Our suggestion is to book directly through AIR NEW ZEALAND or United departing from the closest hub to you. Air New Zealand flies direct out of New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco with connecting flights out of almost every major airport thru United Airlines. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to change from domestic to international flights as the automatic booking likes to cut your time to under two hours for your connection flight in Auckland. You need min. 2 hours in Auckland. If you use American Airlines points, your international partner is Quantus.

We pick you up! It’s as easy as that.

No. There are plenty of rifles at the lodge for you to use. Each are fitted with suppressors that make them extremely quiet. These rifles are complementary for you to use. You will sort out purchasing bullets after you get here.

The season begins from the first of March to mid-July. Red Stag rut mid-March to mid-April. Fallow Deer rut beginning-April to end-April. Tahr & Chamois rut beginning-May to 2nd week in June. Although we cannot predict the weather, generally March brings end of summer conditions where it is warm and the days are long (nightfall is around 9:30 PM). April & May is fall with frosty cold mornings and afternoons that warm up to the mid-70’s . Dressing in layers is key during this time. June & July is winter so it’s cold with chances of snow. Bundle up!

There is a “Guided Touring” option that provides a personal tour guide for $275/day. Examples include the Bird Aviary and shopping in Timaru, a drive to see the Moeraki Boulders and the city of Oamaru, or a day of waterfall hikes in Peel Forest. For local “Non-Guided Touring” there’s plenty to see and do around Fairlie. Lake Tekapo and the Mount Cook Non-hunting, non-guided tour companions are $150/day.

Package prices (including all Non-Hunting Companion prices) include:

• Transportation to and from the airport
• Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner
• Beer/Wine/Drinks
• Room Stay
• Guide Fee
• Preparation of skins in the field
• Animal Trophy Fee
• Wi-Fi use at lodge
• laundry
• (You can add trout fishing in March/April and duck hunting in May – additional fees apply)

Additional fees include:

• Air Fare
• Car Rental if desired
• Hard Liquor (which can be purchased at Duty Free after you land in NZ)
• Taxidermy fees Gratuities/Tips
  (to help keep good young guides in our great sport and to ensure excellent seasonal help always return. Gratuity envelopes will be provided. Tips should be paid in US Dollars and are upon hunter’s preferences. General rule of thumb is to prepare for a combined total of 10% gratuity for guides and staff.)

We have an expediter who will salt and dry your skins and boil out your skull for a nominal fee, package up your shipment and expedite it to your broker of choice for a reasonable cost paid upon shipment. (If you have a broker you regularly use for your international animal shipments please bring their info with you. Any local taxidermist can recommend a broker if you don’t have one already.)

First off, we recommend you book directly with the airlines. Using third party booking agents complicate the process if any changes or issues arise during your travels. Second, scrub all your outdoor shoes/boots completely. Biosecurity checks often cause you to miss a flight. Third, check the “details” of your flight before you book the cheapest option. If you don’t have at least 2 hours in Auckland to connect to your domestic flight from the international terminal you will most likely miss your flight. If that happens, no worries, there’s flights departing every hour to CHC from AUK so you’ll catch another flight – but it causes stress to rush and it causes missed arrivals between clients and staff trying to do the airport pick-up. Finally, if you have a layover that’s 4+ hours in Australia you need a visitor’s visa applied online – it’s a simple E-visa that’s approx. $25 USD. Only certain airlines will take you to Australia for your layover like Qantas and Virgin Australia.

Technically, no. However, you do need an NZeTA number that is a $45 fee, requires a recent passport photo to upload, and a current passport. Go to https://nzeta.immigration.govt.nz/ to find the application. 48 hours before your flight there will be a travel declaration to fill out online prescreening for any biohazard flags. All we can say is, try to look more like a tourist and less like a hunter and you’ll fly thru customs.

Please note this gear list is what typically we would use ourselves, it’s not set in stone and some gear is seasonal. If you have any questions, please ask. We have extra gear available if something gets left behind, sizes not guaranteed.

Although we cannot predict the weather, generally March brings end of summer conditions where it is warm and the days are long (nightfall is around 9:30 PM). April & May is fall with frosty cold mornings and afternoons that warm up to the mid-70’s . Dressing in layers is key during this time. June & July is winter so it’s cold with chances of snow. Bundle up!

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