Meet your guides

David "Mitch" Mitchell | Head Guide, Great Ocean Walk

Originally from Tasmania, I have been resident in Melbourne for the past 15 years (transported from Van Diemen's Land for the crime of needing work).

My passion is the outdoors – which I have followed in various pursuits for over 40 years. I am currently active in rock climbing, mountaineering, backcountry skiing (AT & telemark), sea kayaking, cycling and bushwalking.

My partner is Jannie, who shares my passion for the outdoors. Together we have climbed, walked and skied most places in Victoria, parts of the Main Range and Tasmania; and have had regular summer and winter mountaineering, skiing, and kayaking trips to New Zealand.

I hold current Wilderness First Aid and Australian Ski Patrol Advanced Emergency Care qualifications and am an active member of Alpine Search and Rescue Victoria, Mt Stirling and Mt St Gwinear Ski Patrols, New Zealand Alpine Club and Victorian Climbing Club.

Mitch is a contemporary of AWT’s founder Andy Reynolds. Both are active members of Victoria’s Alpine Search & Rescue and Bush Search & Rescue organisations and regularly attend searches for missing walkers in Victoria. “Mitch” commenced guiding for AWT in 2010.

Mitch is our longest serving guide.

Jo Bowtell | Guide, Great Ocean Walk, Flinders Ranges

I love a challenge and take every opportunity to escape outdoors, whether it’s hiking, camping, sea kayaking or rogaining, any activity that allows me to be immersed in our wonderfully diverse, natural environment.

I’ve hiked in the remote Australian bush, stunning coastal areas and the spectacular Himalayas. I love an adventure and I am passionate about helping people along their journey to discover new places.

I have run a successful flower business in Geelong for the passed 12 years and I am in the final stages of completing a Diploma in Outdoor Recreation.

Jo commenced guiding for AWT in 2011.

Jo is our first guide to have guided all of our tours, guiding in the Flinders Ranges, Victorian High Country and along the Great Ocean Walk.

Nic Aunger | Guide, Flinders Ranges

My love of the outdoors began growing up in South Australia with time spent on the Murray River, Kangaroo Island, and weekends exploring and picnicking in Belair National Park.  When a little older, visits to the Howqua Valley and  nearby mountains, lakes and rivers in north-east Victoria, led me to living and working in this area for the past 12 years.

When I left school I followed a career in ski instructing in the Snowy Mountains of NSW and overseas in Austria.  Heading back to study Outdoor Education in my early 20s, I went on to specialise in Adventure Therapy.  For the past 20 years I have been working with a variety of groups in the outdoors, leading and facilitating one-day trips, through to 3-week expeditions.  I am an all-rounder having led trips in rock climbing, rafting, caving, bushwalking and skiing.

I have lived and travelled in Nepal and India, and have an affinity with the Himalayan mountains of which I have trekked in on numerous occasions. My special love is ski touring in the backcountry of Victoria and NSW, and bushwalking in Tasmania.

Nic commenced guiding for AWT in 2011.

Ben Griffiths | Head Guide, Flinders Ranges & Kangaroo Island

I guess my passion for things outdoors started with family camping trips, a school bushwalking elective in year 9 and a ski season in Perisher when I left school – which turned into the next 30 odd winters ski touring all over the world.

Since moving to S.A. the Flinders Ranges bug has well and truly taken hold and I love spending time there showing people around this amazing timeless landscape. It’s a place like no other in Australia and it never ceases to amaze me.........

The best trips I’ve had have been to the Himalayas, ski touring and trekking, they were definitely the hardest, but by far the most rewarding. Sea kayaking, climbing and mountain biking all come a close second and have their time and place – but right now it’s all about the hiking in the Flinders Ranges and Kangaroo Island.

If left to my own devices I would probably just read........and take photos.

Ben commenced guiding for AWT in 2011.

 Linda Beilharz | Guide, Great Ocean Walk

In 2010 Linda Beilharz became the first Australian woman to ski to both poles – the North Pole (2010) and the South Pole (2004). In addition to this, Linda is also aiming to become the first woman to cross all the world’s four major icecaps, a goal she has nearly achieved with her crossing of the Greenland icecap in 2009. Currently only the Patagonian icecap eludes her, having been turned back by fierce weather in 2008. Linda is planning to attempt another crossing of Patagonia in 2012.

In between these astonishing feats of endurance Linda works in central Victoria where she holds the position of Chief Executive Officer for Women's Health, Loddon Mallee region. In her spare time she reads, gardens and finds time to assist with search and rescue. Linda currently holds the position of President of Victoria’s Alpine Search and Rescue agency.

Linda commenced guiding for AWT in 2011.

Andy Reynolds | Guide Trainer & Business Owner

I have always loved the outdoors, ever since I began bushwalking when I was in high school in Melbourne. I grew up by the beach in Beaumaris and my outdoors interests gradually expanded from swimming, surfing and running into bushwalking, rock climbing, canoeing and skiing.

Surfing the outdoors wave, I studied Outdoor Education and spent 20 years running Outdoor Education programs for secondary students. Needing a change of direction and feeling the urge to practise what I preach, I left the security of full time employment in 2007 and set up my own business, Australian Walking Tours. Never have I faced a bigger challenge nor been so engrossed in my work.

Reluctantly I have mostly hung up my guiding boots and poles and these days I work full times in sales and marketing as we grow the business. I still get out whenever I can, though not as often as I'd wish, and these days it's mostly with my two young boys, helping them discover the wonders and joys of the great outdoors. I enjoy contributing to guide training and am proud of our current staff of guides. They're all great people and I know you'll love working with them.

Some of our guides at work and play!