Rosemary McNoe

Like many Kiwis, my first serious overseas travel was to head off to the other side of the world after university and complete the OE rite of passage, working and travelling throughout the UK and Europe for a few years and visiting family in Scandinavia. On my return to NZ, it didn’t take long to realise I was annoying everyone by talking incessantly about travel and adventures, so I joined a travel agency, where I could indulge my love of exploring far-flung locations around the world. This has led to a career specializing in small ship cruises, polar expeditions, and independent travel itineraries throughout South America and Africa.

I have been lucky enough to visit the seven continents, with some highlights including Antarctica where a minke whale came up so close to my zodiac I could smell its breath; kayaking alongside orca in Alaska; experiencing the complete chaos of Khan el Khalili market in Cairo; and hearing at night the rustling of lions prowling outside my tent in Botswana.

As much as I love bustling markets, vibrant cities, and ancient history, I also crave getting out into the natural world and remote and wild places and have been working my way through completing the Great Walks of NZ. Now with international travel back into full swing post-Covid, I was able to recently take on the challenge of hiking in the highlands of Ethiopia and enjoying the exceptionally strong coffee!

With a young family, my holidays have taken on a different vibe, and it’s hard to beat South America for the ultimate family-friendly, welcoming, and easy destination. With playgrounds and ice-cream stores around every corner and beautiful architecture to admire, Buenos Aires remains a firm favourite that I keep returning to.

I still have a long list of adventures to get to, including climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, taking a family holiday to Namibia, trekking in Patagonia, and exploring the historic towns of Colombia. I love researching and learning about new destinations and am so happy to be part of the team here at Viva Expeditions.