Eco- Rafting Adventures Team!!
Zane Smith
Zane started Eco Rafting Adventures in 1997. A born and bred West Coaster, grew up playing in the forests, swimming everyday in the rivers and surfing in the ocean. Zane has been rafting the wild rivers of NZ and all over the world since his teenage years. He is often found scurrying around the base making sure all is well and comfortable for clients and guides. This is all done between raft tours, surf missions, kayak runs, and mad bouts of incurable talking. Also a wild man behind the coffee machine in DP:1 Internet/Performance Cafe..
email him @
Dooma Briggs
Big D, Big dozzy Big daddy!!
This guy rocks, a great load of fun on all raft trips. His heart is big and so is his knowledge of NZ culture and wilderness. Dooma can be found rafting the big waters of the Buller River, kayaking on the Arnold river, surfing the hollow waves of Blaketown or teaching his young son Eli to walk/surf/skateboard and converse intelligently all at the tender age of 8 months!!
Email him @
Peter "Wizz" Gordon
Wizz is an exceptional personality. An inspirational man and well travelled international raft guide. Wizz has worked in Australia, India, Canada, America and Turkey. Wizz takes a load of experience and great stories everywhere he goes. He loves to go over high waterfalls in his new kayak and sit round the campfires with a hot chocolate in hand and a smile on his face. Born in NZ's south he has taken his smiles to many corners of the Globe. He can be found rafting the Buller's big rapids and the technical grade 5 rapids on our helirafting trips.
email him @
Glenn Murdoch
Glenn lives for the rivers. Born down in the deep south he moved his way to The West Coast following the call of the rivers here. He is a solid grade 5 kayaker and paddles every spare moment when he is not aboard the rafts. A qualified ambulance officer Glenn is a rock on our grade 5 helirafting trips in his role there as safety kayaker. His dashing good looks and sharp wit are almost always present on our Arnold and Buller river runs also...
email him @
Marty Thwaite
Living right on the banks of the Buller River Marty has the river in his blood. He knows every rock at all different levels on the Earthquake section of the river. During the summer months Marty can always be found on the river. Blasting through the big waves of the earthquake rapids and grinning from ear to ear as his stories of the first settlers to the area echo off the canyon walls. A man with a very big heart.
email him @
Amelia Gamble
Dp:1 and Eco-Rafting's office manager. Amelia grew up on a magnificent cliff top overlooking the Tasman sea's incredible sunsets. A childhood of forest walks, beachcombing and swimming in the rivers and sea. If you call us it's very likely you get to speak with this flower of the West Coast. She will help you in booking your adventure with us and give you loads of good advice on your stay here. Often found with a paintbrush in her hand and a look in her eye you will never forget.. Artistic enthusiasm with adventurous style!!
email her @
Matty Rawlings
Matt has made his way over from England's West country, a red hot Dj he is a integral part of DP:1's nightlife dance parties. During the day Matty drives us all to the river and makes sure we are all as comfortable as possible in transit to and from the rivers we run. He can often be found mixing it up on the decks and making great coffee in DP:1...
email him @
Joe Field
Joe is also from the West country in England. He has also found his way over to the Surf and rivers of the Wild Coast.. Driving us all to the rivers edge during the days and mixing it up at nights in the DJ booth at Dp:1. His enthusiasm for NZ really shines with every day racing all over the West Coast in search of good times and good people. You can find Joe making great coffee's in DP:1 as well driving the rafting vehicles out to the rivers.. Good music and a great smile !!
email him @
Andrew Pattison
Andrew guides our sit on kayaking tours on the Arnold river. A born and raised West Coaster he has and incredible enthusiasm and zest for great conversation. You can always find Andrew where the people are. Andrew is studying Outdoor recreation and also training to be a rafting guide. The Future is where it's at!!
email him @
Great Adventures, Great people, Great times!!