Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to New Zealand?

We recommend flying with Air New Zealand for flights both to, from, and within New Zealand. In our experience, they are hunter friendly and provide excellent service, allowing for a smooth travel experience. All flights exit via the USA western seaboard either through San Francisco, Los Angeles CA or Houston TX.

Flights arrive in Auckland, New Zealand where you will go through New Zealand Customs. From there, you can take a short domestic flight to Queenstown where we will meet you and then it’s just a 1 hour drive to the Lakeside Apartments in Wānaka.

We recommend Esplanade Travel in the USA to arrange your flights with Air New Zealand. For more information visit: www.esplanadetravel.com

What are the visa requirements when visiting New Zealand?

New Zealand has an extensive list of visa waiver countries which makes entry requirements very minimal. To enter without a visa, visitors to New Zealand must possess a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). This can be acheived online or via a free smartphone App and involves paying a small processing fee plus a International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). For more information about NZeTA and IVL please click here. If you travelling onto Australia, it is required that you get an electronic VISA

Do I need a hunting license?

No license is required when hunting big game in New Zealand. A license is required however if you intend to fish or shoot duck (limited season) while you are here. Inexpensive short duration licenses are available. Contact us for more details.

Do you supply firearms?

Yes, we can provide the appropriate firearms for your hunt.

Can I bring my own firearm?

There is no problem bringing your own firearms into New Zealand with the exception of pistols. You will need a firearm import permit which is obtainable from www.police.govt.nz/advice-services/firearms-safety-fsa A minimum calibre of 7mm Remington Magnun is recommended for hunting all species in New Zealand. Ammunition can also be imported. Please contact your preferred airline for packing and limit information. We also offer the use of our firearms at a fee of $150 plus ammo.

Where in New Zealand are your hunting tours?

In short, wherever the best trophies can be found. Some species are limited to just one of New Zealand's two main islands (North and South), while others can be found in both. You tell us what you would like to hunt and we put together a custom personalized tour specifically for your requirements.

When is the best time to hunt Red Stags, Fellow Deer, Tahr, Chamois...?

Please refer to the relevant species page for information about when best to come.

What gear should I bring?

Hunting Clothing

New Zealand tends to have a fast-pased climate that can change from day-to-day. As we are in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are the opposite (The Winter Solstice is in June.) We recommend that you bring light to medium weight hunting clothes so that you may freely layer up or down to suit the weather. You should also bring a light rain jacket and a pair of waterproof boots with plenty of ankle support and deep cleated soles for alpine hunting. In order to avoid the inclusion of any unwanted disease/pests in New Zealand ex Chronic Wasting Disease we respectively ask that you be sure that everything you bring into New Zealand is throrougly cleaned, in particular, the treaded soles of your hunting boots.

Optics

We recommend bringing a good pair of binoculars as much of the huntin gis held in open alpine country.

How do I arrange the taxidermy for my trophies?

After your hunt we will put you in touch with our recommended taxidermist who will process your trophies and then arrange for them to be shipped back home.

How much do your hunting tours cost?

All of our tours are personalized to our customers requirements so no two tours are the same and as a result we don't have a "price list" as such. We encourage you to get in touch to discuss what you are wanting to achieve while in New Zealand. We can then put together a priced package that suits your budget.