Your Guides
Due to a shortage of good robots, all of our guides are human, generally in
the form of John, Jo,
Ian, and Ian Junior Fitzwater (or a combination of
us....) - the owners of GoTourNZ.com (Adventure New Zealand Motorcycle Tours
& Rentals).
We stay in the same places as the tour participants, we eat the same food.
Some of us are fitness fanatics, so if you feel like an early morning run or
brisk walk before breakfast, just have a word with your guide. You haven't lived
until you've jogged up to a glacier face, or run out to Lake Matheson (The Mirror
Lake) just as the sun peeks over the Southern Alps - it doesn't come any better
than this.
Since it's inception in 1996, GoTourNZ.com (Adventure New Zealand Motorcycle
Tours) has risen to a dominant position within the New Zealand guided motorcycle
tour business, and handles more guided tour clients than any other NZ operator.
This has been achieved by our determination to give our clients "the best vacation
of their lives."
John Fitzwater
John Fitzwater graduated from Auckland University in 1976 with a Science degree
in Geology and Human Geography. Between 76 and 84 John worked in Australia and
New Zealand specialising in hydrogeology and groundwater research. In 1984 John
left Australia and returned to NZ to establish what has become one of New Zealand's
most innovative and enthusiastic motorcycle dealerships - Thunderbike Engineering.
Thunderbike Engineering was recently renamed Thunderbike Powersports but not before
winning Best Large Business and Best Overall Business in a prestigious Chamber
of Commerce Best Business Award in 1994.
John is a keen motorcyclist himself, and still competes regularly in road race events (despite attempting to retire from racing in 1996 - he took it up again soon after).
John has practiced Aikido for the past 9 years, and currently holds a Ni-Dan grading.
In 1997 John and his brother Ian established Adventure New Zealand Motorcycle
Tours, a specialist motorcycle tour company. John has guided the motorcycle tours
for the past 3 seasons and with his wife Jo (who also guides) is keenly interested
in New Zealand geology, geography, native flora and fauna.
Jo Fitzwater
Jo holds tertiary level qualifications in Tour Guiding in New Zealand and a Diploma
in Tourism (New Zealand). Jo and John are both fitness fanatics and run every
day. In fact, you're welcome to run with them each morning of your tour... Ian,
John and Jo are hold Passenger Service driving licences as required by New Zealand's
Land Transport Safety Authority regulations.
Ian Fitzwater
Ian has been involved in motorcycling with his brother John since the beginning
of Thunderbike Powersports in 1981.
John and Ian are co-directors of both Thunderbike and GoTourNZ.
Ian has spent 14 years living in Western Australia and been involved in motorcycling
there also, specialising in Harley Davidson high performance modifications.
He has a diploma in New Zealand Tourism, works as a guide, and has been involved
in the marketing side of GoTourNZ for the past ten years.
Ian has 4 children, Ian Jnr, Kylie, Carly and Jesse Fitzwater
Ian Fitzwater Junior
Ian joined the guiding team in 2007. Ian Fitzwater (Senior)'s eldest son,
Ian has recently returned from Perth, Western Australia.
In Australia Ian spent the last four years owning and running his own business.
He has prior experience with GoTourNZ, having worked with John and Ian in the
early 2000s.
He enjoys fishing; and although he previously played Aussies Rules football,
now in NZ he's looking forward to snowboarding on some of the South Island fields.
He lives in Nelson with his partner and their two dogs.
GoTourNZ's Code of Ethics:
We have a genuine belief in a Win-Win code of behaviour. Our simple goal is to
give you a vacation you'll remember with fondness and exhilaration til the day
you shuffle off this Mortal Coil...
We achieve this by:
- Keeping our promises
- Being knowledgeable in our field of endeavour
- Being responsive and flexible
- endeavouring to be error free
- Following up and staying in touch
- Keeping our clients informed
- Making ourselves accessible
- Offering no unpleasant surprises
- Acting promptly.
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