TheGapNZ

Why choose TheGapNZ?

TheGapNZ has been formed as a subsidiary company to Adventure Works Ltd. Adventure Works has been developed as the result of the hard work of Mark and Erin Mandeno. Mark bought the business in 2010 and has injected his passion for education, personal and social development in the outdoors into thousands of clients. TheGapNZ/ Adventure Works has an awesome team of instructors and facilitators. We have taken the best personal and group development processes from our other successful programs and chosen the best activities and adventures that New Zealand has to offer, to deliver unique and special programs that we know you will love. We are super excited to be delivering these programs.

Website

www.thegapnz.com

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Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Sarah Blundall

Program

Adventure and Experiential Education Gap Programs

Job Title

Outdoor Facilitator

Sarah has been an outdoor facilitator with TheGapNZ’s sister company Adventure Works Limited for ten years with her passion for the outdoors only growing with every year. She guides groups in personal development/experiential education programs throughout the year. Sarah loves sharing her knowledge and experiences with people from all walks of life and can’t wait to show international participants how stunning New Zealand really is.

What is your favorite travel memory?

Although I have travelled abroad many times, sailing a flotilla yacht in Greece ranking pretty high, I can not go past the time I ventured solo down to the south island of New Zealand and biked the Otago Rail Trail.

After flying into Queenstown amongst the remarkable mountainous range of the Southern Alps, I took a shuttle over to Wanaka with its picturesque lake with those beautiful mountains in the backdrop.

For the next five days I biked 20-30kms each day along an old railway line through mall quaint towns with such friendly locals and staying at accommodation just meters from the track!

My highlights were the ‘picture postcard’ landscape, the people I met along the way and the things I learn about myself. I would do it all again in a heartbeat!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Since starting work here ten years ago, I have been through dramatic changes; an increase in confidence, inner balance and happiness, appreciation of the outdoors, development in skill set and knowledge (in particular group management and facilitation).

Every group we have through our company teaches me something about myself and I always come away feeling grateful and humbled to have witnessed their development and see their newfound belief in themselves.

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If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

New Zealand is beautiful all year round, but the eight week Summer Program would be my pick as nothing beats a Kiwi summer and the all the outdoor pursuits on offer, like kayaking the Wanganui river, biking the Otago Rail Trail or hiking up the Pinnacles on the Coromandel to see amazing panoramic views and a sunset worth the three hour uphill!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

For me, coming straight from university into this company, the draw card was that everyone here is so passionate about the outdoors the magic it does as a medium for development of individuals and groups.

It’s not just a job that pays bills, it is an avenue for sharing their knowledge, love and experience with the view of enriching other people’s lives, not of their own doing but having the individual or group discover it for themselves.

I’m proud to be a part of this team every day and as the great quote goes, ‘follow your passions and you will never work a day in your life’ …and I never have!

Robin Smith

Program Manager