Your Walking Tour Guides

Our Cradle Mountain Huts Walk guides are often thought of as our most outstanding asset.  They are passionate, educated, great interpreters and cooks all rolled into one.  Feedback regarding our guides is invariably positive.  The guides will enhance the journey with their knowledge and understanding of the flora, fauna, geology and history of the Overland Track and the wonders of the World Heritage Area.

In the words of one traveller "...their love of the wilderness was obvious in the gentle way they encouraged us to care for it as much as they did themselves. Their leadership was superb - the trip would always have been memorable, with the extra input by the guides it became fantastic."

 

Mikael Smigielski

Mikael Smigielski

Did someone say mountains? Mikael loves mountains! He loves climbing them, guiding people over them and interacting with nature.

The way Mikael describes his favourite Overland Track is enough to make anyone want to lace up their boots. He talks of huge open vistas of glacial tarns and moss-covered cool temperate rainforests brimming with brooks. He then describes alpine terrain dotted with cushion plants and fields of snow. His passion is palpable.

He loves mountains. Craggy, high mountains. He also loves reading a good book, playing chess and learning foreign languages. In fact, he’s fascinated by foreign cultures. He enjoys deep conversations about fields he knows little of. He’s a forever student; always learning. That means he’s full of fascinating convo and an interesting pair of boots to follow.

When he’s not guiding, he’s typically hiking, climbing, bike riding or trail running. Indoors, he’s reading, cooking and likely cornering some unsuspecting opponent into check mate.

Lillian Lyall

Lillian Lyall

Lill has been exploring Tassie’s bush and mountains for as long as she can remember. She’s totally in love with the island’s wilds.

Lill grew up in a tiny country town in Northern Tassie. Along with her twin and other siblings, Lill has been exploring the wilderness from as far back as her memory goes. She just loves being out in nature and sharing this passion with others.

Her favourite walk of ours is the Cradle Mountain Huts Walk for its diverse landscape and immersive experience. According to Lill, “six days out in the bush … What more could you want?” For her, wandering through the mountains and bringing peace along with a good dose of fun into people’s often hectic lives is a wonderful feeling.

In her spare time Lill gets up to all manner of adventure shenanigans from running to climbing and in her downtime enjoys reading and drawing.

Braden Cresswell

Braden Cresswell

A science background, a fierce passion for Tassie’s wild places and a penchant for creating mixtapes … meet Bradan.

Ask Braden about his home state and you’ll understand his love for the place. As a guide he feels it’s a privilege to be a custodian of the land, inspire admiration for our wilderness and help others find their happy place. As for guiding, he feels as though he’s simply working with a group of his best friends.

Bradan’s favourite is our Cradle Huts Walk. He’s drawn to the mountain energy, rich history, clean fresh waters and the hardy people who called it home. The haunting sound of a black currawong calling through the misty rainforest keeps him coming back - perhaps it’ll call you to return also.

A strong science background has Bradan seeing our wilds through an insightful lens and when he’s not checking out cafes and wine bars, you’ll likely find him buried in an educational book. He loves surfing, mountain biking, climbing and spearfishing. An aspiring DJ, he promises not to bring his mixtapes on the trail!

David Lennon

David Lennon

Dave loves the great outdoors and feels pretty chuffed it’s his work office.

When Dave is in the wide outdoors, he feels free, connected and safe. It’s a good chance he’ll have you feeling exactly the same. He loves a good challenge both mentally and physically, while disconnecting from the rest of the world out in Tassie’s wild places.

His favourite walk is the Bay of Fires for its white sand beaches, indigenous living sites dating back tens of thousands of years, the ever-changing landscape carved by sea, orange lichen coated rocks and the clear turquoise waves crashing by your side as you walk. Has he got you tempted?

When he’s not on the trail with us, he’s usually running along one, carving along a mountain bike trail, hiking, honing his photography skills or enjoying a local beer with mates.

Maggie Williams

Maggie Williams

Maggie is an outdoor enthusiast - skiing, kayaking, snorkelling, rock climbing - but for her nothing beats a good old-fashioned bushwalk.

Before Maggie came to join us in Tasmania, she studied an outdoor education degree on Dja Dja Wurrung Country (Bendigo) and grew up on busy Wurundjeri Country (Melbourne). When she’s not guiding, she’s introducing our younger generation to Australia’s outdoor playground through working with school groups.

She’s very grateful that the Tasmanian Walking Co. have delivered her ‘so many cool friends on a platter.’ Equally, these new friends likely appreciate Maggie’s love of ‘cooking up a storm while having a cheeky boogie in the kitchen.’ Simply put, Maggie is wonderful company.

Maggie is a mountain girl, so the Cradle Mountain Huts Walk is her favourite. She also loves that everyone spends six days together and really gets to know one another. Outside of guiding and her many outdoor pursuits, you’ll find Maggie reading, crafting, cooking, gardening, dancing … the list goes on.

Kira Marie Sirois

Kira Marie Sirois

Once out on trail, ask Kira about her time as a kayak tour guide, wind dolphin swimmer and night mantra ray snorkel guide.

Kira is originally from the United States but has been in Tassie since 2016. After studying Marine Science in Hawai’i her career has been colourful and varied. From kayak guiding to heading out in darkness to the manta rays, Kira has also worked as a wild land firefighter and geological surveyor.

Tassie has stolen Kira’s heart and between guiding, she hopes to continue her education in biochemistry or biophysics. Cradle Mountain Huts Walk is her favourite walk for its isolation and immersion - allowing for a sense of disconnection from the outside world. Fiercely environmentally conscious, Kira is proactive in preserving and spreading awareness for our vulnerable and rare wilderness.

When she’s not outdoors she loves reading epic fantasies like The Wheel of Time, catching up with mates and watching movies with her cat.

Rita Kurpiewski

Rita Kurpiewski

There’s a reason people refer to her as WikiRita. Rita is full of cracking facts!

Rita is a first-gen Aussie, her family originally from Poland. Growing up on the NSW Central Coast, Rita’s passion for art and science led her to study a bachelor of Natural History Illustration in Newcastle.

She guided in Central Australia before settling in Tassie. Cradle Mountain has a special place in her heart and with a captive audience, Rita could talk about the history, flora, fauna and geology for hours. Rita loves it when the group happens across one of nature’s surprises that blows the minds of guests. And she has a keen eye for finding these gems.

Rita is a passionate landscape photographer, loves drawing, reading, researching and studying very cool rocks with her boyfriend. Be prepared for puns and impromptu Dad jokes along the trail!