Employment Opportunities

ECO-ADVENTURE TOUR GUIDE FOR AWARD-WINNER – F/T – KANGAROO ISLAND  

Voted Trip Advisor’s Number 1 Experience in Australia, No 6 In the World 

• Above award wages including bonuses, subject to experience in the range of $55,000 – $70,000. 
• Accommodation options of caravans & shared amenities available for employees, if required. 
• Enjoy our zoo without fences – get up close with koalas, wallabies, echidnas, and other Australian animals in their natural environment.  
• Be at the forefront of the eco-tourism industry – we have featured on TV shows such as Getaway, Sunrise & Sky News and won numerous awards including South Australia Tourism’s Gold and Silver Adventure Tourism awards + Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice awards for the last 10 years in a row.   
• Upskill & enjoy diversity at work – Full training provided for all tours & activities.  
• Opportunities for career development and long term roles for those who prove themselves – including traineeships in guiding, leadership, management, marketing, or other relevant qualifications.   
• Work with a fabulous team & create enduring memories- our guides often spend time off exploring the island together & some become lifelong friends/partners.  
• Be an eco-warrior – as well as being 100% carbon neutral, we are eco-certified as Green Travel Leaders and Climate Action Leaders.  
• Live & work in one of Time Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2023 – a natural paradise, Kangaroo Island is the 3rd largest island in Australia, known as a wildlife hotspot and for its incredible beaches & scenery – for more information, go to: www.tourkangarooisland.com.au/visit/visitor-information  

About Us:   

Established in 1993, KI Outdoor Action began by offering horse trail rides, sailboarding, and snorkelling. Over time the business evolved to meet the needs of a changing market and in 2007 Brenton Davis bought the business and transferred the operations to the current premises on Jetty Road at Vivonne Bay. The Little Sahara Adventure Centre building designed by internationally acclaimed architect, Max Pritchard, was completed in 2015 and blends into the inland dune landscape. It won two awards at the South Australian Master Builders awards and a national award for Best Environmental and Sustainable Construction.   

We now have 2 arms to the business: Kangaroo Island Outdoor Action is a multi-award-winning adventure and certified advanced eco-tourism company running guided tours on quadbikes from our premises on Jetty Road, Vivonne Bay. We also offer kayak tours and hire in the nearby Harriet River. In our sister business, Little Sahara Adventure Centre (also Advanced Eco-Tourism certified) we hire sandboards and toboggans to surf the massive inland sand dunes and offer guided buggy tours, e-bike tours, and walking tours though the remarkably scenic terrain.   

Combine our offerings with the amazing Kangaroo Island wildlife and it is not surprising that we were voted Trip Advisor’s #1 Experience in Australia and #6 Worldwide. We have won South Australia Tourism gold and silver awards and Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice awards for 10 years in a row. Our aim is to make everyone’s trip to Kangaroo Island the holiday of a lifetime.   

However, we are not stopping there. After the devastation of the 2020 bushfires on Kangaroo Island, followed by the Covid 19 lockdowns and travel restrictions, we have improved all aspects of our business and experienced rapid growth. We are constantly reinvesting in the business, have upgraded the equipment and our facilities, and bought even more gear to make it easier (and fun) for us to continue delivering experiences of excellence. We are dedicated to making this a better place to live, work, visit, and play.  

We are also constantly evolving our eco-tourism credentials. As well as being 100% carbon neutral, we are eco-certified as Green Travel Leaders and Climate Action Leaders. We also support the local community. We have raised funds for children with special needs and the Women and Children’s Hospital Foundation and have appeared in several documentaries on both Channel 7 and Channel 9 as part of these efforts. We have also received global media attention because of the unique experiences we offer, including interviews on Getaway, Sunrise, Discover, Ireland AM and many more.  

Yet we could not have done any of this without our amazing people. People like Nathan and Kate, a couple of our amazing former guides who are now long-term partners. Others started as guides and have gone on to leadership roles with us and other companies. Some have even started their own successful businesses. We love staying in contact with our awesome former crew members, who play a crucial role in making our Kangaroo Island adventure activities an incredible visitor experience.  

For more information on our business refer to our websites www.kioutdooraction.com.au and www.littlesahara.com.au or watch our videos on YouTube: 

1. Kangaroo Island Outdoor Action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=DITy9za5ZBc

2. Little Sahara Adventure Centre: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NQn_nBp4Pmw&pp=ygUeTGl0dGxlIHNhaGFyYSBhZHZlbnR1cmUgY2VudHJl  

About The Role:  

We are now looking for self-motivated achievers to become our new eco-adventure tour guides for a minimum of 1 year and preferably much longer. You will be reporting to, supported by, and trained by your Operations Manager.   

Our peak periods are during school holidays where you will be immersed in tours, typically 3-4 a day. You’ll generally have a 5-day work week. 

Our workdays are a mix of everything. A typical day involves opening the shop, taking bookings, setting up your equipment needed for your tour- it could be quad bikes, a buggy, ebikes, or kayaks! You will tailor the tour specifically for your guests- we aim to give our customers the best experience on Kangaroo Island. So much so, we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Upon return of your tours, you are responsible for the pack up of the equipment and shop.  

You will get up close and personal with the native wildlife and use your effective people skills to share awesome eco-tourism experiences with our guests. We’re looking for someone safety conscious too– we have invested in high quality, well-maintained equipment but we are relying on you to look after our customers, our team, and our gear. We are here for a long time so you will also be looking after our pristine environment and be passionate about sustainability. 

When you are not guiding- there is always something to do and being a small business, you have an incredible opportunity to learn, grow & utilise your skill set. 
Our guides have had the opportunities to do side projects include building a garden nursery, developing/improving tours, track maintenance, web design, social media, photography, banking, marketing, mapping & GPS tracking.  

Once you have proven your commitment and competency, there are also opportunities for growth to eco-tourism leadership roles in our expanding business. We are particularly looking for people who want to grow professionally and personally to become Senior Guides and Team Leaders.

Note we are not looking for jaded, industry hacks. Our guides all share a spirit of adventure. They have cycled through countries, travelled in vans with their mates and love exploring new terrain in their time off. We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. You may be an experienced guide who has worked in some of the top destinations in the world, looking for a new experience. Or you may be a demonstrated achiever in a previous role with good people skills, looking to switch to something more purposeful. Regardless of circumstances, this is a fantastic opportunity for those who have excelled in the past and are looking to work in one of the New York Times 52 Places to Visit This Year (and yes, we were in the top ten).  

Selection Criteria:  

• Demonstrated high achievement in any field.  
• Prior experience in and success in guiding or outdoor education is advantageous.  
• Effective communication skills & a track record of building harmonious relationships with customers & colleagues in previous roles.  
• A genuine interest in wildlife & environmental sustainability.  
• Good problem-solving skills & a proven ability to think on your feet.  
• A demonstrated commitment to continual improvement, innovation, & learning.   
• Current Australian Senior First Aid + CPR (essential or be willing to gain)  
• Working With Children Check (essential or be willing to gain)  
• Drivers’ license + Reliable transport 
• We have a no smoking policy at work, on our properties, and in staff accommodation 

Our Values  
Accountability, Customer Focused, Team Player, Initiative, Ownership, Nurture.  

Employer questions

Your application will include the following questions:

• Do you have a current Working With Children (WWC) Check?
• Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Australia?
• How many years’ experience do you have as an Adventure Tour Guide?
• Which of the following First Aid accreditations do you currently hold?
• Do you have a current Australian driver’s licence?
• How many years’ experience do you have as an Outdoor Education Instructor?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a company which has a haul of local, national and international awards.  Applicants who are detail oriented, customer service driven and people focused, who have excellent communication skills, personality, energy and enthusiasm are strongly encouraged to apply.

We are a flexible employer with immediate starts available and on-going holiday jobs. All applications remain on our database and are considered for future positions.  Full time, part time and casual positions as-well as mechanic jobs are available.  All roles are based on Kangaroo Island.

How To Apply

If this sounds like you, and you would like to live and work just a few hundred metres from one of Australia’s Best Beaches (Vivonne Bay) please submit a resume and cover letter through email to careers@kioutdooraction.com.au

Any questions about the positions or the businesses, please call Brenton on 0427 070 966.