Thread: Queens Town as a hunting Base

I know work is limited and housing affordability is a big issue, but after a recent visit, Id have to say that Queenstown would have to be very close to being the perfect South Island location to retire to for an avid hunter and fisher.

It's got close proximity to hunting in the Remarkables as well as The Dart and Reece valleys near Glenorchy. Aside from that there are also restricted hunting areas around the Mt Creighton area you can get permits for.
There is good lake fishing for reasonable size trout but also some excellent fly fishing rivers near by as well.
It's only a couple of hours to Wanaka and all the hunting that area has to offer and not that far from Fiordland also.
I do like that Queenstown has everything as well if you want to go out for a nice meal or drink.
Can i still get up to the Chamois country in my late 60s and 70s? thats another question.
Anyone got any better ideas for an equally as good or better location in the South Island?

Cheers

If you can afford it and don't mind tourists, then sure. Not for me personally.
Not so good if you like sea fishing either.

Waaaaayyyyyyyyyy too many tourists and hikers everywhere!

I went up the Dart recently and once i started climbing up away from the main valley, I saw no evidence of anyone. There was a lot of sign on the flats despite the 1080 drop

Yes for sure. Queenstown is most definitely for right area for your needs.

Yep it’s all there waiting for ya! Invest some $$ in chopper flights and they’ll put you on the animals. Would be a neat place to retire and house prices won’t fall in a hurry I’d say!

Go Cromwell, it's the centre of the whole area of Queenstown, Wanaka and Alexandra.

I see you are from Darwin , come over for a winter and see how you go first .

I live in Darwin but i'm a NZer and spent a lot of time in the South Island. Not fussed about the Nth Island any more apart from Sika Hunting

One thing to consider about central otago as you get older is medical cover is pretty bad. Qtown a bit better than wanaka as at least kew hospital (invercargill) is “only” 2 hours by road. Advanced private clinics might pop up like is planned in wanaka but id say the prices would be through the roof if you don’t have good health insurance. Then again might as well enjoy life and worry about those things if and when they do happen. Oh and qtown really does get outrageously cold in winter. Those days where you barely get any sun because of the mountains!

Originally Posted by avon_7

Not fussed about the Nth Island any more apart from Sika Hunting

This 100%

I also like queenstown and got myself a place there a few years ago. Probably won’t retire there but do spend a fair bit of time there and enjoy the craziness of the place and the local hunting spots. Easy for me to fly from Wellington. Plenty of other places as mentioned but there’s only on queenstown in NZ.

Originally Posted by Billbob

Go Cromwell, it's the centre of the whole area of Queenstown, Wanaka and Alexandra.

That's a big reason why I set up this section of the business in Cromwell. Logistically, it's in the central part of central.
Much more blue collar than Wanaka (pronounced as Wanka) and less tourists than Queenstown.

There are pros and cons.
Down side, it's a small town. You have 2 supermarkets, dining out options are all closed by 8 or 9pm.
Up side, it's a small town. Pretty laid back and a handshake deal is still binding.

Pick what's important to you I suppose.

I plan to be in Wanaka for 5 days 7th to 11th Sept. Just a holiday. I wonder if it is possible to get permission to shoot hares, goats etc. on any farms. just wondering. I am in my late 60s and not fit enough to do hard hunts anymore.