Kosciuszko National Park is the ancestral land of the Ngarigo, Walgalu, Wiradjuri, and Monaro people.
We just finished four days of ultralight hiking and painting with the amazing Adventure Gene guides and an outstanding group of people.
We trekked across Coolaman Plain—a complex ecosystem home to countless special plants, animals, and micro-organisms. Along the way we explored caves, canyons, valleys, tussock grasslands, snowgum woodlands, and swam in crystal-clear streams.
Each day our guide, Tom, led us to a different historic hut—Bill Jones, Old Currango, and Pockets—where we set up our tents, found water, and settled in for the evening.
Our afternoons were spent with the wonderful @inekaspineka who guided us through landscape painting, colour theory, and perspective. We found quiet spots in the bush to sketch, observe, and create our own work.
Tom and Ineka shared a wealth of knowledge, along with hiking and painting tips, snacks, nourishing trail meals, and even desserts throughout the journey.
We spotted brumbies, kangaroos, snakes, and wallabies, and fell asleep to dingoes howling in the night.
We finished our hike with a chilly dip in Bluewater Holes, some lunch, and a final painting session.
I would highly recommend the @theadventuregene hike-and-paint experience to anyone wanting to learn more about multi-day ultralight hiking while also taking the time to be creative and fully present in the wild places of Kosciuszko National Park.
Can’t wait to see what trips you get up to in the future 😁
Tammy Guest2025.12.11
Just finished the 4 day paint and hike. What a brilliant mix of adventure, challenge, art practice, and fun. The food was brilliant. I loved the chance to try ultralight hiking with the teams equipment. I love my new trail family (because TAG is committed to 8 people only on the hike) which made it special. But most of all I loved Ineka’s generosity of spirit and practice as both an art and hiking guide. She is my new spirit animal. Tom’s experience as the senior guide gave us all confidence that this will not be our last trip.
We had a fantastic trip and it was a pleasure painting and hiking with you ☺️
Nikki P2025.12.07
I have just come from the 4day Snowies Alpine Walk and I am still on an absolute high. 😁💪🏼
If you are looking for an authentic, exciting, rewarding and life changing experience. Then I highly recommend
The Adventure Gene 🏔️🥾🏞️🏕️
As for my experience is something that I will cherish forever 🙏🏼 Thank you for the adventure of getting out and living amongst nature, switching off from reality and focusing on physical and mental resilience. Shout out to the tour guides Tom and Steve for looking after not only me, but an amazing group of people. I have learnt so many new hiking, camping and life skills that I will take away from this trip. I look forward to booking another trip in the near future 💫
Thanks for the kind words Nikki 😊 It was a pleasure to have you on the trip and was a spectacular 4 days on trail!
Mia M2025.12.06
I had such an incredible time doing the snowies alpine walk with Tom and Steve. I had never done multi day hikes previously, and was keen to give it a go. And as I happily found out on the trip, they don’t just take you hiking, they teach you how to do it. We had such a wonderful group that made the whole experience so enjoyable. It was amazing to be with and learn from other people who enjoy similar things to you.
I especially want to thank Tom for being so helpful and knowledgeable in first aid and helping me with my feet. They got quite sore but now I know how to properly be prepared for next time. Tom and Steve definitely know their stuff. I know that I’ll definitely be booking another trip with the adventure gene in the future 😁 thank you so much guys!!
Very excited to see what you get up to with a new pair of shoes 😁
Zahrina Robertson2025.12.06
Extremely disappointing and unsafe experience.
Don’t believe the smoke and mirrors of all the 5 star reviews.
NOVEMBER 2025 I joined an Adventure Gene 4 day trip expecting a nurturing women’s hiking and creative experience. Instead, I left feeling unsafe, unheard, and deeply disappointed on all levels.
From the start, we were required to sign a lengthy waiver (around 10 pages) and to purchase more than $800 worth of specific gear on top of a trip fee of about $2,500. We were not told this and we were pushed to buy it all. For that level of $3000 investment, I expected professionalism, safety, and genuine care. That is not what I/ we all experienced.
On our hike, several women in the group were injured, including myself with a bad head injury, following Maddie the guide, where safety is not a concern.
I was dizzy for 2 days, no care offered.
Despite their response, we as a group did not feel that safety, first aid, or our wellbeing were taken seriously or a priority despite their well crafted website, FB adverts and happy clappy images.
Some sections involved and guided on, there was no clear trail or signage, which felt extremely unsafe. I had to shout 3 times at Maddie to keep me from falling off a steep vertical mountainside she took us on an illegal track.
I feared for my life on the illegal walk we all were guided to do.
When concerns were raised, I/ we all did not experience compassion, empathy, or proper duty of care from the trip leader, Maddie and at times Ineka.
Hygiene and food standards were also extremely worrying. Multiple people felt unwell after meals, and the food overall was very average for the price and hype. We were promised some foods that never materialised – instead, someone had to carry it in their pack for days, and it was never offered.
The course was also cut short, with very rigid rules around early bedtimes that made the experience feel more controlling than caring.
Another low point was the handling of media and communication was beyond appalling. We were put into a what’s app and then they deleted us out of it, when we were asking for information post trip.
On top of it all, my friend on this trip, her husband was added to the female what’s app group to be harassed by all the messages.
He clearly saw how unsupportive they were of our clear concerns.
On a part of the trip, I requested images and video be taken of me to show my family. Witnesses clearly saw photos and videos were taken of me by staff Ineka and guide Maddie.
Yet Maddie decided both of them would collude and not share these with me/us as promised for our own personal record. Appalling.
Day 1 we all met our 8th fellow participant who left immediately and didn’t appear again. Tom was rude to her and Maddie exhibited terrible lack of empathy before she even turned up.
The dynamic between the leadership team felt tense and unprofessional, which added to the overall discomfort.
This is a hyped up money grab. Average food and below par guides.
Setting up a whats app to close deals - is convoluted behaviour. They said 2 people cancelled to push me into buying an over priced experience.
Overall, this trip felt like a complete misalignment between what was marketed as “Sold Out” when in fact - it had not even started as a hike offer. We were their official guinea pigs paying for a terrible experience that was delivered. The "staff" had never even been to this destintation to even get us to paint on the run. Very rushed, pushed for Maddie to experience a tour for herself as everyone was her audience.
In my personal experience, it was very unsafe, lacking in empathy, and very poor value for money. All of us only experienced this trip as “Maddie in it for herself” she wouldn’t get up early. Treat all the ladies with distain. We nearly had a bus accident as her driving was making people want to vomit.
I would not recommend this trip to other women or men and would strongly encourage you to look elsewhere for a genuinely supportive and safe adventure. 0 Stars.
We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. Your description stands in stark contrast to the feedback from others in the group and our operating standards. We want to address these serious claims directly to clarify the record.
Safety & Medical Care: Safety is our absolute priority. All routes taken were legal and open to the public. Regarding the injury mentioned, we provided immediate first aid and followed up accordingly. We categorically deny that any medical needs were ignored or that participants were taken on illegal routes.
Gear & Costs: We provide a comprehensive packing list to ensure safety for everyone on our trips. We never require guests to purchase new gear if they already possess items that meet safety standards. However, we cannot compromise on safety, and if something does not meet the requirements given when booking, you are required to find a suitable alternative. We are always happy to help with this.
The Day 1 Departure: The participant mentioned was unable to join the hike solely because they didn’t allow us to check that their gear met the safety standards. Allowing anyone into a remote area without adequate gear would be negligent. Contrary to your claim, that participant was issued a full refund.
Food & Considerations: We take pride in our backcountry nutrition. Adjustments to the menu (such as the ice cream) were made specifically to accommodate the dietary requirements of the group. If we’d known that you specifically wanted ice cream we would have packed some.
Media: Our media usage is covered in the T&Cs signed prior to the trip. However, we respected your specific request on Day 1 not to be photographed during the journey.
We strive to create empowering, safe experiences for everyone. While we are sorry this particular trip did not meet your personal expectations, we stand by our safety decisions and our team.
Madison – Co-founder, The Adventure Gene
Sonya Everard2025.12.05
I did the hike and paint tour of Kosciuszko NP with Maddie and Inika. I have lots of experience pack walking and thought a painting tour would be a way to learn something new in beautiful environments. It's always safer to walk with others.
Expect to have to spend on specified required equipment that is not supplied, like shoes, hats, etc. Hiking clothes and trail shoes aren't cheap.
You'll have to take the initiative to learn when and where to meet as I found out the updated times and locations only a day before.
The one pretrip communication of any sort was an extensive list with advise on what to buy and how to prepare your feet, etc. Check their social feeds if you want more information. Most of the group overlooked the unhydrated chicken in a couple of the meals, but I certainly didn't. This mysterfied me because it was just a timing issue not even a fuel consumption issue.
The painting facilitation didn't result in progressing me much from novice. We couldn't take home the painting equipment and I'm still waiting for the promised specifications so that I can purchase my own.
The guide Maddie was distracted on her satellite phone frequently and didn't make efforts to facilitate good group dynamics. She was efficient and brief in all things.
The drive to the trail head left many feeling ill.
The final hike to the falls was unmarked, steep and dangerous yet both guides went with the remaining 3 people that still wanted to risk the decent. This left more than half the group without painting tuition for an extended part of the day. Tuition was focused on others and I didn't feel like I got equal time. There was no final regrouping or debriefing to share our resulting paintings.
The promised photos of me on the trip haven't appeared, even after a week of waiting. Not sure if they actually took any afterall. I didn't take photos of myself because they had promised.
We returned to the car to restock and camp on the last night but no thought went into making the most of this. We still had dehydrated food and no fresh fruit was offered. A roll of toilet paper in the bus would have been a small comfort but even that was somehow overlooked, as was desert on the first night.
Come on this walk if you want to learn about light weight camping and see unpopulated parts of Kosciuszko NP.
Thank you for joining us on the Paint & Hike tour. We appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective, though we want to clarify a few points regarding the logistics and expectations of this trip.
Communication: We pride ourselves on clear communication. Our records indicate that we sent multiple emails and text messages regarding meeting times and packing lists in the weeks leading up to departure. We are sorry if these were missed, as we did not receive any replies to them.
Gear & Painting Supplies: As outlined on our trip description page, we provide the hiking gear and art supplies for the duration of the trip to ensure everyone has access to professional tools. While the painting equipment is returned, the art journals are yours to keep. Regarding personal clothing and footwear, we provide a strict list for safety reasons—alpine environments require specific gear, and we cannot compromise on safety standards.
Workshops & Tuition: Ineka is an experienced artist who caters to various skill levels. However, it is difficult to provide tuition and feedback if a participant chooses to opt out of the planned workshops, as you did for more than half the sessions.
Food & Logistics: Regarding the satellite phone, my usage is strictly for safety communications, weather checks, and logistics to ensure the group’s safety. As for the "missing" dessert on night one—we were ready to serve it, but the whole group opted to go to bed by 7pm!
We sent the link to the photo album to your email, one week after the trip finished as we stated we would on the last day. Please check your inbox so you can access those memories.
Madison – Co-founder, The Adventure Gene
Ruyin Yang2025.12.05
I can’t thank Maddie and Ineka enough for making this hiking trip so special, fun, and full of gentle adventure. From the gear check to preparing every meal, everything was organised with such care and professionalism.
Maddie’s cooking was pure magic - I never expected warm, delicious pancakes in the bush on a cold morning, but they appeared like a beautiful surprise. And Ineka’s passion for art and nature, along with her thoughtful encouragement, opened up a new way of seeing the landscape around us.
Thank you both for creating such a memorable and precious experience. I highly recommend The Adventure Gene to anyone wanting to try something new but hesitant to go alone. You’ll feel supported, encouraged, and completely looked after.
Thank you so much for the kind words Ru 😊 It was an absolute pleasure having you on the trip and getting to know you over the 4 days! Looking forward to running into you in Canberra sometime soon ☺️
D Wilson2025.11.30
I did the 2 day Kosciuszko Summit trek with Maddie and Tearloch (T) and they were absolutely awesome. The sideways sleet/hail, rain and wind on summit day tested me, but T kept me moving, kept me laughing, and literally helped me through the inclines (and even rescued my water bottle more than once).
Maddie was such an asset, she was the cool, calm & super confident leader. Her experience with all her km's really showed and her ability to adapt on the spot and direct us, I just felt like I was in safe hands.
The Food was great, like really good!!
Everything was organised perfectly, and the gear was next level. I was so warm in the tent too.
It was a little challenging for me, but an amazing experience, I couldn’t recommend this team more.
Thank you so much for the kind words Davina ☺️ It was a pleasure having you on the trip. We certainly had some challenging weather conditions with the hail and wind!
Victor A2025.11.27
Having completed The Adventure Gene's 14 day guided trip of the AAWT under the expert guidance of Tom and Maddie, I would fully recommend The Adventure Gene to anyone experienced or not who a contemplating a hiking trip of any distance and are hesitant in doing on their own. Awesome experience! It was like hiking with AAWT Royalty.
Thank you Victor! We absolutely loved having you on the trip. Your humour never failed to make the whole group laugh ☺️
Bring on the Bibbulmun Track!
Sara2025.11.24
I just returned from a 2-day Kosciuszko Summit Hike. I am so glad I went with the Adventure Gene! I am more of day hiker and have little experience with overnight camping. I have always preferred to go back to a warm hut or hotel haha. More than just a hiking trip, I really learned a lot about camping, camping gears and hiking tips from guides with real, lived-in and extensive hiking experience. It really makes a huge difference to the trip and the overall experience.
The experience was a good value of money from start to finish. The process to book was easy and convenient. The guidebook the team sent was so well-thought out in terms of gear preparation and is a fun read. Before we leave, a Watsapp group is created for any questions to be asked.
The hike was around 20km for 2 days. Weather was crazy – fog, wind, rain, hail, snow and everything in between. However, I never felt unsafe. The guides, Maddie and T, are clearly experienced, professional, always prioritize safety, and know where to go. Even with an unexpected stretch of snow hiking (wearing microspikes) and the crazy weather, the journey to the summit was truly memorable!
The campsite was so beautiful and truly felt like we escaped to another world. Love the food provided, especially the satay tofu and freeze dried ice cream! The tents were easy to set up, really held well against the crazy rain and wind, and the quilt/sleeping mat provided kept me so warm. They really use top quality gear and it is so convenient to come on the trip with all the gear provided.
Our guides, Maddie and T, are just two awesome people!! Maddie is so sweet, caring, cheerful and radiates positive energy! T, the team’s newest recruit, is such a chill, cool guy. Both of them are so supportive to everyone in the group, never had I felt pressured to rush beyond my limit. It is a holiday after all, not a race. I just want to thank Maddie and T for really being the highlight of the trip (yes, even better than the quality sunset we saw!) and I really look forward to another trip with the Adventure Gene!
Thanks for the kind words Sara! Despite less than ideal weather it was still such an incredible 2 days on trail. It was a pleasure to have you along 😊
Stevie Hunter2025.11.22
Recently went on the 2-day Snowies Alpine Huts and Blue Waterhole trip.
Such a fantastic experience from start to finish. High quality gear, high quality tasty food (and plenty of it!), and couldn't have imagined a better experience overall with Tom and T - so friendly, and experienced with such an in-depth knowledge and genuine love for the Koscuiscko region.
I had initially booked the trip being keen to get into multi-day hiking, but not really knowing where to start or what to expect as there are so many potential unknowns - e.g. knowing how to prep for all potential weather conditions, clothing and gear, managing nutrition/hydration on the trail, navigation etc. After this trip I can safely say I feel much better prepared to plan and go out on the trail for longer hikes, with a foundation in some basic knowledge/skills I can build on. Now I'll have a basic level of competence for my upcoming Tassie hike which will be much more safe and enjoyable! Really appreciated the focus on education and skill-building from Tom and T, with explanation and education at each step throughout the trip
Thanks very much guys, so keen for next time!
We absolutely loved having you on the trip and have a great time at the Walls of Jerusalem!
Esfir Nikiforova2025.11.19
Have just come back from a short ( want more!) trip with Tom and Tearloch : “Snowies Alpine Huts & Blue Waterholes”
If you want to learn multiday hiking - the Adventure Gene is the company to go with.
The guides are very knowledgeable, happily share their experience and skills and really care about every member of the group. They are fantastic people to be around and to learn from.
The gear is great! The full pack is astonishingly light. The pack, tent, sleeping mat, quilt and poles are so light, that they are able to add some luxuries: power bank, that weighs only 150gms and a tiny, quiet, efficient sleeping mat pump. The loaned gear includes everything you need. You just bring your own clothes. I really love their preparation notes, that cover every aspect of getting ready for the trip. The meals were fantastic! Pankaces for breakfast anyone?
Thanks Esfir, and thank you so much for the kind words 😊 It was a fantastic 2 days on trail and it was a pleasure to have you along. We can't wait to see what adventure you go on next! 🏕️
Gen Luiz2025.11.06
Recently completed the 2 day Mount Kosciuszko hike with Maddie and Tom, and what was meant to be a mere 'practice run' for a longer hike later in the year because I'd never hiked with a full pack or camped before, has turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life so far. Thanks to some late season snow, this hike also got to be my first 'walk through snow', 'cross a freezing cold river barefoot', 'camp in a tent in -6 degrees' experience. As a newbie to hiking, comfort zones were left waaay behind in the rear-view mirror within the first hour of this hike. And here's where Maddie and Tom step in. These two are EXPERTS who know what they're doing, and it shows from even before you meet them (Note: read the trip notes and FOLLOW the packing list). Packing list said to pack a down jacket, I packed a thick fleece that held up well in 0 degrees in the blue mountains; guess who needed a down jacket? The gear they provide for their hikes are high end and it shows, and they knew what we'd need on the hike to make it safe and enjoyable (micro spikes had me walking down the snow slopes quicker than I walk down stairs in sneakers), the winter sleeping bags and down pants were life savers. They are engaged guides, know all the cool spots, best detours (definitely are the Aussie Alps experts), are calm in a crisis (massive shout out to Maddie for getting me across the snowy river alive and dry), are willing to show/teach, but also let us have fun, and their soft spoken patience with the group and each other meant we had the most enjoyable experience in some difficult conditions for newbies. And the food was tasty, nourishing and we even had dessert!
Big thank you to Tom and Maddie and everyone else in The Adventure Gene team for a fabulous 48 hours. Cannot wait to do more hikes with them and cannot wait to see all the cool hiking experiences they curate!
Thanks Gen, and thank you for choosing us to take you on your first overnight trip! We can’t wait to see what adventures you get up to next 😁
Andrew Gallagher2025.11.02
Absolutely brilliant.
The 2 day Kosciusko hike was amazing.
It’s a bucket list must do.
2 days hiking snow and mountains with excellent guides. These guys provided all the necessary stuff and safety gear.
The views are spectacular, the air is fresh and crisp, the camp meals are delicious.
If you have ever craved adventure then book it with the adventure gene
Thanks for the kind words Andrew. It certainly was a magical 2 days on trail🤩 Can't wait to see what adventures you have planned next!
Leeanne Bradshaw2025.11.01
Such an amazing experience.Maddie and Tom were so knowledgeable. They allowed everyone to feel comfortable within their limits. No one was discriminated. Food and the equipment was beyond what was expected ❤️
So glad you had an awesome trip Leeanne! Thank you for the kind words ☺️
Jocie Gulliver2025.10.26
Hands down one of the best decisions I’ve made - booking the 4-day My Bimberi and Blue Waterholes Hike with Tom and Maddie. I was initially hesitant to join a guided hike (I usually plan my own trips), but I’m so glad I did. These two seriously know their stuff - incredibly organised, knowledgeable, and genuinely lovely people who made every day a joy.
The hike was stunning and varied, the group was full of great people, and I came away not just refreshed from time in nature, but more confident and inspired to plan future multi-day hikes myself. Learning off-track navigation and getting so many gear and local area insights was a real highlight.
Tom and Maddie’s passion and generosity shine through in everything they do. Could not recommend them more highly - get in quick before they’re completely booked out as I expect at this standard they will be.
We had a fantastic trip and we can't wait to see what you get up to in the future :)
Dee Bee2025.10.13
Fantastic 4-day trip with Maddie & Tom. They’re excellent guides, safe & knowledgeable, always willing to share their experience. They have well thought out itineraries, taking us through a variety of terrain & scenery. Food was great & covered a range of dietary requests in our group. Highly recommend & will hike again with them.
So glad you had a great trip Shane, thank you for taking the time to share some photos and your experience ☺️
Tina Pech2025.10.08
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.
Thank you so much for the kind review Tina 😊 it was an absolute pleasure having you on the trip. Best of luck on the Great North Walk!
Adam M2025.09.09
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 group
This 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!
Thank you so much, Adam! It was a pleasure having you with us, and we're really glad you enjoyed the trip. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience ☺️
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