ESCAPE ADVENTURES - Key Persons

Meet Bruce. Bike nerd and passionate advocate for type 2 fun! Bruce reckons he's finally qualified after training for this job for decades. He's been involved in tourism and hospitality since before others on our team were born (true!) through sea kayaking, charter yachts, cafes and restaurants, and more recently setting up an epic lodge on one of New Zealand's cycle trails. Bruce lives in the bush in New Zealand's King Country and he's happiest on his bike, or standing knee deep in one of New Zealand's wild rivers fly fishing for lunch, and camping out by night. Bruce has taken a year away from guiding to sail the world, but were hoping he will back raring to get on his bike soon!

John is the founder of Escape Adventures, new trip dreamer upper-er, ‘follow ya nose' route finder, trusty team and tour leader, fix-everything man, and vital cuppa tea boy. Escape Adventures began one day in 1999 when an idea planted, took seed and grew into a plan. John put on his tool belt, made a few alterations to an old land cruiser, put it on a ship to Kenya... and off he went! Many years on, John continues his passionate work to finding the most amazing cycle touring routes around the world and developing relationships with people in remarkable places which has grown our cycle tours to what they are today.

Kerry and husband Fraser have been long time supporters of Escape, joining us on multiple adventures overseas! We are SO excited to now have Kerry along as part of the crew! Home is Golden Bay (that is top of South Island… not the Stewart Island version). They have spent most of their working lives in primary production. The last 20 years of this as owner/ operator beekeepers! Kerry is embracing the freedom of quitting permanent work and being able to say ‘yes' to whatever takes her fancy, like running tours with us! The outdoors is where Kerry finds peace - mainly tramping, biking and gardening. The most recent project being a bare lifestyle block, lots of garden to enjoy creating! The house build starts in a couple of months…fingers crossed!

Mandy joined Escape in 2004, from the start she was the ultimate sidekick, turning her hand (and pedals) to literally anything. These days Mandy is most often found at Escape HQ, she is the ‘Chief Office Hussy' - answering all your emails and taking your bookings… but it doesn't stop there, Mandy is the balancer of wild ideas, the multitasker and epic snack baker. She is on tour whenever possible and has lead or helped recce routes in almost all of the current destinations! Whenever there is a spare minute Mandy is off on her own epic adventures, whether it is on a Mountain Bike, Cycle Touring or bashing through the thick NZ bush on a conservation mission for DOC.

Perryn is an avid traveller with 15 years of outdoor guiding under her belt - skiing, hiking, caving, kayaking and of course biking! For a long time all she thought about was snow, but the year she discovered biking in Alaska everything changed. Since then Perryn has spent her time riding as much as possible and getting people stoked on bikes! Now a qualified paramedic with ridiculous people management skills. She is often found at adventure sports events coordinating the first aid crew (and everyone else). Perryn has taken time away from guiding to study a masters in Nursing, fingers crossed once that's sorted she will jump right back on the bike.