Human Powered Adventures

The Paint and Hike tour I did with The Adventure Gene was fantastic. 4 days of not too difficult hiking in the Kosciusko National Park with loads of time for our painting. Maddie our hiking guide was lovely and very helpful. Sophie our painting guide gave so much encouragement and some great tips. I went with a friend but 5 of the 9 women on our tour had come by themselves.

The equipment they provided was excellent. Best camping mattress I’ve ever slept on! I was warm and comfortable at all times, even when the temperature dropped into the minuses overnight and I had to shake the ice off my tent. Maddie did a great job cooking - tasty, filling meals and we even had dessert every night.

The tour will suit everyone who is moderately fit - but you do need to do some training. I’m 61 and go to the gym often and run, I had no problems. My friend is older and not very fit and was very proud that she made it.

There is a lot of emphasis on the painting aspect of the hike. The views are spectacular and offer lots of beautiful painting subjects. I’m not a great painter but feel I’ve come away with better ideas and techniques.

I couldn’t recommend The Adventure Gene highly enough.

What an extraordinary adventure we had on our 8 day Kiandra to Kosciuszko hike in Dec 2025! I wanted my 17yr old to experience a multi-day hike and the Adventure Gene truly exceeded our expectations; we learned so much about everything from navigation to trail nutrition, and I loved that we could try such light gear without investing in it ourselves. Tom and Dan were patient and caring, acting quickly and professionally to guide us safely, even through sudden bad weather. We summited stunning peaks, swam in crystal clear streams, and experienced diverse terrain from squelchy marshes to rocky fire roads. Challenging, yes, but If this sounds like something you’d be proud of yourself for doing, just book!

Adventure of a lifetime!

I have just returned from the 6 day Mt Jagungal Snow Camping Expedition with The Adventure Gene led by the superbly capable and qualified guides and owners Maddie and Tom. It was the most exhilarating experience of my life! We were blessed with all of the things you could hope for on a winter expedition – sunny days and amazing views from Mt Jagungal, trekking through blizzard conditions, heaps of fresh powder to crunch though and breathtaking scenery.If you love multiday hiking and want to take on something more adventurous, but do not have the experience for a remote snow expedition by yourself, then this is the trip for you. All you need to bring is a reasonable level of fitness, some grit and a good team mentality.The things that set the Adventure gene apart from others: • Extensive, top of the range lightweight gear supplied• Very high-quality meals. You will never eat so good in the backcountry• Small groups and highly attentive guides that are very attuned to the needs and dynamics of the groupThis trip has reignited my love of adventure travel and I can see myself doing many more trips with The Adventure Gene. Thanks Maddie and Tom for an experience I will never forget and see you soon!

Gaining practical ultralight camping and hiking skills amongst breathtaking scenery.

I began the Budawangs Traverse excited but nervous as I had never camped before. The terrain tested me physically and mentally, but the breathtaking scenery and each achievement built my confidence. Maddie and Tom were exceptional guides—knowledgeable, patient and encouraging. They taught me valuable hiking and camping skills, leaving me confident to continue hiking and work towards solo adventures. Every detail was meticulously planned, from the route and activities to the delicious, nutritious meals, allowing me to focus on the experience rather than logistics. Highly recommended!!!

Snowies Alpine Walk with The Adventure Gene was just brilliant. Meticulous attention to detail from the moment we booked (dietary preferences, medical needs…), advice on suitable gear, detailed instructions on preparation for the trip including foot care, having the right shoes and training. 21 years since my last hike so it all mattered and made our trip an enjoyable, educational and epic adventure. A very special father- son experience.

Gus our guide, chef, educator, photographer and weatherman was totally invested in ensuring each of us got what we wanted from the experience. The freeze dried meals were delicious, including the desserts. He even managed a hot lunch despite the driving rain and wind on our way up to Kosciuszko!

All the gear supplied by TAG was amazing.

Can’t speak highly enough of Gus and the entire team at TAG. Thank you for an exceptional adventure. Aziz

I completed the 2 day Kosciuszko summit hike with The Adventure Gene which was was my first overnight hike experience and honestly I’m so glad to have completed it with these guys! The guides Gus and Tom were so knowledgeable of the area and clearly have so much experience on best hiking practices which made you feel safe and confident throughout the trip. The whole concept of this organisation is amazing, you get the best gear and food which takes a lot of the mental load off and you get to fully immerse yourself in the beautiful mountains! Not only that it’s a really great opportunity to ask questions and learn as much as possible. Honestly still on such a high from this trip, I’ve been bitten by the bug, considering coming back for more! Thanks so much guys!! ✨

I joined the 4 day Kosci walk in Dec 2025 - it was my first time hiking on the main range and using proper ultralight gear. I learnt so much and it’s given me the confidence to do more by myself. The trip was incredibly well organised including a last minute route change due to potential bad weather (which ended up missing us as result!). The food was high quality and delicious with everyone’s dietaries well catered for. The hike was challenging but I never felt like I was holding the group up - even though we had some very experienced and fast walkers. The guides were exceptional and their knowledge of the area second to none. I’d highly recommend the Adventure Gene to anyone looking to start their hiking journey or to any experienced hikers looking to upgrade their ultralight knowledge.

Part holiday, part challenges, a chance to really get away from it all, society, cars, people, even my phone. Hard, yet simple, all sorts of terrain and weather, I was new to cold and snow, so many mountains galore. Great for your mind, body and soul. Our two young people guides, maddie and tom using their gifts, their smarts, agility of their youth, encouragement and warm personalities together to create an extraordinary adventure experience in nature for folks. Food was a highlight too (great vego) Felt very looked after, I was a little behind the fitter people at times, enc to take my time, yet always got there. Shall cherish this time and chance to be in and know this part of our beautiful country.

Susan 60 solo traveller.

The 4-day Mt Bimberi and Blue Waterholes hike was exactly the adventure I hoped for. The scenery was majestic, the gear was great, the food was amazing, and my fellow hikers were lovely. We climbed mountains, grass hopped across wide open plains, watched the sun rise and set, explored caves and dramatic gorges, and swam in crisp rivers!

Maddie and Tom have an impressive parcours between them, generously sharing their skills, knowledge and stories at every opportunity. I signed up to explore alpine landscapes and learn about ultra-light multi day hiking and have achieved that and more. Such a memorable experience, led by a truly inspiring young couple.

I recently completed the 2 day Snowies Alpine Huts and Blue Waterholes trip. Tom and T are brilliant and friendly guides who are so knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. I really appreciated all their tips and never tiring from all our questions. The gear they provide is high quality. Never have I ever had a pack under 10kgs (without compromising on safety too!). Food was delicious and nourishing. I can highly recommend booking a tour with them. My only regret is not booking a longer trip!

Just finished a 4-day hike & paint with The Adventure Gene/TAG and they were AMAZING! They truly did supply EVERYTHING - except the clothes we wore and extra socks and undies - and the gear was light and top quality. The guides were fantastic and I've never been so well-fed camping. Thanks, TAG team!

Intro to Snow Camping Aug/Sep 26

I joined the Snowies intro to Snow Camping trip as a solo adventurer, initially filled with self-doubt about my fitness and ability. At the trip briefing, Tom and Maddie’s professionalism, knowledge and approachability put me at ease. There was no judgement and all questions were welcomed. They fostered a team culture from day one and encouraged us to work together and help each other. The initial information session was thorough and comprehensive, and the clothing and accessories provided were top quality. I’ve never packed so light for a trip. Ever! Having two guides allowed the group to walk at their own pace, which makes a huge difference to individual enjoyment. The meals were surprisingly delicious and nutritious, and the eye/boggling snack room meant hunger was not an issue. I learnt so much about snow camping, hiking, camping and my own capabilities and feel confident to pursue solo hiking in the future. This experience was fun, inspiring and unforgettable! Thank you Tom and Maddie for your willingness to share your extensive knowledge, your positivity and contagious passion for the outdoors!