The person behind the coffee

By Neville Idour

On a recent visit to The Hills Golf Club at Arrowtown, near Queenstown, and an enjoyable round of golf amidst the lush green surroundings set against the mountain backdrops the only feeling was simply breathtaking.

Adjourning to the clubhouse I was presented with another breathtaking sight. Believe it or not it was a barista-made coffee of beauty arriving at our table (see photo).

So this stirred the writing juices to think, hey there is more to a great golf club than the golf and all things golf. Surely the quality of staff and service in the clubhouse is the icing on the cake. Therefore I just had to learn more about the barista on duty Daniella Surian.

The name Surian was a good starting point. Where does that originate?

“My parents are Serbian but the name is Albanian, however my parents were born in Canada after their parents immigrated there,’’ Surian replied.

``So born and raised in Canada, I am Canadian. I have never been to Serbia but I hope to go within the next year.

“I graduated from high school and worked in a café for a year, then moved to New Zealand with my 24-year-old sister when I was 19, two years ago.”

Why New Zealand?

``I heard about it from my grandma who was in Australia for a while then came to New Zealand and said it was stunning. It looked amazing in photos with the mountains and scenery. It was a place that looked cool, so I came.”

You land in New Zealand at just 19 years old and need work.

``I heard that Queenstown was a touristy place with lots of young people and backpackers and the mountains so Queenstown it was.

``I have been a barista since I was 14. I worked in a café after school and worked my way up to the point where I could train others. My first job here was at Columbus Coffee for about two months then I worked at Kinross (hotel and winery) until covid and lockdown made me redundant.”

``Then I worked the 2020 ski season as a barista at The Remarkables ski field making over 1000 coffees a day. After that it was Kinross again for two months.

``I heard about the job here at The Hills from a friend so I worked the summer here till May 2021 then travelled for a month. I did a road trip round the North Island pitching a tent everywhere, with a friend for two weeks then by myself for two weeks.”

Then it was time for The Remarkables again where Daniella was supervisor for the season. Now it is another summer at The Hills.

So what is ahead?

``Lots more countries to travel. I want to go all over Europe and south east Asia, travel around Canada then go to school.”

Go to school?

``I am going to go to university then become a paramedic. It is a fast-paced job and you are helping people, You aren’t say stuck in a hospital.”

Are you a skier?

“No I’m a snowboarder. I grew up in the snow and snowboarded first time when I was 13. I have never skied. I get to snowboard here when I get time at Cardrona, Treble Cone and all over. Cardrona is my favourite with it’s wide runs. It’s got everything.”

So with work, is it important where you are?

``Here at The Hills it is great and I have been helping out with the golf operations as well, such as bookings and events.

``The hours are great with no late nights and things like that. When I got here I knew little about golf so have had to learn it from Craig (Palmer). I have never played golf but now understand the operations side of golf. So I’m learning something new every day.”

“I really enjoy both jobs. For The Remarkables I’m up at 4.45am each day, leave home before 6am and don’t get home till about 6.30 to 7pm so it is a long day. Whereas here at The Hills it is a little easier not having those kind of hours and I can enjoy summer time better.”

How about trying golf?

``I’m very competitive and I think I would get frustrated with it as I have seen you guys get frustrated (howls of protest). But I think I should give it a go.

What about other sports?

``I grew up playing volleyball and soccer then badminton at high school.''

On that note it is time for Daniella the barista to produce yet another masterpiece coffee thereby proving the importance of expertise and great service in all areas of a golf club.