Support Staff & Driver / Guide
Required from October 2025 to April 2026
KEY POINTS- Opportunity to work and live in Stewart Island / Rakiura.
- Be part of a small positive team where your contribution matters.
- Experience varied work and develop new skills.
- Experience some of our tours, see wildlife, nature and stunning scenery.
- Interact with visitors from around the world.
- Receive training.
JOB SUMMARY
Helping as a driver / guide taking visitors on scenic road tours, birding road tours (subject to skills) and evening kiwi spotting trips. Helping out with other reasonable tasks including: distributing brochure, cleaning vehicles.
LOCATION
Stewart Island is New Zealand's southern-most populated island and a wonderful place for anyone who thrives in a semi-remote location, enjoys nature and the outdoors.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Ruggedy Range Wilderness Experience is a small owner / operated nature tourism business, operating entirely in Stewart Island since 2000. Our customers are New Zealanders and internationals from over 40 countries.
Nature, wildlife and the environment are our key focus and trying to operate sustainably. The business actively seeks to develop a positive team, with supportive, caring, reliable and competent staff, so that our customers are able to undertake our tours and get the best possible attention and service we can offer.
ABOUT THE ROLE- Your input will help increase customer satisfaction, improve feedback.
- Your commitment and positive can do attitude in doing all reasonable tasks well, will allow other staff more time to run tours and manage other aspects of the business.
DUTIES (day to day responsibilities)
SHUTTLE TRANSPORT- Pick-in up and dropping off customers
- Drive clients on scenic road tours (1 hour, 1.5 hours, 2 hours), and walk clients to scenic viewpoints, providing quality information
- Complete all relevant paperwork and ensuring records are up to date.
- Drive clients on our birding road tours (2 hours).
- Guide them on short walks.
- Spot birds and point out things of interest.
- Complete all relevant paperwork and ensuring records are up to date.
- Briefing customers and providing quality information
- Driving them to various locations in search of kiwi
- Walking clients to spots were kiwi have been seen
- Transfer clients to their accommodation after the tour.
- Completing all relevant paperwork and ensuring recordings are up to date.
- Cleaning and fuelling vehicles
- Handing our brochures 2 to 3 times a day at the ferry arrival point.
- Assisting with any reasonable tasks to help the business.
Minimum 30 hours. We can help find additional work to increase your hours if required as long as you are flexible.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE- Full NZ Driver’s Licence with Passenger endorsement essential
- Current First Aid (valid for at least 12 months at start of employment).
- Safety conscious.
- Fluent and accurate spoken and written English.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent customer services skills (friendly and outgoing).
- Knowledge of NZ birds preferred and any other natural history skill an advantage.
- Punctual with good time keeping.
- Ability to promote our tours and services.
- Previous experience in tourism / hospitality preferred.
A good level of health and fitness is required. Non-smokers preferred.
Personal presentation and hygiene are important in this front of customer role. Staff are provided with a uniform.
Booking patterns are variable - at times work can be busy and at other times it can be slow. Flexibility and a positive “can do” attitude is helpful, along with willingness to help with reasonable tasks when work may be slow.
BENEFITS- The opportunity to learn - you will do and see more.
- Potential to train for other work - depending on your skills and aptitude.