14km, 6057m peak.
About Us
The Adventure Gene was created from the belief that the best way to explore this earth is using your own two feet. Whether it be hiking, cycling, or skiing, The Adventure Gene’s mission is to enable outdoor journeys by sharing hard-fought knowledge and experience. With track guides, trip reports, gear reviews and guided tours, The Adventure Gene helps to make your outdoor aspirations a reality.
Expand your outdoors!
Meet the team:
Tom Bartlett

Based in Canberra, Tom is an accomplished endurance athlete and hiking guide with over 20,000km of hiking trails under his belt. He is no stranger to hiking up to 100km per day, and has speed records on the Australian Alps Walking Track, the Bibbulmun Track, and New Zealand’s 3000km Te Araroa.
Tom is our gear guru! He is responsible for making sure your pack is always as light as possible whilst maintaining our rigorous standards for safety and comfort.
Tom’s passion for the outdoors is matched by his extensive knowledge and dedication to helping others explore the world on foot. Whether hiking, running, skiing or cycling, Tom’s adventurous spirit and expertise ensure every journey is unforgettable.
Join Tom on a trip through the Australian Alps and fast-track your outdoor skills and knowledge.
Maddie Wait

Maddie is the fastest woman to have ever completed Te Araroa in New Zealand. On this hike, she set the overall self-supported fastest known time and bested previous efforts of supported female runners in the process.
Maddie is our backcountry nutrition expert and master chef. As an elite endurance athlete, she is responsible for formulating and implementing our nutrition program, ensuring that you are properly fueled on our expeditions. Maddie is always designing, creating, and testing new delicious, high-quality meals for our trips.
Born in Perth, Maddie moved to Canberra and discovered a love for the Snowy Mountains. With over 15,000km of hiking experience, Maddie’s enthusiasm and friendly nature encourage others to step outside of their comfort zone and grow in the outdoors.
Join Maddie for an adventure and experience the wilderness with a new perspective.
Adventure Map & Timeline
Want to see where we have been? Here is an interactive map of all our personal trips & adventures! Below that, you can find the timeline of our hikes and rides to see when we completed them. Trips with images have corresponding articles, such as trip reports, track guides and gear lists. You can read about these by clicking the track name.
If you want to learn more about one of the tracks we have completed but not written about yet, let us know and we can help you out!
Jan/Feb 2024
Maddie and Tom set the self-supported Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the Te Araroa, completing the 3030km trail in 54 days and 14h. This made Maddie the fastest female ever to have completed the trail.
Sep 2022
Tom set the self-supported Fastest Known Time (FKT), completing the 950km trail in 11 days and 22h.
May 2022
Jan 2022
Tom and his friend Paul set the self-supported Fastest Known Time (FKT), completing the 680km trail in 10 days and 23h.
Oct 2021
Mt Magog, Talyuberlup Peak, Mt Toolbrunup
13km
Oct 2021
Stirling Range Ridge Walk
19km
Oct 2021
Porongurup Granite Skywalk and Nancy’s Peak
11km.
Sep 2021
Sep 2021
Cape to Cape Track
135km
Feb 2020
Mt Fitzroy Circuit
35km
Feb 2020
Huemul Circuit
71km
Jan 2020
Torres Del Paine Q Circuit
152km
Dec 2019
Dec 2019
Mt Chachani
Dec 2019
Colca Canyon Trek
52km
Dec 2019
Ausangate Circuit
81km
Dec 2019
Lares Trek
62km
Nov 2019
Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu
162km
Sep 2019
Mt Kosciuszko Loop
800km
Jun 2019
Larapinta Trail
230km
Jun 2019
Budawangs Corang Arch and the Castle
53km
Feb 2019
Great South West Walk
250km
Jan 2019
Great Ocean Walk
100km
Jan 2019
Wilsons Promontory Southern Circuit
60km
Jan 2019
Walls of Jerusalem
30km
Jan 2019
Overland Track
80km
Jan 2019
Penguin Cradle Trail
80km
Jan 2019
Frenchmans Cap
50km
Jan 2019
Bay of Fires Walk
30km
Jan 2019
Freycinet Loop
30km
Jan 2019
Three Pillars Track
50km
Dec 2018
HUNT 1000
1000km mountain bike route from Canberra to Melbourne.
Jun 2018
Great South Coast Walk
660km
Dec 2017
Te Araroa (South Island)
1300km
Nov 2017
Poon Hill Trek
50km
Jul 2017
Great North Walk
250km