From left: Tony Buchanan (bottom), Mark Orbell, Allison Imhoof, Jon Imhoof, Richard Morris and Tony Loxton

The name Serious Fun says a lot about our approach to our business - everyone wants to have fun but good times only happen if we choose to make them happen. Given that each moment of life is precious and deserves to be celebrated, this choice is a serious matter. As Helen Keller once said “Either life is the greatest adventure…or it is nothing at all.” Our aim is to make each trip “the greatest adventure”. To achieve this, we combine the talents of worldwide travel experts and experienced local guides, gather a group of similarly interested companions, and design a well paced itinerary through one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Since 1987, Serious Fun has been instrumental in the development of participatory adventure in New Zealand. Our base in Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, allows easy access to the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area as well as close proximity to a startling array of adventure activities. Serious Fun is a part of this close knit community of professional guides and outdoors people who regularly combine talents to provide the ultimate in adventure. Small groups and a high guide to client ratio mean personalized attention and a more intimate involvement with the environment and people of New Zealand.

The innovative spirit of the company is evident in its history. Serious Fun is owned and operated by Jon and Allison Imhoof who have hosted thousands of clients on adventure tours in New Zealand as well as Hawaii, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. In 1989 Jon and Allison started Serious Fun river surfing, the first company in the world to offer whitewater body boarding trips. A year later they opened The Serious Fun Adventure Lodge and in 1994 they commenced the first specialised heli-snowboarding operation in the country. In 1996 Jon and Allison started another river surfing operation, this time on the Zambezi River in Southern Central Africa. Their latest endeavour is to start a vineyard on their 22 acre property beside the Kawarau River.

Information about our guides