New Zealand honeymoon

[acmckeage03]

Anyone on here experienced with hunting/vacationing in New Zealand. Wife and I are wanting to book a trip in two years and looking for some help refining the to-do list! Looking for recommendations on outfitters and must see sights while we are there. Any recommendations or advice will be greatly appreciated!

 

[mlevimadden]

I have never hunted NZ but spent 3 weeks in a campervan on the North and South Island. It's still my favorite country I've ever visited. What kind of trip are you looking for and how long?

 

[awasome]

If you are a nerd like I am, they have a bunch of Lord of the Rings film locations out there.

 

[acmckeage03]

I have never hunted NZ but spent 3 weeks in a campervan on the North and South Island. It's still my favorite country I've ever visited. What kind of trip are you looking for and how long?

We are thinking whatever hunt timeframe for red stag + a week of sightseeing.

 

[Retch_Sweeney]

Went on a diy hunting trip/sightseeing trip for 1 month on the south island. It was a blast. Definitely recommend HeliServicesNZ out of Haast for sightseeing or heli drop offs.

 

[Bearlodge10]

My family and I visited the north island during Christmas time. We spent time around Kerikeri and Taupo areas. As mentioned before, there are multiple Lord of the Rings film sites. We did Hobbiton and the kids loved it but I found it a tourist trap. We didn't do much hunting but went with Chris Jolley Outdoors for fishing and had a blast both on the lake and on the rivers. We did tour through some of their leases and saw some decent red deer and Fallow deer. We shot turkeys and the experience was enjoyable. If you are into hiking, I strongly suggest doing the Tongariro Crossing. This is a busy trek but worth it to see the different habitats NZ has.
We did visit White Island but I am sure it is only helicopter tours now. We plan to go back and plan to go visit Rotoura and do as mlevimadden has done and rented a campervan and travel more off the beaten path.

 

[Ridge Ghost]

My wife and I spent three weeks exploring NZ in 2011. We didn't hunt, so can't offer any advice there. Hiking the Tongariro Crossing (Mt. Doom), snorkeling at Goat Island marine reserve, and touring the Waitomo glowworm caves were the highlights of the North Island. Auckland was just a big city, so we spent little time there.

We preferred the South Island. Highlights included a 3-day kayak trip through Abel Tasman national park, snorkeling with dolphins in Kaikoura, Franz Joseph and Fox glaciers, and hiking in Wanaka, Queenstown and the Fiordland. Roy's peak is a hike with great photo ops. Milford Sound was incredibly scenic. Booked a fly fishing guide out of Queenstown for a day and landed a 27" brown. Great Indian and Turkish food to be had everywhere. Kiwis are laid back people with a great sense of humor. You're going to have a great trip, whatever you end up doing!

 

[WCB]

If you got the means to go OUtfitted/guided I would recommend New Zealand Horn and Antler Safaris. Wife (girlfriend at the time) and I spent 10 days or so with them shot Chamois Tahr and a couple of Arapawa Rams (and a few wallabies). If you go at the right time of the year they can also get you on a waterfowl shoot. Great people. Family ran operation.

We spent 1hr on the North Island and even talking to residents not much to see there besides beaches. Take a walk through Christchurch.

No doubt go to the West Coast (South Island) take a flight up to the Foxx Glacier. Some good eating over there and beautiful drive from east to west. If you are into fly fishing definitely spend a day doing that.

 

[Phaseolus]

My wife and I spent a month in a campervan on the South Island. We didn’t hunt but loved the heck out of New Zealand. I had a winter dry bean nursery just north of Blenheim for a few years that i visited. I was in Christchurch for the big quake.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

If you are a nerd like I am, they have a bunch of Lord of the Rings film locations out there.

The LOTR books are classics and Tolkhein is universally recognized for the impact these stories had on generations of readers AND authors. No need to consider yourself a nerd for loving these books. One interesting note for those of Scandinavian heritage, Tolkhein's love and admiration of the Viking sagas heavily influenced his own writing. The classic struggles of good vs. evil in the sagas and their fantastical characters, monsters, and creations based on Norse mythology were foundational for Tolkhein and hosts of other authors. The sagas were part of his inspiration just as the LOTR books have been the inspiration for others.

A combination LOTR tour and red stag or elk hunt would be an absolute bucket list trip for me and my family. Teddy Roosevelt (personal favorite president) paved the way for the introduction of elk in NZ.

 

[pyrotechnic]

The LOTR books are classics and Tolkhein is universally recognized for the impact these stories had on generations of readers AND authors. No need to consider yourself a nerd for loving these books. One interesting note for those of Scandinavian heritage, Tolkhein's love and admiration of the Viking sagas heavily influenced his own writing. The classic struggles of good vs. evil in the sagas and their fantastical characters, monsters, and creations based on Norse mythology were foundational for Tolkhein and hosts of other authors. The sagas were part of his inspiration just as the LOTR books have been the inspiration for others.

A combination LOTR tour and red stag or elk hunt would be an absolute bucket list trip for me and my family. Teddy Roosevelt (personal favorite president) paved the way for the introduction of elk in NZ.

This sounds exactly like something a nerd would say.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

This sounds exactly like something a nerd would say.

LOL, I was wondering how long that would take.

Guilty as charged if reading good books makes one a nerd. Also have about 50 Louis L'Amour books in my closet I've read several times. I highly recommend the Sackett series. Also enjoy some good zombie fiction.

 

[pyrotechnic]

LOL, I was wondering how long that would take.

Guilty as charged if reading good books makes one a nerd. Also have about 50 Louis L'Amour books in my closet I've read several times. I highly recommend the Sackett series. Also enjoy some good zombie fiction.

I love reading fantasy. Just finished up Joe Abercrombie's latest, highly recommend btw.

OP, sorry to derail your thread.

 

[Phaseolus]

I’m pretty nerdy about LTR but when we looked through the fence at Hobbiton we quickly lost the urge to pay to go inside. Kids would maybe like it.

 

[JKnight]

My wife and I spent a couple weeks on the north island a couple years ago. We didn't get a chance to hunt, but we did a ton of sightseeing.

Hobbiton is okay if you're into LOTR. As someone suggested above, Tongariro Alpine Crossing is fantastic. It's my favorite trail that I've ever done. You can get tickets for a shuttle and walk back to the car which I highly recommend. The Waitomo glow worm caves are really cool as well, and if you want to try your hand at surfing, check out the Raglan surf school, they're super nice folks and will have you surfing in no time.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

If you are a nerd like I am, they have a bunch of Lord of the Rings film locations out there.

Hell yeah. Want to visit that permanent shire deal someday. The even have the pub and that chick who played Rosie actually worked there and served beer. Sign me up.

 

[Pilarczyk85]

Don't forget NZ has some of thee most epic fly fishing in the world.

 

[Kilboars]

My wife and I spent four weeks in NZ in 2012. I hunted For a week and we explored the islands the rest of the time. Was fantastic and we’d love to go back.

Here’s a video I put together for us. Shows the names of the areas and outfitter. May help.

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