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Tour Guide - Working conditions

Kaiārahi Rōpū Haere

Working Conditions

Working conditions for tour guides vary depending on the type of guiding they do.

Attraction guides are based at one place. If this is an outdoor attraction, they may have to be outdoors in all kinds of weather.

Tour guides and tour managers take clients on trips. These may vary from half-day outings to trips of up to four weeks. Guides who travel with their clients may stay in hotels or other accommodation, and have meals with their clients. They will also spend time in vehicles such as buses or vans, or cruise liners, and may get very little free time.

"A lot of people think it’s glamorous – you are always on holiday and you live in great hotels. They totally underestimate that that’s for the client, but you are still working. Once they realise we are working long, long hours and there is not so much pay, it’s a different story."

Claudia Duffy - Tour Guide

Equipment

Equipment tour guides may use includes:

microphones or video equipment
cellphones or radio transmitters
commentary notes (which they prepare themselves in most cases)
a bus, coach or van
cooking equipment.

Tony Kuepfer checks his microphone before a tour

Eva Vaughan holds a folder showing paintings of early Maori constructions.

Eva Vaughan uses copies of early paintings to illustrate her talk about Maori settlement in the area

Hours

Tour guides' hours depend on their employer and the type of guiding they do.

Attraction guides tend to work a 40-hour week. They may do shift work, including evenings and weekends. Some attraction guides work part time.
Tour guides who manage tours may travel with their clients for weeks at a time, with little or no time off during the tour. However, they may work only during the high season (November to April). For self-employed tour guides, this can mean working very long hours at peak times.

"You need time out, because you get peopled out. I'm not saying I don’t like people, but you’re with them for up to 24 days, and that’s 24 days of constant smiling."

Karen Thompson - Tour Manager