My wife is touring NZ in a campervan and exploring country. We looked into hunting, but wrong time of year. What should she absolutely see - do? She calls every few days and emails about the same. She is a hunter and a biologist who loves wildlife. Let me know so I can sender the tips. Thanks, MJ.

How long is she here for , where is she now , and where is she heading.

Once we have that information it will not be difficult to recommend places to see.

Now is as good a time as any to hunt , although the alpine species arent as good as winter trophies , but hunting is still hunting , anytime ....

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What should she absolutely see - do?

For a start tell her not to speak to the locals (they talk kinda funny).

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Originally posted by Bakes:

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What should she absolutely see - do?

For a start tell her not to speak to the locals (they talk kinda funny).

What!!! and you don't?????

Tell her to give the North Island a miss, full of yuppies sipping Lattes.
The Speights Brewery in Dunedin is a good start.
And hey always a bit of hunting on offer.
Wallabys, Tahr, Chamois, Wild Pigs (I just about got one tonight, if only I'd had a gun or even a knife, had it bailed against a sheep netting fence in the headlights of my truck, called a mate to bring a gun down in a hurry, but the damn think broke and escaped, about 100 pound boar...bugger.)
I'm guiding Tahr in 2 weeks time, it's not like they disappear at this time of year.
Top of my list would have to be Trout Fishing.
The High Country Lakes open this weekend, and the Browns are on, big and well conditioned, from what I've seen so far.
Plenty of wildlife viewing options.
Now there's a few ideas.
I'll bet Muzza's next question will be...is she good lookin'....!!!!!!

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11/2/05 Today we are in Auckland and will leave tomorrow to go north to Whangare, Russel, Kaitaia, then back down through Hikurange and to Auckland. We figure spending only 3 days up there. I will email you at some point with in the next few days. We will have a better feel for where we go from there. We do know that we want to spend more time on the South Island since more eco,bio stuff there.

This was my last communication from her. She's not hard to look at. She holds her liqour (usually), a damn fine shot. She will be there almost a month, leaving 11/28. I just sent her an email with a link to start checking this forum. Thanks gents.

Here is a shot of her at the Dallas Safari Club expo in January at the Judge's suite.

We're about an hour out of Christchurch (South Island) back in the mountains.
I'm doing a Masters Degree in Wildlife Management. Vanessa does a bit of Fishing and guides Bird watching tours. Call in and we can put you on to some of the local wildlife action, maybe even some hunting, if you have time.
Mount Hutt Station
SH 72
Rakaia Gorge
Ph 03 302 9209

We have one of NZ's best Salmon Rivers here on our doorstep, the runs will be starting December, but really don't get into action until Jan-March.

You'll love the South Island, great roads and awesome scenary, North Island is a little more cluttered with people.

If she is still in Northland I would suggest that she keeps on driving south when she hits the Motorway north of Auckland and then once free of the city heads for the Bay of Plenty , then down to Rotorua to see the geothermal activity and donate vast amounts of cash to the tourist traps there . Then down through the centre of the island past the mountains in the middle to Wellington and the ferry south .
If she wants to get off the tourist track then a trip to the east to Hawkes Bay is nice - lots of wineries to stop at , and the city of Napier is famous for its Art deco style if thats your thing . Sika hunting is available from there , also trout and sea fishing .

Conversley she could go to the west through the King Country and Taranaki , an as yet undiscovered scenic area with fewer tourists that the mainstream areas . Also has a very pretty mountain and some great limestone country to drive through on the way .

Like TrackersNZ says , the South Island is better for scenery and less people , and there is things to hunt there too . The fishing is pretty good too .

A month might seem like a long time but it isnt really , and distances cannot be covered as rapidly here as in the US - the terrain doesnt lend itself to high speed roads and camper vans are not the fastest vehicles either .

If she wants somewhere to stay in Taranaki on the West Coast of the North Island she is welcome to park here for a day or two . At least she would meet some locals rather than other tourists ... Pm me is you want contact details .

You are all very kind. She avoids the typical tourist sort of things as she is an avid outdoorswoman. She and her traveling companion are both biologists, so they are more interested in flora and fauwna, geological sort of stuff, etc...

She enjoys hunting, although not quite as much as I do. For her hunting is a good excuse to get into the wilderness. Although, she is excellent with a rifle or handgun. She went on a black bear hunt in Idaho in August and whilst glassing clear cuts she came across some Sage Grouse, and not having a shotgun, she proceeded to harvest four of them with her 3" .357mag pistol. She says they were tasty.

I do hope she checks into this site, although from her last communication I don't expect to hear from her for at least three more days.

Your suggestions and tid bits that Americans would never find on their own are most appreciated.