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Kiwi Experience travel and tourism jobs 

Workplaces don't get much better than this! A tourism job at Kiwi Experience is a job with a New Zealand travel and tourism icon. It's also a job within thl, one of New Zealand's leading tourism companies.

Work hard, play hard is what we're all about. The business has a relaxed dress code and fun environment, but at the same time has the latest technology and an innovative culture to ensure our brands continue to lead their respective markets. Everyone within thl loves New Zealand and loves showing it to the world.

Tourism and travel jobs are always in high demand so if any of the roles below interest you please get in touch today!


Driver Guide

  • Are you outgoing, organised and passionate about Aotearoa?
  • Love meeting people and showing them a great time?
  • Want a travel job that goes to all corners of New Zealand?
  • Keen to get paid to bungy jump, skydive, glacier hike and more?
  • Ready for an exciting and rewarding tourism job?

If this tourism and travel job sounds like you we're keen to hear more!

Kiwi Experience is one of the largest and most high profile adventure transport networks in New Zealand. Each year we offer mind blowing travel experiences to passengers from all over the world. Each trip is expertly driven, guided and commentated by one of our many legendary Driver Guides. It is this legendary reputation that attracts New Zealand's best Driver Guides to Kiwi Experience.

Safety of your coach and passengers is a priority, and a Class 4 New Zealand Drivers License with a P (Passenger) and small P endorsement is a strict requirement. Successful applicants will demonstrate excellent organisational, social, communication and documentation skills. They will be a confident speaker, able to think on their feet, and possess an unwavering passion for delivering a truly unique and awesome Kiwi Experience to each and every passenger.

Despite many saying they'd do this tourism job for free, our Driver Guides receive generous remuneration and incentive packages


If you'd like more detailed information about the job and the training required, check out our FAQ's below. If you're keen to apply for the job, or register your interest to receive job updates, register your interest today!

For more information on the role please also check out the following pages on this website:

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FAQs

How do I become a Kiwi Experience Driver Guide?

Check out whether we are currently recruiting by following the link above and submit your application. We will assess your suitability for the job based on an initial interview, and reference and security checks. If we think you’ve got the basics (personality, confidence, organisational skills etc), you will be invited to participate in our Driver Guide Training Trip which usually commences in October each year and runs for three and a half weeks. The training trip is considered your second interview (albeit a long one) so you will be offered a permanent position after the training trip if you show us that you have what it takes to be part of our road crew.

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What does the training trip involve?

On the training trip there will be two senior Kiwi Experience Driver Guide trainers, the Operations Manager, a driving instructor, and other trainees. The training trip will run to the same schedule as our regular national circuit from Auckland down to Queenstown and back up to Auckland and you will be required (with coaching) to perform all the tasks along the way that the job involves. You will also get to do a lot of the activities along the way that we promote.

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Am I paid to do the training trip?

Because your employment won’t commence until after the training trip, you will not be paid for attending the trip. However, your expenses on the training trip will be minimal as your accommodation, most meals and drinks will be provided for you.

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What if I don’t pass the training?

You will be given lots of feedback during the training trip so that you can improve in areas where you may be struggling, but if the trainers decide that you haven’t shown any improvement after this, you will be asked to leave the training trip and make your own way home.

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What do I need to do before the training trip?

It is strongly recommended that you familiarise yourself with Kiwi Experience (the brand, the destinations, the routes) by looking at our website and coach magazine that will be sent to you. You will need to prepare notes to use for your commentary practice on the trip. A list of places and things that you will be expected to have commentary notes for will be sent to you with your invitation to attend the training trip. The more preparation you do beforehand, the easier the training will be for you.

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What licenses do I need to have prior to the training trip?

Before the start of the training trip, you will need to have obtained your class 2 and 4 New Zealand Drivers License and at least submitted your application for a P endorsement and small P endorsement. For information on obtaining the required licenses and endorsements, visit the New Zealand Transport Authority website.

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Will I be drug tested?

Yes, you will be required to undergo a urine test on day 1 of your training. If you do not pass the test, you will not be able to participate in the training trip.

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What does the job involve?

You will be both a driver and a guide to our passengers so this means that as well as driving them safely from place to place, you will be providing interesting and entertaining commentary about the places you are visiting, and booking them into hostels each night and onto activities along the way.

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What licences and endorsements do I need?

You need to have a class 2 and 4 license, a P endorsement and small P endorsement.

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What type of vehicles will I be driving?

Mainly Volvo B12 and Scania coaches (12.5m in length) with 3 star ratings. Automatic and manual.

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What shifts do I work?

The set route the majority of our Driver Guides drive is a 23 day circuit of New Zealand, including 6 days off en route, starting in Auckland and travelling down to Queenstown and Christchurch before returning to Auckland. This circuit can vary in length and the number of days off between circuits can vary in length from 1 day in summer, to 2-3 weeks in winter. While we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible for when your next circuit is to begin or if there are any changes to your circuit, you may only be told a day or two out. This is because as a hop-on, hop-off transport service, we need to be flexible with our departures in order to meet our passengers’ needs.

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How many hours per day?

The hours of work per day depends on the schedule for that particular day of the circuit. For instance, when travelling from Christchurch to Kaikoura you will work around 6 ½ hours, or when travelling from Queenstown to Christchurch you will work around 10 hours. You are also encouraged to spend a bit of time socialising with your passengers in the evenings.

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Is there work for me all year round?

As the tourism industry is seasonal, there is a lot more work available over our peak season which runs from January through to Easter. While you will be employed year round, your time off between circuits will be a lot longer in winter time. We offer up to 3 months unpaid leave during our quiet season if you would like to take up other opportunities such as travel or alternative winter employment. Drivers generally don’t take leave over our busy summer period unless it’s for an important occasion.

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What will my accommodation be like while on circuit?

In Taupo, Queenstown and Christchurch we rent houses for our drivers to use, which our drivers are responsible for managing. In every other overnight stop, the driver has a private room at our main hostel with a tv, ensuite and sometimes kitchen facilities.

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What other benefits are there that come with the job?

As well as working with a great bunch of people and getting to visit the most beautiful places in New Zealand on a regular basis, you get to do crazy activities like bungy jumping, sky diving, black water rafting and white water rafting as a part of your job! How cool is that?! You will also receive complimentary food and beverages at some of our overnight stops, plus incentives such as clothing vouchers from some of our partners in the industry. Also, as Kiwi Experience is owned by the same company (thl) that owns New Zealand’s most well-known campervans (maui, Britz, Backpacker), you get great staff discounts on these products.

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