About Elise
Hi, I’m Elise Lavers,
Hi, I’m Elise, Outdoor Educator, Guide and the founder of Enliven Outdoor Adventures.
I was voted a finalist in the 2021 SA Tourism Awards, the 2022 SA woman awards and a semi finalist in the 2024 SA Young Achiever awards, and today I help women to plan and prepare their own adventures, because you don’t want to spend the rest of your life dependent on a guide, do you?
At the age of 27 I launched my women’s outdoor tourism business in 2020 after losing my kayak guiding job to the pandemic. Taking women on short adventures was fun, but I felt like I was doing them a disservice by gate-keeping the adventure and having them rely on me to take them for a paddle or hike. Meanwhile, my thirst for my own adventures grew, and in Winter 2025 I took on the 1,000km Bibbulmun Track as a through-hike; spending 650kms of it hiking solo.
The feeling of freedom and accomplishment I felt was like nothing else, and I wanted to help educate other women so that they too could take on their own hiking adventures without needing a guide. I could see patterns in how outdoor tourism and outdoor education let women down, so I focussed my guiding style around 3 pillars; Connection, Craft and Confidence. Through my signature method; The Enliven Pathway ©, I now teach other women how to find autonomy, safety, and accomplishment outdoors without needing to rely on others.
I have a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Health Science, with a major in physical Education and a minor in Geography. I hold a cert II in Maritime Operations, a cert III in entrepreneurship and small business, and I am trained in remote and wilderness first aid. I hold current Bushwalking Leadership accreditation, and I’m also a qualified PADI snorkelling instructor, Paddle Australia SUP instructor and Enclosed Sea Kayaking Guide.
From my 13 years of experience across expedition paddling, leading outdoor education programs, teaching and guiding around Australia, I bring a depth and breadth of knowledge to my programs to help other women reach their own adventure goals.
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“Elise is great, her lovely personality and passion for the outdoors shines through her teaching and the time we had together. 10/10 recommended to everyone.” ★★★★★
Michelle, Google Review
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“Elise is a wonderful guide and host. Full of knowledge and so welcoming, friendly and supportive to everyone of all abilities. Her offerings are the perfect balance of adventure and unwinding.” ★★★★★
Christabelle, Google Review
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“Elise has such an inclusive, welcoming and encouraging approach to how she works. Take it from this return adventurer.” ★★★★★
Louise, Google Review
My journey from PE teacher to outdoor coach
I finished high school with a 98.7 ATAR and in the SA women’s state rowing team, as well as winning the STARforce youth leadership camp award. I loved challenge and sport, so I went through the process of joining the navy, but chose to study PE teaching. Everyone thought I was wasting my ATAR.
2010
The high achiever
A Shark attack that changed things
2012
In my second year of studying at university, my now-partner and I were kayaking off the Yorke Peninsula when a shark knocked him from his kayak. I paddled us both to shore. This got media attention. I received a bravery award and got invited to join a team of women training to kayak across Bass Strait to Tasmania.
Bass Babes Sea Kayaking Team
2013
I took a year off university and trained under the guidance of Malcolm Hamilton and learnt all things expedition paddling. I learnt about risk management, nutrition, resistance training, reading weather, emergency plans, communication devices, navigation, and importantly, the beauty and awe you experience when adventuring in wild places, and the benefits of having mentors.
A pAssion for outdoor education
After graduating from university and after experiencing the fun and challenge of kayaking expeditions, I decided to not become a teacher, but to become an outdoor guide instead. I worked as a high ropes instructor in QLD, a snow photographer in NSW and a snorkelling instructor in SA.
2016 -
2019
Outdoor experiences by women, for women.
2020-2024
After losing my job guiding kayak with the dolphins tours at the start of the pandemic, I decided to start my own outdoor tour business that would focus exclusively on women; giving them outdoor opportunities they might not have had otherwise. I led stand up paddle boarding lessons, sailing lessons, kayaking camps, surf camps and hiking retreats all for women.
Through-hiking 1000kms, mostly alone.
2025
A hiking trip to WA with my boyfriend was planned for Winter 2025. He had the knowledge and experience, and I went along for the ride. at the 350km mark, we decided to break up. I decided that I needed to finish the track, so I quit my casual job, changed my flights, and kept hiking with a heavy 2 person tent and 2 person trangia stove. I was scared and didn’t have a plan, but I made connections, did research, and learned and planned as I went.
Stepping away from guiding women, and towards educating them to guide themselves.
2026
The feelings of self-trust, autonomy, freedom and accomplishment I felt from planning and executing my own hike was so strong that I felt pulled to help other women to do the same. I no longer wanted to be a guide who would take women along for the ride. I wanted to empower them with the knowledge and skills to plan and execute their own adventures safely and sustainably. I’m now coaching women in our Hike Ready online course and Kindred in-person programs, and can’t wait to keep spreading my impact and helping more women to have the same feelings and experiences I had.
Get to know me
What’s your Human Design and star sign?
I’m an Aries Sun and a 2/4 Splenic Projector in Human Design. Independence, instinct, guiding others and knowing when to retreat and recharge.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Country South Australia in a small town called Jamestown. My parents both worked at the school and we had a lot of fun times playing outdoors. I think that’s why I need wide open spaces.
Coffee order?
Double Shot Soy Latte please.
hear our story.
Learn more about Enliven Outdoor Adventures from this interview of founder, Elise Lavers by Georgie Stevenson on the Rise & Conquer Podcast.
