The Accurate Reloading Forums
Additions to a New Zealand Vacation
11 February 2012, 05:40
SBTAdditions to a New Zealand Vacation
What are recommended options to a 5 day New Zealand Tahr hunt say between April to June? Is it convienent to Tahiti or Fiji? How about Australia?
"There are worse memorials to a life well-lived than a pair of elephant tusks." Robert Ruark
11 February 2012, 07:52
Code4Australia is close with a cheap extension on to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef or Brisbane (3 hours flying). Return to Auckland is approx $500 ea.
Depending who you fly with any number of Pacific Island groups are possible as stop overs on the way there or on the return. Air New Zealand is an excellent airline and services the South Pacific.
The Island groups are not just 'next door'. The South Pacific is a massive area.
Fiji can be a bit commercial unless you get away from the major centres. The resorts are, well, resorts. Tahiti and New Caledonia (French) can both be expensive. There is world record class Rusa hunting in New Caledonia however. Vanuatu is good value for money and more 'back to nature'.
You may need or not need visas.
New Zealand is an outstanding holiday as well as hunting destination and self drive holidays are easily done. (even if the driving is on the opposite side of the road to you). You can easily fill 2-4 weeks just on the South Island alone which makes side trips superfluous.
Edit: April/June is the rut and winter in NZ with the chance of snow. Dress accordingly. It is not 'the wet' season on the island groups and a good time to visit.
11 February 2012, 08:08
Matt GrahamCome for a hunt in Australia too!!!!

13 February 2012, 14:08
NitroXNo Kiwis answering for their own country?
Alright, in NZ what I would do or consider.
Central North Island, hot springs and other volcanic sights.
Queenstown. Nice town, jet boat rides in the gorge.
Fox Glacier. Take a chopper flight up to it, get out and walk around on it.
Skiing in winter on the slopes if there is good snow. Methven and Queenstown.
Tour along the West Coast of South Island. Spectacular scenery.
Christchurch was nice to visit, don't know how it is since the earthquakes.
Some coastal towns South of Christchurch were good to visit. Have forgotten their names.
Good fishing in NZ, but I'm not a fisherman so can't advise.
Lots of other things to do.
16 February 2012, 07:36
SBTThanks you guys. Please keep the options coming. This will probably be our only trip to the South Pacific, so I'd like to see all I can.
"There are worse memorials to a life well-lived than a pair of elephant tusks." Robert Ruark
16 February 2012, 09:07
muzzaGoing in to our winter then , but the weather wont be terribly cold , courtesy of our marine climate.
By June there should be snow ski-ing available in both Islands , the self-drive tour thing is easily done as well.
The western side of both main islands is the wetter , so the weather is probably better on the eastern side then , but the scenery on the west - particularly in the south - is spectacular.
As Code4 said - you could easily spend a couple of weeks self-driving in the South Island , and just as easily the same amount of time in the North. Just have to remember that you cant cover distances as quickly here as you may at home , due to the topography. We are a long , thin country with a mountainous central spine that doesnt allow for straight roads.
Or you could fly to Australia ......
________________________
Old enough to know better
16 February 2012, 09:17
TOP_PREDATORSpend a week or so hunting other animals in New Zealand,game birds will be in season May-June
"Never in the field of human conflict
was so much owed by so many to so few." Sir Winston Churchill
24 February 2012, 08:03
highlanderI'd spend 5 days hunting then slow yourself down and enjoy the plethora of other things that NZ has to offer. 95% of our hunters will hunt for 4-9days then allow us to put 5-10 touring days together for after the hunt. With our base being Wanaka we organize trips to Milford, Southern Scenic route down to Invercargill up thru the Catlins forest park out to Dunedin up thru Oamaru to Mt Cook and back to Queenstown . Can be self drive or we'll arrange for a driver if you wish. Big thing is to NOT try and do to much. Country may look small but there's a huge amount of diversity.