Jools is one of our treasured tour leaders. She has travelled with our guests to Kenya and Tanzania, Italy, and one tour that really captured her heart was Greenland and Iceland. The places are certainly special to her, but it is the people that truly become dear.
If you ask Jools what makes each trip distinct, she resolutely says it is the people. She will tell you it is the wide range of deeply interesting people we travel with that makes the experiences so meaningful. She describes a common thread among our guests: a deep curiosity about the world, a discerning nature, and a thoughtful approach to choosing their travel experiences.
Taking a zoologist on safari, accompanying a guest on their first trip beyond New Zealand, soaking in the surreal moment of an iceberg drifting past, or encouraging travellers to try a hot air balloon or horseback ride are some of the moments she enjoys most.
Jools’ approach to leading a tour is the result of a life in tourism, travel and being among special and interesting people. Jools says accompanying our guests is a privilege. “I love people and I love travel.” Jools sets off on her adventures from home base Wānaka, where she is surrounded by family, friends, animals and the outdoors. She is in the throes of honing her golf game, painting part-time and building a new home. Her roots are deep here. She feels fortunate to come home to Central Otago.
Jools credits the Maher team for all the little details being taken care of. She says this means she can focus on the guests, the daily logistics in front of her, while knowing she has solid back-up from the Wānaka-based support team at her fingertips. She has wrangled the occasional travel hiccup with ease thanks to the connection to our home base.
Jools is a vibrant soul: fun, fast-paced and caring. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Somehow she makes everyone welcome, as if by a little secret magic spell. She knows how to make people feel like they belong. The connections are fast and deep. You think you are going to travel, but beware, you are about to make a whole group of new friends and fall under our leader’s spell!
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