ABOUT US

Based in the South Island of New Zealand - Te waipounamu and New Zealand-owned by Maree Carson and Julian Tovey, we have a deep knowledge and passion for the places we visit. Since 2004, Driftwood Eco Tours have fostered close relationships with locals, who will share their experience of farming, conservation, history, culture and their personal lives.

Our tours are small groups only - 6 to 12 guests per tour which makes them special allowing:

🚶‍♂️ More time to explore – No rushing to keep up with a big group.
👋 Personal connections – Get to know your guides and fellow travelers.
🎣 Exclusive experiences – Access to places larger groups can’t go.
🌿 Closer to nature – Enjoy the peace and quiet of remote landscapes

To thank these rural communities, we support organisation near and dear to our hearts by way of an annual donation.

OUR TEAM

Our friendly team are all highly trained, with many years experience and research into the fascinating places we tour. We are passionate about creating once-in-a-lifetime, authentic adventures for all our valued customers.

All our guides have current first aid certification and passenger endorsement licenses.

Travel to new places with the Driftwood family

Maree Carson

Co-owner, Customer Service, Tour Logistics & Administration

Growing up on a farm in Whiteman’s Valley, where her parents ran a kennels and cattery, Maree’s childhood was full of outdoor adventures. Her father also operated a fishing charter business in the Marlborough Sounds, where she developed a love for the ocean, spending many weekends catching blue cod and swimming with dolphins.

Maree has always had a passion for travel, with vast experience in the travel industry since 2006, she’s become an expert at planning memorable and well-organised trips. Her attention to detail and ability to create seamless experiences ensures her customers enjoy stress-free journeys. As someone who is visually impaired, Maree brings a unique perspective to her work, ensuring that the trips she arranges are inclusive and accessible for all.

Maree is dedicated to making every trip a success behind the scenes. She enjoys staying active through tramping, running, tandem pack rafting and has even cycled the length of New Zealand with her partner, Julian, on their tandem mountain bike. Together, they’ve explored the beautiful backcountry at their own pace, proving that adventure is for everyone, no matter the challenge.

Maree’s warm approach and passion for travel make her an invaluable part of the team, ensuring that every tour is thoughtfully planned and tailored to provide a fantastic experience.

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Julian Tovey

Co-owner, Operations & Guide

Growing up in Nelson, Julian spent his childhood on his mountain bike exploring the backcountry. His love for adventure led him to spend 16 years in South Westland, where he took on a vast array of roles from a Glacier Guide, shuttle driver to a Community Relations role with the Department of Conservation (DOC). He spent his spare time traveling, volunteering for search and rescue, and learning to fly a helicopter. Julian also spent a few seasons working in the Yukon as a gold buyer, melting and shipping gold. In more recent times, he has been the public safety ranger for DOC at Tongariro National Park. His most recent role saw him coordinating search and rescue operations throughout New Zealand and the South Pacific at the Rescue Coordination Centre.

Julian’s diverse background, from glacier guiding to coordinating search and rescue operations, gives him a wealth of experience that makes him an exceptional tour guide. Julian’s approach to guiding is both relaxed and informative, offering guests a unique perspective on the natural beauty around them. Whether leading you through rugged terrain or sharing his wealth of stories, you can be sure you’ll be in safe hands on your journey!

Sam Rutherford

Lead Guide

Sam Rutherford’s extensive rural and farming background forms the foundation of his work with Driftwood’s Eco Tours, especially those exploring the Molesworth and North Canterbury regions. Farming a high-country property at Hanmer Springs until 1987, Sam’s deep ties to the land are a defining part of his approach. The Rutherford family owned the Molesworth property in the 1900s, and Sam, a former president of Federated Farmers, has a wealth of local knowledge to share. Through his tours, he offers guests personal stories and insights about North Canterbury's history and landscapes.

One of Sam’s favourite tours is the St James Horse Sale, held every two years. “I’ve mustered the St James horses and been deeply involved in the process for many years. It’s really my home patch,” he says.

In 1988, Sam shifted gears and spent over three decades in the IT industry before stepping away in 2019. Seeking new adventures, he travelled around the UK for three months in a caravan, which sparked a new passion for touring in New Zealand. These days, Sam’s focus is on exploring parts of New Zealand he hasn’t yet visited. Meeting people along the way and hearing their stories has become a major source of inspiration for him.

Graham Pomeroy

Guide

Graham was raised in Bainham, Golden Bay - just down the road from the start of the Heaphy Track. Growing up in a farming family, he spent most of his time outdoors. From an early age, he was out hunting with his dad (who even built stiles over the fences so young Graham could keep up!). His weekends were often spent fishing, tramping, and exploring what is now Kahurangi National Park - well off the beaten track.

Graham’s professional background is rooted in farming - dairy, beef, and grazing, but he’s also spent over 45 years involved in Land Search and Rescue, including time as chair of the national board. He currently serves on the board of Federated Mountain Clubs and works with the Rural Support Trust, while also guiding, driving trampers, and sharing his knowledge of the places he knows so well.

He thrives on the energy of people on holiday - their curiosity and openness to new experiences. Whether it’s pointing out a tucked-away spot or sharing local stories, Graham loves helping guests feel confident to try something new.

When he’s not guiding, Graham and his wife Jenny are usually out tramping - most weekends find them exploring another track. He also enjoys cycling, and he’s never one to turn down a local craft beer after a good day in the hills.

Maurice Brown

Guide

Maurice grew up in the rural farming town of Te Puke in the western Bay of Plenty, where a love for the outdoors came naturally. He spent most of his school years at Dilworth in Auckland, where involvement in the scouting movement - progressing through to Venturers - sparked a lasting passion for nature, conservation, and outdoor adventure.

His career has been wonderfully varied, beginning in agricultural quarantine and then spending 15 years with the Ministry of Fisheries, including time as an observer on foreign fishing vessels deep in the Southern Ocean. In the early 1990s, Maurice and his wife Carolyn ran a fruit orchard in Marlborough before he moved into a long-standing role as a Field Base Manager for the Department of Conservation in the Marlborough Sounds - a region he’s now spent over 35 years exploring and protecting.

When he's not guiding for Driftwood Eco Tours, Maurice and Carolyn run Guided Great Escapes, offering small-group tours in New Zealand and abroad, as well as operating The Garlic Shed, a boutique cinema in Marlborough screening documentaries, classic films and hidden gems.

Maurice loves sharing New Zealand with visitors - not just the scenery, but the stories and meaning behind it. Whether on foot, by van, bike or kayak, he’s passionate about helping people connect with the land in a relaxed, personal way.

In his spare time, Maurice is usually out tramping, sea kayaking, cycling or planning the next travel adventure - and always happy to wind down with a great film or a bit of music.

OUR PROMISE

To provide 'Sustainable' Exclusive Experiences in Aotearoa, New Zealand

All our tours are created with sustainability and the protection of our valuable land, culture and wildlife at heart. We show our Manaakitanga through respect, humility, kindness and honesty.

Some of the ways we do this include: