SOUTHERN Highlander Guy L’Estrange has arguably the best office in the world.
The avid outdoorsmen has travelled the globe climbing anything, trekking everywhere and paddling wherever he could get a canoe and has even forged a career from his passion.
A local for seven years, Mr L’Estrange grew up on a farm in rural Queensland.
It is there that he became accustom to working outside but it was during his tertiary studies he developed an obsession for adventure.
“Once my family sold the property I didn’t really know what to do with myself so I joined the university outdoors club and I guess that is where my passion for bushwalking, climbing and other outdoor pursuits came from,” Mr L’Estrange said.
“It is definitely a passion now, I am not a very good inside person.”
Mr L’Estrange has been working in the outdoor education and outdoor recreation industry for the past nine years.
After completing a degree at the University of Griffith, Queensland, he studied at Blue Mountains College and worked as an adventure guide before landing a job with the Outdoor Education Group in Moss Vale.
While working there he facilitated programs for many of the local schools including Gib Gate, Tudor House, Frensham, Oxley College, and Bowral Rudolf Steiner School.
More recently he has been a teacher of outdoor recreation at TAFE NSW.
“It is incredibly rewarding to see someone achieve something they never imagined they would be able to do and introducing them to the outdoors, that is what I take great pleasure from,” Mr L’Estrange said.
Though he is well travelled and qualified in the outdoors, it is Mr L’Estrange’s new business adventure that has him most inspired.
Outdoor Spirit has seen him realise his dream of owning an outdoor adventure company aimed at creating custom-tailored unique group experiences in the local surrounds.
“It is an incredible feeling to be at this stage, I ran my first guided canoe journey just before Christmas for a local company’s Christmas party,” Mr L’Estrange said.
“We canoed down the Wingecarribee River and had a gourmet barbecue grill at the three quarter mark with a real sort of Christmas theme as well.
“We had people of all ages from 18 months to 65 and I taught a lot of them to canoe for the first time and just showed them some of the amazing sights right here on their doorstep.
“Since then I have sent out letters and information to local accommodation providers and already the phones have been running hot wanting more information and many have shown an interest in looking at putting together some corporate events,” Mr L’Estrange said.
One adventure Mr L’Estrange could do little to prepare for this year was fatherhood.
Together with kindred spirit and wife Lyra, a former tour guide in Tasmania, he will welcome his first child into the world any day now.
Close friend Travis Frenay said he was sure bub would inherit his parents’ spirit for adventure.
“I am positive the baby will be climbing before it can walk,” Mr Frenay said.
“Guy doesn’t take your typical holiday, he climbs everything and walks everywhere - on trips with him there is never a dull moment.”
Mr Frenay said he was sure Mr L’Estrange’s business would be quite an experience.
“Guy chose to open his business here because it is such a beautiful area,” Mr Frenay said.
“It is a business but I don’t think money is the main motivator, even thinking of the name Guy played around with the idea of Southern Highland Adventures or something along those lines but instead settled on Outdoor Spirit.
“He is truly excited about showing visitors the sights but also about introducing locals to the beauty of their area.”
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