Enriching our Fiordland offering with guide Bard Crawford

What kind of person makes the best guide when you’re wanting to experience a place as unique and special as Fiordland? We would say somebody who’s a ‘true blue’ kiwi; somebody who is just as comfortable showing guests how to spot a bellbird as they are chatting about the Maori legends that helped to shape Fiordland. Bard Crawford, who is now a full time guide for the Fiordland Outdoors Co., most definitely fits the bill!

Bard has a pretty incredible background when it comes to helping visitors experience the best of Aotearoa. His in-depth experience guiding at senior level – honed via 12 years with Ngai Tahu Tourism as well as 3 years with National Geographic as a Lead Guide – is something that’s hard to come by.

A Fiordland local, Bard’s passion for the region’s rich history and ecology is infectious. His knowledge of Māori culture is something our guests love; Bard has a way of bringing this information to life in a way that really enriches a visitor’s experience. There are a number of Māori legends around the formation and naming of Fiordland, as well as fascinating early history when Māori used to visit the area to gather tangiwai, a translucent greenstone found only at Anita Bay and in Milford Sound. Bard’s in-depth passion and cultural knowledge for New Zealand’s indigenous people adds depth and colour to any journey into the Fiordland wilderness.

He’s also a quintessential kiwi bloke; a heap of fun to be around and yarn with!

Needless to say, Bard is going to be a valuable asset to the Fiordland Outdoors Co. team. He’s the exact kind of person you would want by your side when you’re hopping in a helicopter to journey into the heart of Fiordland. His knowledge of developing experiences around special and exclusive journeys is something that gets us very excited – Fiordland offers a myriad of options when it comes to highly curated, one-of-a-kind journeys. Bard’s full time addition to our guiding team means we’ll be able to extend, deepen and enrich the choices we offer. Watch this space!