Our Whanganui River Guides
Each season, Canoe Safaris welcomes professional guides from New Zealand and around the world to lead our Whanganui and Rangitīkei River adventures. All our guides are river experts, trained in safety, rescue, and canoe-specific techniques—oh, and are also exceptional chefs! Your safety, comfort, and enjoyment on the river are their top priorities.
At Canoe Safaris, we’re proud and very fortunate to employ some of the world’s best river guides. Our Team are full-time, professional Guiding experts who bring extensive experience to the Whanganui and Rangitīkei Rivers, making your canoe journey safer, smoother, and far more enjoyable.
All guides are trained in First Aid and CPR, with some holding the full 5 Day Wilderness first aid or PHEC certification, All guides undergo training by NZOIA experts, Most guides hold Swiftwater Rescue, Risk Management, and Weather Reading qualifications. Many also have professional rafting credentials. This ensures that whether you’re on a 3‑day, 4‑day, or 5‑day Whanganui River guided Canoe Trip, you can relax and focus on the adventure, knowing you’re in expert hands.
Beyond safety and the ongoing canoe instruction & navigation they provide, our guides are also talented cooks and entertainers, preparing gourmet meals at scenic riverside campsites and sharing stories & insider knowledge about the Whanganui River history & wildlife.
With over 40 years of Canoe Safaris experience, we’re passionate river paddlers. We love sharing that passion with our guests, along with high-quality canoeing and camping equipment, to make every Whanganui River Journey truly unforgettable.
Aidan Williams
Aidan just loves canoeing!! He has been canoe guiding for years on the Ardeche river in France and having some great British Canoe Union qualifications means he is the best option for teaching the finer points of Canoeing the Whanganui. A real professional who cares about his customers experience on and off the water, Aidan will always make sure you have an amazing time out there.
Greg Nettleton
Greg loves all things canoeing and is very excited to be joining the Canoe Safaris team. He has guided whitewater canoe trips in Canada for a number of years, and this will be his first year guiding with Canoe Safaris. Greg also loves cooking, photography, and skipping rocks.
Phil Collins
Yes that's his name! Phil started working here in 2012 after three years guiding in Canada and many more before that in Australia. He loves it so much that along with his partner Kirsty he has bought the company. You will see Phil guiding early and late season trips, driving the buses around and helping to organise and plan trips. If you stop by for a chat or to check in for a trip, Phil (and Kirsty) will make sure you have everything you need for a comfortable and fantastic experience on the Whanganui or Rangitikei rivers.
Bruce & George
Bruce & George are the wonderful brothers that roam the canoe safaris base from day to day. Their hobbies include sniffing, licking and sneaking off with other peoples food. They are both great at welcoming all new guests to the property and distracting them from what actually needs to be done. At only 4 years & 2 years old respectively, standing at 12 inches high they are still learning their swimming techniques and will be great team members once their skills and training match their enthusiasm.
Sam Hodson
Sam has been working in all things water sports related from the age of 14-Instructing sailing on the west coast of Scotland, funyakking and canyoning in the Scottish Highlands and Guiding on raft expeditions in Nepal. On top of this, he likes climbing mountains, climbing, tramping and really all things outdoors.
He has a passion for sharing these unique environments with people such as yourselves.
Matt Phillips
Matt is from the south west of the UK and has been working in the outdoor world for the last 14 years. He has spent several seasons guiding river adventures in the Panamanian jungle, and has spent time exploring unmapped areas of the jungle too. He has worked guiding down the white water rivers of Sri Lankan rainforests and the kayaked through caves in the wild Irish sea. He has just paddled the Amazon river on a paddleboard!
......Now for the blurb Matt Really wanted to post.....
Matt is a living legend of a man and hands down our best looking guide. It is said he once taught the Messiah how to walk on water, and Legend has it he planted the seed in the mind of the gods to create the golden city of Eldorado. He has joined the canoe squad in 2023 to help bring paddling joy to the brave adventurers who take on the trips. If you are lucky enough to have Matt as your guide we should warn you about his amazing sense of humour and ability to talk constantly!!
Gregor Mackintosh
Gregor has been working around the world in the outdoor industry for 5 years now. UAE, Hong Kong and now New Zealand. Hailing from Bonnie Scotland, he loves everything, from scaling mountains to paddling rivers, through rain hail or shine. Gregor's infectious adventurous spirit will keep you smiling for your whole River trip.
Elliot Crinson
Driven by a love for adventure and a strong focus on safety, Elliott brings extensive experience as an outdoor adventure guide, having led groups across the breathtaking landscapes of the UK, UAE, and New Zealand. Based in London, Elliott holds several guiding and safety qualifications, ensuring that every adventure is not only exhilarating but also secure. With a passion for history and nature he is committed to creating a memorable and enjoyable trip.