Matt has since undertaken many adventures in the region covering most destinations between Mexico and Cuba to as far south as Argentina and even Antarctica. Within Africa he has covered South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe with plans for further exploration later this year.
His extensive knowledge of Latin America and Africa have further been enhanced through over 20 years now professional experience in organising travel to the region for Australian and British specialist travel companies. This knowledge, passion and attention to detail means nothing is ever left to chance when organising your dream journeys.
Having travelled to all 7 continents and lived in Australia, Brazil and the UK, different landscapes, cultures, tastes and rhythms of the world are what life is all about to Tim. The key to organising your perfect journey is specialist travel knowledge, and Tim’s got it in spades. So when you combine Tim’s vast experience with his desire to share some of the world’s most spectacular destinations with you, you can be sure you’re in good hands.
Blake’s love of the natural world has taken him to all 7 continents. He has worked in the travel industry since 2010, taking time off only to work as a scuba diving instructor and of course to travel more. He has lived on the coast of Mexico and the Red Sea in Egypt (among other places) and has had the chance to explore many regions in depth – both on land and underwater.
Among Blake’s favourite destinations are Atacama and Torres del Paine in Chile, the Galapagos Islands, Iguazu Falls and pretty much anything in Brazil! Some adventures worth a mention have been travelling overland from Santiago to Cartagena, the Route of Emotions in North East Brazil, a fly-cruise to Antarctica and the month-long Camino de Santiago which started Blake’s passion for travel back in 2009.
Where to next? The list continues to grow. He is always happy to have a chat about travel and help you plan your next adventure!
Aya’s first solo trip was the big move from Japan to Australia at the age of 16, carefully planned over a year with a lot of help from her supportive family. Over two decades later, Aya considers Australia her home.
Aya’s curiosity has driven her to see the world as long as she can remember. Once something spikes her curiosity, she finds a way to see and experience it for herself. This has led to many adventures in Africa, Asia, Europe, North & Central America, the Middle East, and the South Pacific Islands.
Her travels were inspired by a love of the ocean and nature, which grew even more while travelling on a 100-day round the world cruise as an interpreter for local guides. Aya then spent some time in South East Asia exploring beneath the sea as an underwater filmmaker, dive guide, and scuba diving instructor, before moving to South Africa for the life changing experience of encountering true wildlife.
Aya takes great pride in her work ensuring Eclipse Travel clients experience a seamless journey from start to finish, so that they can focus on the important things, and make the most of their adventures.”
Shae is a true travel expert having completed in depth trips to the regions we specialise in. It was Shae’s 12 month visit to Central and South America where her love for travel was born. Since she has worked with Eclipse she has further enhanced her expertise with an expedition to Antarctica, Falkland Islands and South Georgia, a deluxe cruise in the Amazon and a few weeks exploring South Africa’s most impressive game reserves.
Shae has extensive knowledge of Latin America and Africa and enjoys inspiring people by sharing her first-hand experiences. Her thorough knowledge of these regions can also be attributed to having worked for over 13 years in the travel industry. With a particular passion for Polar regions, Patagonia and the Galapagos Islands, you can be sure that you will always be looked after when planning your dream holiday with Shae.
Lara’s first time leaving her hometown Christchurch was when she was 21 years old to visit Sao Paulo Brazil, and from then she had the wanderlust. Having travelled to all 7 continents, Latin America and Africa many times, Lara’s 10 years experience working in the travel industry and specialist knowledge is at your disposal when planning the adventure of your lifetime!
Lara says she tries to get away to a new exotic destination at least twice a year. Countries that she has travelled extensively through include, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Cuba, Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Antarctica! Her biggest highlight out of everywhere she has travelled is Antarctica. While she has a preference for hot and tropical destinations, if you ask her she will tell you that no travel experience can match visiting such an awe inspiring place as Antarctica! Some of her other highlights are gorilla trekking in Uganda and camping in the Okavango Delta. The next places on her ever growing list are Egypt, Kenya and Tanzania.
The atlas has always been the most prized book on the shelf for Tig, an avid travel addict since a young age. She took her solo trip to the UK at 14 and since then she’s visited 60 countries in 15 years. After university she booked a one-way ticket overseas, backpacking the length of South America before living in the USA and the UK for three years.
In 2014 Tig fulfilled a lifelong dream to be an overland leader like her Dad was in the 1970s. For four years she led groups around South America, from Colombia down to Ushuaia and up past Rio to the less travelled Guianas – clocking up over 160,000km on the road. The best bits according to Tig? The majesty of Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, the fascinating daily life of an 8-day Amazon river boat trip and the indescribable chaos of Rio Carnival!
Now the proud owner of an awesome niece and nephew, she’s decided it’s time to unpack her backpack, buy furniture and settle down in Sydney. Despite this the travel to-do list remains full – next up is Iran, Uzbekistan and Botswana and hopefully one day Antarctica.
Luke has lived, worked and travelled extensively throughout the world and these experiences give him the perfect opportunity to use his expert knowledge for the benefit of his clients.
Luke began his career in the travel industry back in 2004 with a ski company in London. After several years of travelling in Europe and North Africa, he spent some time backpacking through South East Asia before moving to Canada.
From there a one-way ticket to Mexico gave him his first taste of Latin America which left a lasting impression. This trip also took him through Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Bolivia and Chile, before ending in Argentina some 7 months later. He has since returned to spend more time in Peru and Argentina as well as Ecuador and Colombia.
In recent times, since joining the team at Eclipse Travel, Luke has ventured to Botswana and Zimbabwe to get a taste of life on safari, as well as the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. Both Southern Africa and Antarctica now rank as some of his favourite travel destinations, alongside previous favourites such as Guatemala, Colombia & Ecuador.
Next up, Luke would love to get back to Africa to explore more of this amazing continent, or go on another snowboarding adventure in the Andes!
Leanne has always been passionate about travel, so it was inevitable that she decided at an early age to obtain her Diploma in Travel and Tourism in her hometown of Solihull in the UK. Since then her desire to explore and experience new places and cultures has never diminished and has ultimately led her to settle in Christchurch, New Zealand. Leanne is fortunate enough to have visited all 7 continents but rates her recent visit to the Subantarctic Islands and the Ross Sea region of Antarctica as the most significant. This she says, is mainly due to the wonderful wildlife in the region which she particularly enjoyed observing at close quarters.
Her favourite places in the world (so far) are Argentina and Macquarie Island. Next on her bucket list is Cuba! Leanne’s passion for wild places combined with her keen eye for details will ensure you have a worry free trip on your next Eclipse Travel adventure.
