Day Cruise Manager

RealNZ; Te Anau; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Friends & family pass visuals

Medical insurance

Ski pass

Adventure perks

Job summary

RealNZ is seeking a Day Cruise Manager to lead the operational delivery for tours on Lake Manapouri, Wilmot Pass and Doubtful Sound. You will oversee the day-to-day activities, managing operations staff, optimising processes and ensuring exceptional guest experiences while optimising resource use.

The role requires strong leadership, excellent communication, risk management, and a proactive, safety-first approach.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience, ideally with remote or distributed teams.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proactive risk management and problem-solving abilities.
• Commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations on Lake Manapouri, Wilmot Pass and Doubtful Sound.
• Manage operations staff and optimise processes to enhance service delivery.
• Ensure efficient use of resources while maintaining safety and guest satisfaction.
• Adapt to evolving operational needs and maintain a proactive, safety-first culture.

Skills

Leadership

Remote/distributed teams

Risk management

Communication

Job description

Are you ready to make one of New Zealand's most breathtaking national parks your workplace? Do you thrive in challenging environments and have a passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences? RealNZ is searching for a Day Cruise Manager to join our team, but this isn't just any job opportunity?

You'll have the chance to work for one of New Zealand's foremost family-owned tourism providers, right where it all began back in the 1950s. Our founders had a vision to share our stunning backyard with visitors from around the globe, and if you share that passion, you could lead one of the teams that helps keep that dream alive!

Reporting to the Experience Manager – Manapouri / Doubtful Sound, you'll take on the crucial role of overseeing the operational delivery and management of day-to-day activities on Lake Manapouri, Wilmot Pass, and Doubtful Sound. Your primary focus will be ensuring our customers have an outstanding experience with RealNZ. This means managing operations staff, optimising processes, and constantly seeking ways to enhance our service while making the best use of our resources.

Every day will bring new challenges, and adaptability will be key.

What We're Looking For

• Strong communication skills and the ability to adapt to evolving needs
• A commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences
• Proven leadership experience, ideally with remote or distributed teams
• A motivational approach that inspires excellence and supports a positive, safety-first work environment
• A proactive attitude toward risk management and problem-solving

What's In It For You

• Enjoy some incredible staff perks! Bring a friend along to experience RealNZ's unforgettable adventures, either for free or at a fantastic discount. Explore the Glowworm Caves in Te Anau, cruise Milford Sound, dine at Walter Peak and discover Rakiura. It's an amazing opportunity to experience the best of New Zealand without breaking the bank!
• Free Ski pass for Cardrona x Treble Cone.
• Medical insurance cover is included in your remuneration package.

Real People, Real Places, Real Experiences. Welcome To RealNZ.

When's the best time to join the Real whānau? Now's good.

We're the conservation business that's enabled by tourism. We're helping the world, one guest at a time, fall in love with conservation. We're inspiring people to leave their places in better conditions than when they found them. We channel a guest-centric approach that fuels our genuine promise to deliver Aotearoa's most unforgettable experiences.

It's our workplace environment that makes careers at RealNZ more exciting than the regular job. Working for Real could mean you're based anywhere between a secluded island, a scenic fiord, and a snow-capped maunga. Our people, places, and workdays are a great and diverse mixture. It keeps us on our toes and adds value and passion to our work.

Job Details

Company RealNZ Reference # 43851 Posted on 07 Aug 2026 Closes on 04 Sep 2026 15:00 Location(s) Doubtful Sound, Fiordland, Manapouri, Te Anau Expertise Expertise Administration, Management - Branch/Supervisory/Coordinator, Manager - Operations, Support, Management/Administration Job level(s) Management, Executive Work type(s) Permanent - Full Time More details (document) PD_Day Cruise Manager (August-26).pdf