About us

Family Adventures is owned by Mark Forsyth and employs a team of professional rafting guides. Safety is of the highest priority.

Meet the team!

	Mark Forsyth            Hometown:  Queenstown, New Zealand  Qualifications/experience:                                                                                                             Registered Guide QLDC, Swift Water Rescue, NZ Rafting Association River Workshop, First Aid, Trip Leader, 15 years rafting experience. I started rafting on the Shotover River when I qualified as a guide in 1993.  In the following years, I became a senior raft guide, then trip leader. After working as a rafting guide for other rafting companies for twelve years, I became a Director of Family Adventures in 2005.  Becoming a family man myself in 2001, I found it to be the perfect stepping stone into the business and to carry on doing what I love and to be able to share my experience with young and old. I have a passion for the river and the Skippers Goldfields and enjoy sharing my knowledge of the area. In summer I love to raft and in winter I ski, so Queenstown is my perfect playground. I look forward to seeing you on our trip so you can experience it too!
	Marshall Ezelle         Hometown:  Alaska Qualifications & experience:                                                                                                            Swift Water Rescue Technician, NZ Grade II Certified, 5 season commercial rafting on Talkeetna, Chulitna, Susitna, Nenana, Tsaina, Tonsina, Lowe, and Gulkana, Waikato and now the Shotover.     I have been called the best looking, most hilarious, most capable guide Family Adventures has ever had, but I don't think it's true.  Likely, it's world-wide.  I am also very modest. I kayak (poorly), bike (slowly), camp (in style), snowboard (on rental boards), swim (only in water), run (only when being chased) and read (nerdy sci-fi only).  I have also been known to hide in the woods dressed as Sasquatch for a laugh. "Nothing in the world is more flexible and yielding than water.  Yet when it attacks the firm and the strong, none can withstand it, because they have no way to change it.  So then the flexible overcome the adamant, the yielding overcome the forceful.  Everyone knows this, but no one can do it."    - Lao Tzu, Founder of Taoism.
	Cameron Hall                Hometown:  Waimatuku, NZ Qualifications/experience:                                                                                                                   NZ Rafting Association River Rescue Workshop Grade 2, St Johns First Aid Certificate, Driving P Endorsement class 2. To me, Skippers Canyon is one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand, and even more so when it is raining!  My first trip as a guide was not especially auspicious, I fell out in the first hundred metres!  I have worked with Family Adventures for 3 seasons now  but I worry that the other staff don't like me because of my natural talent and water skills.  I am currently training for the NZ Ironman in March '12.  As you can see I am not much of an athlete, so I'd love to hear any tips you have.  I need all the help I can get.  I love running and my next goal  is to finish a 100km race.  I'm also a keen skier, but I seem to be getting worse each year! "As the day gets longer I get stronger.  Feel the fear and do it anyway."
	Simon Singleton         Hometown:  Preston, England Qualifications/experience:                                                                                                                      NZ Rafting Association Grade 2 plus 12 months intense training under the supervision of the oldest raft guide in New Zealand, Mark "Spanky" Forsythe. I've a fun, outgoing personality, or so I reckon.  I am often accused of being a teenager at heart with a passion for all sports from football to golf, (hustling) pool to rolling the odd lawn  bowl!  In the winter I race in the Browns Ski Shop Winter Classic Team on my board.  I am co-founder of Rudedog Productions. "If you believe it you can achieve it!"
	Richard Stokes - man of few words!