Anything worth hunting or fishing for in mid February? It looks like I'll have the weekend of the 11th and 12th off while I'm there.

If there's nothing to hunt then, should I just grab a flight across the Tasman and visit Sydney or Melbourne (I've never been to either) just for sightseeing?

Hi Frank

You would have to travel from Auckland some distance to hunt, although I cant say how far or what your chances are at that time of the year – I’ll leave that for the NZ crowd to comment on.

However if you do come to Melbourne, I am happy to fill in some you your time. The 12th looks like being the monthly shoot of the Big Game Rifle Club. You will see double and bolt rifles in all the calibres up to the big stoppers in 40 and maybe 50 cals (I will need to check on what events are scheduled for that day) and there are generally some very nice classic rifles there from the old English makers as well as some of the modern makers. I can probably meet you at the airport and drop you in town, and am happy to take you out to the range on the 12th. PM me if your schedule goes that way and we can nail things down.

Feb is the hottest and dryest time of the year in NZ. Even locals who do a lot of meat hunting avoid Feb because the bush is so noisy with dry leaves.

You can still hunt free range sika, red & fallow deer in public land or in some of the farms that do home stays. These are low cost meat hunts & the accomodation is basic home stay & not luxury. I am sure you can find luxury lodges around Taupo & Rotorua - about 2 to 3 hours drive from Auckland.

Feb is a good time for fishing - plenty of charter operators around the auckland region who will take you out along with a group for about $100 per person. Or you could charter a boat.

There used to be a farm in the Kaipra heads where you could shoot meat fallow deer for about $60. I am not sure if theya still offer this deal.

You would have a great time in the Bay of Islands up north with great fishing.

Good luck and have a great time here.

Thanks guys, that's a generous offer Bwana. I appreciate it. I'll for sure to get a hold of you if I can make it to Melbourne

Naki, I knew it would be hot and dry there, that's why I asked. We will probably go out for snapper in the Hauriki Gulf during the week so I was hoping to get out in the field.

James (Top Predator) usually offers to get me out to chase ferals, so maybe we can do that.

if you want to head to Taranaki I'm sure we can find you a goat or two or some rabbits or possums , but its a bit out of the way and off the tourist track.

Thanks Muzza, that's a bit far south though.

I spent one of the coldest days of my life in Wellington one July day when a storm was blowing in from the south. February should be a lot nicer though.