NZ Memorialized

TerynItUp · Dec 13, 2018

Spent three amazing weeks in New Zealand back in late April and early May. Just got a piece of that trip in the mail today, pretty good early Christmas gift.

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Too many photos to post but the hunting was unreal and the fly fishing was even better. If it's not on your to-do list it should be.

Since we returned, in a span of three months our helicopter pilot was killed in a crash and his brother was killed in a separate crash as well. It was a wild ride in those machines and it's easy to imagine how quickly it could go South.

Hunt Hard. Shoot Straight. Kill Clean. Apologize to No One.

passthrough · Dec 14, 2018

Thats freaking awesome! Im jelly....I want to kill one pretty bad. Congrats on a trip of a lifetime

live4muleys · Dec 14, 2018

That looks like an awesome time.

NMPaul · Dec 14, 2018

Looks like a great trips, and some very good pics. I think I will pass on the helicopter ride though.

Bowdeadly · Dec 14, 2018

Nice, I like the hobbit house. May the pilots rest in peace.

mozey · Dec 15, 2018

Awesome tahr. I'm taking my wife to Queenstown for a three species hunt in 2020, to include a tahr. You're just making me even more anxious... ;-)

Too sad about those pilots.

earlyriser · Dec 16, 2018

Looks amazing and glad you were able to go! I agree with Paul, I'll pass on the helicopter ride!

Sierra · Dec 16, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Dec-16-18 AT 02:51PM (MST)[p]Incredible trip and photos. Did you need the helicopter for the hunt or was for a separate tour? How many days was the hunt and what does the hunt cost? Always wanted to go to NZ for a family trip and hope to sprinkle in some fishing and maybe a hunt. Thanks!

tailgunner · Dec 16, 2018

Looks like an awesome trip. Very kool pics thanks for sharing.

joesikora · Dec 16, 2018

TerynItUp, is that the cabin you stayed in? If so do you have any interior pics?
Oh another thing as far as going on a hunt like that you convinced me to never go!
Crashes deaths Hell No! Lol!

Thanks Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora

Sierra · Dec 17, 2018

Here you go Joe:

https://www.newzealand.com/us/campaign/hobbiton-in-360-degrees/

TerynItUp · Dec 17, 2018

Sierra, it's kind of a long story but I'll condense it. A colleague and I did a presentation to some contractors from NZ who were visiting New Mexico and other American contractors to learn a little about the construction industry over here. They liked what we had to say so they flew us out there to present to their different area managers on the North and South islands. While out there they hosted us to the most amazing lodging experience I have ever seen. We stayed at a remote Alpine Lodge called Minaret Station (where First Lite got the name for one of their pieces of apparel) that could only be accessed by helicopter. Day one they took us on an Heli tour of Fiordland and the Western Coast of the South Island. Day two was the hunting, we chose to go after Tahr but had option of Red Deer or Chamois as well. The hunting was not what I am used to and I would probably do it a little different in the future, but yes, it was mostly out of the chopper. We did a morning hunt on day three and it was awesome because we took off on foot straight from the lodge and killed a hind (female red). Southern Lakes Safaris was the guide and he was great and can host a multitude of styles, drop camp, helicopter, hike in, etc... I can't say enough about the Wallis Brothers and their place at Minaret Station, it is world class. Private chefs, fresh caught lobster, local venison, local oysters, top shelf drinks, all in all amazing.

My family came out and met me for two more weeks and we did all the typical tourist stuff. Fiordland, Milford Sound, Hobbiton, Queenstown, etc... I booked a fishing trip with Jake Berry of Southern Rivers Fly Fishing and it was the best part of the trip. Sight fishing to giant trout in gin clear water is hard to beat. If I went back I would spend more time fishing and mix in a combo fish/hunt in the backcountry. More pictures and a few links to the folks we used below. I couldn't tell you how much the hunting and lodging cost because we were treated to it by the local contractor we visited.

When we go back, we will pick a place as a base and not travel around so much. It was cool to see all parts of NZ but the travel got exhausting, especially with a one year old. I liked Wanaka and Te Anau the most. Queenstown was cool too but way too many people for my liking.

https://minaretstation.com/
https://www.southernlakessafaris.co.nz/
https://southernriversflyfishing.co.nz/

Hunt Hard. Shoot Straight. Kill Clean. Apologize to No One.

joesikora · Dec 17, 2018

Thanks Sierra,
I love to see things like that. Being a carpenter all my life, things like that really gets me going.
I built a house once just so I could build a master bathroom idea I seen in MO. LOL!

Teryn, those are beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing them

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora