About Us

Kathy and Ian Philpott  established Cliffhanger in 1992 to provide outdoor adventures using Auckland as a base, including the Waitakere Ranges, Manukau Harbour & the Hauraki Gulf. Cliffhanger employs only qualified instructors and has an excellent safety record.

As a leading edge Outdoor Adventure Company we can offer a variety of programmes & activities that are tailor made to meet the individual requirements of each of our clients.
ALL of our Instructors hold New Zealand Outdoor qualifications, with a mix of NZQA,  NZOIA, NZMSC and Academic Awards.

About Ian Philpott.

Ian Has over 20 years experience as a professional outdoor instructor and Industry assessor.

Ian Has run and co-managed Cliffhanger, an Adventure company and an Outdoor instructor training school for over a decade. Ian also lectures and instructs part time for Northland Polytechnic, teaching rope skills and Sea kayak skills.

He holds numerous awards in many outdoor disciplines including Mountain Safety Council Abseil and Rock Assessor, Bushcraft  Assessor; he holds New Zealand Outdoor instructors Assn awards in Bush 2 and Rock 1. He is a ACC River Safe Assessor; is a Sport, Fitness, Industry Training Organisation Roving Assessor and has been on industry panels

writing National standards for the outdoor industry.

Ian says what he enjoys about working with our clients, aside from some of the most spectacular scenery and special places we get to visit, is watching the client's light go on suddenly after pushing through their fears and challenging themselves - that what used to seem impossible before, actually becomes possible for them…….."possible in the world. Possible for ME !!!"

In his spare time you can find Ian spending time with his family, hanging off a rock, tramping/ hiking off the beaten track or paddling the waves.

Ian Philpott
CEO &  Outdoor
Guide and Instructor

About Kathy Philpott.

Kathy has an extensive business background and is a qualified Presenter & Corporate Trainer with over 12 years experience. Her initial training was through Dave Foreman Associates and is now a Certified as a NLP Business Communications Master Practitioner. She has worked with companies large and small, ranging from Banking to Casinos to the Prince of Wales Trust.

Her experience in helping to facilitate sustainable positive changes in workplaces is formidable, and her global views enable her to work vertically or horizontally in corporate environments.

By applying her skills in accelerated learning, meta-states, and enneagram training she fulfils her passion for working with people who want to get ahead in life.