The small crew behind the big trips
We're ThrillJoy Adventures — a Queenstown travel agency run by people who'd rather be outside. Nine seasons, 2,300+ travellers, and an office in Frankton where the coffee's always on.
From one van to Queenstown's friendliest agency
It started in 2016 with a beat-up Toyota and a simple bet: that travellers would rather see the South Island with a mate than from a coach window.
The van years
Dan starts shuttling hikers to trailheads in a '04 Toyota Estima. Word spreads; the backseat bookings become a business.
The Frankton office
We sign the lease on Glenda Drive. First full season with proper departures, proper gear and a proper espresso machine.
Guides become a team
Four permanent guides join, the trips menu grows to five, and our first multi-day treks sell out a season ahead.
Qualmark Gold
Independent gold accreditation for safety and sustainability — plus partnerships with the region's best evening venues.
Today
A team of seven, 2,300+ travellers guided, and the same rule as day one: if we wouldn't do the trip ourselves, we don't sell it.
Three rules we don't bend
Every decision — routes, partners, prices — gets run through these.
Trips we'd take ourselves
Every itinerary gets test-run by a guide before it goes on sale. If the team wouldn't pay for it, it doesn't make the list.
Honest over impressive
We'll tell you when a famous spot is skippable and a quiet one is unmissable. Straight talk builds better trips.
Local first, always
We book local huts, local cafés, local drivers. Tourism dollars should stay in the towns that host you.
"Success for us isn't trips sold — it's the message six months later saying 'that was the best week of the year'."
— Dan Reeves, founder & head guideThe people you'll actually travel with
Small team, big trail hours. Say hi when you pop into the office.
Started it all with one van. Still leads the Ben Lomond trek himself every season.
Fiordland specialist and resident storyteller. Knows every waterfall's Māori name and meaning.
The logistics brain — permits, pickups, weather calls. If your trip ran smoothly, that's Sam.
First voice you'll hear when you call. Designs the custom trips and remembers everyone's coffee order.
Projects & research we're proud of
Between trips we keep busy — route research, trail access work and a few passion projects.
Route research
The Remarkables Traverse Survey
Two seasons of scouting a safe three-day traverse — 40+ field days, GPS-mapped water sources and bail-out points. Opens to guests next season.
Dark-sky project
Southern Skies Programme
Our ongoing astro-tourism project with local dark-sky advocates — new viewing sites mapped each winter, feeding the stargazing weekend.
Community
Give-a-Day Trail Work
Every guide donates five field days a year to track maintenance with DOC. Guests are welcome to join — the best lunch views in the country.
Nine seasons by the numbers
NZ Tourism Awards finalist
Small-operator category, 2024. Lost to a glacier heli company — fair enough, honestly.
Tiaki Promise signatory
Committed to leaving every place better than we found it — baked into every itinerary.
96% would recommend
Post-trip survey, last two seasons. The other 4% wanted longer holidays. Same, to be fair.
Why people keep coming back
"Third trip with ThrillJoy and they still surprise me. This time it was a detour to a lookout that isn't on any map — just because Dan knew we'd love it."
"You can tell a company by how they handle a bad day. Our Milford run got rained out — rebooked, upgraded, and they threw in dinner. Class act."
Come meet the crew — or let the trips do the talking
Pop into the Frankton office for a coffee and a map session, or jump straight to the trips menu and pick your adventure.