Hello Dave!

I just wanted to thank you sincerely for everything you did for us throughout the North Island. You explained everything so clearly and made each place come alive with your stories and knowledge. Even while going through such a difficult time, you remained so kind, personable, and professional. We all truly admired that.

You made our experience of the North Island even more amazing than it already is, and we are so grateful to have had you as our guide. Please take some time to rest and be with your family.

Thank you again for everything, you’re truly excellent at what you do.

I am writing this letter on behalf of St. Bernard’s School in Argentina to highly recommend Dave for his outstanding role as our guide during our recent trip to New Zealand.

​Our group of students and teachers from St. Bernard’s embarked on a journey to explore the stunning landscapes and rich culture of New Zealand. From the moment we arrived, Dave was an exceptional host, demonstrating an unparalleled passion for his country and a deep knowledge of its history, geography, and traditions.

​Dave’s ability to engage with our students was remarkable. He made every excursion an educational and memorable experience, from navigating the geothermal wonders of Rotorua to hiking the majestic trails of New Zealand. He was not just a guide but a genuine storyteller, bringing New Zealand’s unique stories and legends to life for all of us.

​Furthermore, Dave’s professionalism and dedication were evident in every aspect of the trip’s organization. He was attentive to our group’s needs, ensuring our safety and comfort at all times. His friendly and approachable demeanor made everyone feel at ease, and he handled any unforeseen challenges with calm and efficiency.

​The success of our trip was, in large part, due to Dave’s incredible efforts. He showed us the true heart of New Zealand, and we returned to Argentina with a profound appreciation for the country and its people. We are immensely grateful for his hard work and commitment.

​Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.

​Sincerely,

​The Staff and Students of St. Bernard’s School

I am just returning to the UK from the recent Riviera tour when Dave Padfield was our driver and guide in North Island and Steve Becker likewise in South Island.

I wanted to drop you a line to thank you for providing two exceptional Kiwi Ambassadors. Dave and Steve went the extra mile to ensure we had a truly memorable experience… but perhaps more importantly, they are both good company, showing particular care and kindness to the disabled member of the party. Without them, the tour could have, in my view, quickly fallen apart.

Dave and Steve are outstanding ambassadors of your company and of your wonderful Country, setting the highest professional standards in all they do.

Perhaps you would give them my thanks and a well deserved pat on the back for jobs very well done.

I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside David Padfield in the tour business for several years now, and I can confidently say he is a person of true integrity and honesty. In an industry that relies so heavily on trust and professionalism, David consistently sets the bar.

He’s got that old-school quality you don’t come across often these days—his word means something, and his handshake still carries weight. Whether he’s dealing with clients, partners, or colleagues, he brings a level of transparency, fairness, and commitment that is both rare and refreshing.

David handles every situation with calm, grounded judgment, always doing what’s right, even when it’s not the easiest path. His dedication to honest work and treating people with respect is something I deeply admire.

It’s been an honor to work with him, and I value not only his professionalism but also the genuine friendship we’ve built over time.

I was travelling in New Zealand with a Finnish Albatros group from 22nd of February to 9th of March. During that time we had the best bus driver ever, Mr. Dave Padfield. To be exact, he was much more than just an ordinary bus driver, but a driving guide.

In addition to the good driving and to the knowledge reagrding the New Zealandese society, culture, habits etc. Mr. Padfield or just Dave as we called him, was friendly, flexible, always in a good mood and easy to cope with.

And how well did he take care of his coach! It was always clean and tidy.

I’d like to congratulate you for having recruited Dave. He is simply the best.

last week I was traveling through the northern part of New Zealands northern island.

I’m from Holland and signed up for the first light marathon in Gisborne. The whole week we had the pleasure of having busdriver ‘David’ (forgot his lastname) with us. He drove a whole group of international people from a to b or even to c if we had an request. He had wonderful humor and stories to tell.

I dont know how about you, but I think this is an excellent person for this job. I’ll hope you will praise him for that in behave of my name.

And I think I speak for the others to.

Next year Albatros Adventure marathons will return to NZ and they will need another driver. I hope you’ll give David the change to move the new group around again and give them an extra reason to talk about when they get back to their country while sharing their adventures and talking about extraordinary people they met in NZ.

Thanks in advance for giving my big compliments to David.

Greetings I’m the Tour Leader of the Albatros Marathon Adventure group that David is driving around at the moment. As he’s such a fantastic driver and person and we get along really well, I’m wondering if we can have him driving my next Albatros Tour landing in Queenstown on 24th of February? We’ll be heading out from Auckland on the 6th of March. It would be an absolute treat if it’s possible ;?) Our adventure has been fabulous and our guests are very happy and tired, especially as we did the Tongariro Crossing yesterday ;”) Many a warm regard from Jonatan

Dave the driver for coach 1 was wonderful. Everyone loved him as he shared his personal life as well as what he was passing as we drove. It was too bad he couldn’t continue with us when we went to the South Island but it is understood. Alan driver for coach 2 was very very informed about everything. Not as personal as Dave but he certainly should be considered as a  5 star excellent driver, your roads are killers and he handled them perfectly, safely and with confidence. He also knew everything about the South Island that we could think to ask. Thank you for supplying two excellent drivers.