ATV tour guide. Full time position available, depending on candidates. This is a rare chance to work for a fun, active team in New Zealand’s tourism capital. You will be surrounded by snowy mountains, good ponies and a supportive workplace. We are based in Central Otago, near Wanaka and right across the road from New Zealand’s biggest ski field - Cardrona Alpine Resort. We offer a variety of rides, from beginner treks to fast paced mountain excursions on horses and quads!
ABOUT THE ROLE
This is a full time tour guiding position for the foreseeable future! We are a 7 day/ week, year round riding operation, with 12 kind, willing horses and 10 ATVs.
See information on the rides you could potentially be guiding for us here;
www.thecardrona.co.nz
As a tour guide, you will be leading rides of up to 6 customers on either horseback or ATVs. You will also be responsible for the extra chores between rides such as tacking up, making feeds and general upkeep of the workplace. You’ll be working with others, so a team focused mindset is crucial. The Cardrona is a fantastic, friendly environment for all staff members.
Please note - we work on a volunteer-to-hire basis. The sooner you learn, the sooner you get employed. This makes for a simple hiring process if the job is not suitable.
WHAT WE REQUIRE FROM YOU;
- Strong work ethic
⁃ Ability to follow instructions
⁃ Previous Horse trekking and quad bike guiding experience necessary
⁃ Risk management skills, you need to know how to read a situation before it happens.
⁃ At LEAST 5+ years of experience with horses. Comfortable riding & handling young/ green horses. Able to mount a large horse from the ground. Videos of you handling/riding required.
⁃ Valid drivers license
⁃ Outstanding customer service skills, minimum 2 years of experience
⁃ Ability to speak to a group of people for multiple hours. We are all about the experience 🙌
⁃ Ability to work with others as a team
⁃ Eligibility to work in New Zealand.
⁃ Fluent & confident clearly speaking the English language.
- Current 1st aid certificate required
- References from previous Horse Trekking/Quad Biking Tour Guide establishments.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US;
⁃Flexible days to work within your lifestyle.
⁃Daily scenic rides, the views never get old!
⁃Safety training for horse trekking & quad biking, even if you’ve done it before, everywhere has their own way of doing things!
⁃Guaranteed half day/full day wage. Starting rate is $100/half day or $200/full day. Half days can be either morning or afternoon.
-Guaranteed 30 hours per week minimum
⁃A constant support network between all staff members.
⁃High quality equipment.
⁃Healthy, happy horses of course!
⁃The biggest high country playground!
For more information, please contact Kelly via email - [email protected].
If this sounds like a bit of you, send a CV and cover letter to the above email address.
Family friendly Horse Trekking and Quad Biking tours in the Cardrona Valley, between Wanaka and Queenstown, New Zealand
