Our Business
We are an award winning, registered and fully licensed tour guiding business service based out of Rotorua. Our business has been operating for 25 years with our local guides having decades of experience guiding international visitors around our unique environment. We ensure a safe, comfortable and informative tour of New Zealand’s natural and cultural treasures.
Here at Elite Adventures, we pride ourselves on customer satisfaction and our reviews on sites like Google Maps, Tripadvisor Viator and Get Your Guide etc. reflect our commitment to our customers.
Recently Elite Adventures sponsored a youth award, One Chance, which inspires and encourages our youth to join the workforce.
Elite Adventures’ local guides have an in-depth knowledge of the flora, fauna, volcanology, geothermal wonders and also of the Māori culture and our history, which makes your tour to Rotorua an unforgettable experience!
Trent Neilson the Director has been involved in the tourism industry since a young age. Working for many tourism-based companies growing up around Rotorua, Trent started Elite Adventures in September 2000. Elite Adventures is now a multi award-winning company employing local Māori, supporting local businesses and sponsoring young locals to succeed!
Brian Winiata-Katting joined the team in March 2017. Brian is of local Tūhourangi Māori descent with connections throughout the area and industry. In 2017 Brian graduated from the University of Waikato with a Bachelor in Tourism Management, majoring in Tourism Development and a Graduate Certificate in History. He brings an extraordinary wealth of knowledge and great sense of humour, which our visitors love!
Clint Neilson, the directors identical twin brother, has more recently joined the team as both a guide and an environmental consultant with 15 years’ experience in various local councils and the NZ Defence Force. Clint holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental management majoring in sustainable development from the University of Queensland. He also holds a Diploma in Te Reo Māori from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (University of NZ) and has a passion for protecting NZ’s natural and cultural heritage.
Shaun Ellis is also a new local addition to the team having worked with the Ministry for the Environment and other various companies and government entities. Shaun attained a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Earth Sciences from the University of Waikato and a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. Shaun is highly skilled at tailoring a technical message for any audience and has a passion for astronomy.
Elite Adventures also has a handful of contract drivers who are on standby and ready to deliver the elite services we provide. Our contract drivers come from a variety of different backgrounds extending from crewing scientific teams on international vessels to farming and construction.
Discover Rotorua with Elite Adventures
Embark on unforgettable experiences with our diverse range of tours, including:
Eco-Thermal Tours
Discover Rotorua’s unique geothermal offerings on one of our informative and interactive eco-thermal tours.
- Eco Thermal Morning Tour: Explore local volcanology, boiling mud pools, vibrant hot springs, erupting geysers and lush native forests.
- Eco-Thermal Full-Day Tour: Immerse yourself in a full-day journey by combining the morning eco and afternoon cultural tours.
Culture tours
Join us for what’s arguably the best Māori cultural experience available in New Zealand and step into a time gone by, rich with heritage, arts and crafts and tribal traditions.
- Cultural Eco Tour Full Day Tour: Combine the morning Eco Thermal Tour with an afternoon of Māori cultural exploration.
- Elite-Cultural Afternoon Tour: Dive into the Māori culture with a visit to settlement sites and living villages during the afternoon.
Exclusive and Private Tours
- Enjoy a personalised cultural or geothermal tour experience with your own local guide/driver for a half or full-day tour.
What to know more? See our FAQS page for more information on any of our adventure tourism tours.