Thread: Advice for red deer

What sort of hunting have you done before ? Post a few pics and people can give advice based on your level of experience.

For your first trip, I'd suggest staying in a valley floor hut like the Carrington in Arthurs Pass or the else in Rakaia or Lewis Pass/Lake Sumner area. That area Nathan F suggested is fairly friendly in good weather. The Hurunui and Lewis Pass is more relaxing country and you might try an overnight trip to a higher hut or bivvy there (Lake Man or Brass Monkey). Try not to commit yourself to any off track packing through the bush and be conservative in how far you plan to travel each day with a pack. Typically people move 2km per hour on bush tracks here, meaning 10km is a long day with a full pack. Out on a bouldery riverbed like the Rakaia with crossings 1km/hr is more average.
The main hazard you face will be the river crossings. It's "The New Zealand Death". Most days you will cruise up and down and across no problems.

What time of year are you coming ? Stags are in hard antler from early March but best weather in in late January to March, maybe April in a good year. Rivers will be lowest then too.

I think it's quite hard work riding a bike with more than a day pack so don't count on that too much. You can get public transport (nice scenic train or else a bus) intp Arthurs Pass NP. Do some research on transport anyway.

Be prepared for wasps, which can be a worry at Lewis Pass. Look for any info you can get on current local numbers.

Be considerate and helpful to trampers you meet as there will be quite a few around in the huts and on the tracks.