Thread: South Island

Hi there fellas,

Not asking for any spot x type deals but doing the annual south island roadtrip with the missus and will be taking the trusty 308 with me and the handheld thermal for the first time.
Will be down the south island from the 20th Nov through to the 5th Dec.

Any recommendations for a chance at tipping an animal over? Missus isn't overally fit, walking would be limited to 10kms round trip in a day (it is a holiday after all however she is happy to sit and read a book with a view for a day) Vehicle is a reasonably capable dmax with a rear locker, 33s, snorkel etc and all the gear one needs to self recover.
Ive been eyeing up mavora lakes using Careys hut to park up at as it looks relatively easy to drive and walk from there.

Any suggestions welcome, a lot will naturally be weather dependant

Hopefully the top lake will be down by then, there was no beach a couple of weeks ago when we were in there.

10k flatland or 10k hill/steep stuff ?

have a good look at the pesticide map.

The yobbos with lifted Safaris on 35 inch muddies have rooted that track alongside the top Mavora lake. Was there in March this year when it was dry, and it needed careful work to not get stuck in a standard Patrol.

10km with some elevation, she's done a few walks in the ruahines. If it's too much of a climb the missus can relax at the ute. Bugger about the track damage. Seems like that doesn't matter which end of the country it is.
Also looking at the leathum valley area as a possibility. Be nice to see an animal or two but not the main goal of the trip

Anywhere in the South Island you’re planning on spending time around or are you wanting to find places to hunt then working around that?

We will end up in the catlins at some point , spent Christmas down there two years back and the missus wants to go back there. I'll be taking her through nevis Valley and skippers at some point in the two and a bit weeks. Hamner springs is on the list for a soak and that's about all we have thought about.
Majority of it will be weather based being in a roof top tent but we will make the most of it either way

I’ll flick you a PM shortly.

Can't go wrong with the Lewis Pass - Hope, Doubtful and Nina river have plenty of animals. Likely out on the river flats on dusk/dawn too so you won't need to do any hills. Not far from Hanmer, flick me a pm and I can give some more detail if you head there

Get in touch when you are heading this way, will sort something out for you.

flicked you a pm

Huge thanks to the forum the number of PMs is unreal. At this stage we have got plenty of homework and places to think about. I'll put up photos if we have any success without giving away the places sent via PM.
Roll on some good weather

maybe you can help this farmer out... https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/57792...ts-in-westland

I've done quite a bit of hunting down around there. The Condons do not allow any access for hunting on their land, be aware that they will call the police and is very protective of his farm and leased land. His comments in the story was a shock to me. But the numbers he is talking about are true, and they are smaller deer they cos of it. Poachers be aware