Our Story
Our History
The locally family owned business is operated by Andrew and Sherie Schwass, Glen and Geoff Lovelock, who are passionate about the region and providing first class experiences on two wheels.
In 2011 Andrew Schwass had the vision of starting the operation in Nelson after then Prime Minister, John Key committed to the construction of New Zealand’s, ‘Great Rides’
In 2012 the Mapua Ferry service was purchased for taking passengers and their bikes from Mapua to Rabbit Island. Based on the Mapua Wharf Kiwi Journeys had their first year of operation in 2014/15, hiring out bikes for people wanting to explore the trails on Rabbit Island. They now offer rental services in Nelson where you can enjoy the city trails or explore the Great Taste Trail towards Mapua and Wakefield.
The next step was taken in 2018, when Kiwi Journeys added the West Coast Wilderness Trail to their portfolio, offering a West Coast base to offer a variety of multi-day tours on this amazing trail.
As of October 2023, Kiwi Journeys is now open in Central Otago, where we offer a range of tours on the renowned Central Otago Rail Trail, as well as other historic trails dotted around the region.
In 2014, Kiwi Journeys won the ‘Business Accelerator’ competition, allowing local businesses to provide their expertise to the tune of $30,000.
The company is committed to environmental issues, ensuring the company and its employees maintain appropriate standards and encourage clients to respect the environment.
Kiwi Journeys is a Qualmark Gold operator. Their annual review stipulates that we maintain excellence in the following areas:
Occupational Health & Safety
Employment Processes
Maintenance of Customer Satisfaction
Responsible Tours
In 2021, Kiwi Journeys was a finalist in the 2021 Qualmark 100% Pure New Zealand Experience awards. To be recognised for this award, we first needed to achieve the Qualmark Gold Award standard.
To reach the finals, we had to demonstrate excellence in the following criteria:
Manaakitanga - showing aroha to guests within your community.
Tiaki - guardianship and protection for the people and places under their care.
Whānau - looking after those closest to the business, as well as those visiting from afar.
These awards recognise the dedication of Kiwi Journeys to the wellbeing of the people supporting and surrounding us, even through the challenging tourism environment we experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kiwi Journeys aim to make cycling in the region accessible to all. We have a number of E-bikes and Tandems for people with reduced mobility or vision impairments.
Kiwi Journeys have been a service provider for Blind and Low Vision New Zealand (BLENZ).
We are also proud to support the Cancer Society and many Schools around the district.
Our Achievements
New Zealand Tourism Award
Being a finalist in the New Zealand Tourism Awards in 2023 was a huge achievement for the Kiwi Journeys team. This meant that we have been recognized as one of the leading contenders in New Zealand's tourism industry. These highly regarded awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and success in our sector, and we are honoured to be acknowledged among the best.
