Slightly OT: Travel from North to South Island

I know this is slightly OT, but it IS in reference to hunting...

I'm hunting there next year, and not sure yet about S or N island. If I do the S island, I would have to fly into Auckland, then take another ride to the S island.


Do you think it would be better to book the leg south at the same time I book the flight to Auckland, or are there an excess of flights going south all day making it cheaper to find a flight the same day?

Are there more than one alternative to go south and, if so, what do you recommend? If I do go south, it will likely be to either Queenstown or Dunedin.


Thanks!
Dave

Its a bit seasonal . . . But were it me Id book on the day with those destinations, our weather is incredibly variable and you might be late off the hill from your hunting.

If you are bringing a firearm and require a firearms license you’ll need all flights on your application best to have it with 1 booking if not still think it’s cheaper to bundle all the flights together!

Just for your reference, very little public land hunting that's worthwhile north of Auckland. Some good stuff south of Auckland on the north island.

Depends on how you will be traveling once you get here. If you are renting a vehicle you can catch the interisland ferry and take the vehicle onboard. It runs about 4 times a day and the crossing is about 4 hours. Bit of a drive from Auckland to Wellington (where the ferry is based) though. If you are not planning on spending much time in the North Island there may be flights directly into Christchurch (South Island).

In NZ flights tend to get more expensive closer to the day of travel as the airlines release cheap seats first so they get snapped up.
If you are travelling with a firearm you need to book an extra bag for the gun case, usually about $20.00. If you do that at check in you'll get reamed so do it at time of booking the flight.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SanDiegoHntr

I know this is slightly OT, but it IS in reference to hunting...

I'm hunting there next year, and not sure yet about S or N island. If I do the S island, I would have to fly into Auckland, then take another ride to the S island.


Do you think it would be better to book the leg south at the same time I book the flight to Auckland, or are there an excess of flights going south all day making it cheaper to find a flight the same day?

Are there more than one alternative to go south and, if so, what do you recommend? If I do go south, it will likely be to either Queenstown or Dunedin.


Thanks!
Dave

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What are your dates.

Would pay to check but AA and UA will be flying into CHC ex LAX this summer (ours)Nov thru March ‘24 3 days a week.
This may help.

Otherwise Delta daily into Akl Nov - March ex LAX.

Otherwise AirNZ ex LAX daily into Akl and through flight Domestic transfer to CHC, DUD or ZQN. Whatever you do, book the through flight. You’ll get skullfucked buying the Southbound leg on the day at the ticketing counter.

Book a rental vehicle in advance.

Happy to help on the day if I’m at work.

B

Do it all as one, book to Christchurch and then its all done an dusted. Dont try to "economise" for the sake of a few dollars.

I appreciate all the info and the offer (@shift14).

The IF part of the equation is that my buddy and I are coming to hunt the second week in Feb next year. Since we don't know any locals (YET) we are deciding between 3 outfitters. One of the outfitters is on the SI, and the other 2 are on the NI.

We are NOT bringing guns, as all 3 places have offered to let us use theirs. Even though I'd prefer to use one of mine, the hassle of import, along with the fact that I don't own a suppressor due to them being illegal in the PRC (Peoples' Republic of California) makes it more enticing to use a local's. We are actually doing bow hunts, but will switch to rifle if we are unable to get close.

If we do the SI hunt, we are most likely going to leave Cali on 2.19.24, arriving 2.20. We may stay the night on the NI, or just get it over with and fly on the 20th to the SI. We'd stay in a hotel to get over the jet lag, then get picked up by the outfitter on the 21st.

My wife will fly out either with me and stay in a hotel during the time I'm hunting, or come out towards day 3 of the hunt and stay in a hotel until I'm done. She will rent a car when she arrives.

The SI outfitter said he would keep my meat (if I'm successful) and any hunting gear while my wife and I travel 'round NZ for several days, so I'll spend some time looking at things to do on the SI, maybe even taking a trip to the NI...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SanDiegoHntr

I appreciate all the info and the offer (@shift14).

The IF part of the equation is that my buddy and I are coming to hunt the second week in Feb next year. Since we don't know any locals (YET) we are deciding between 3 outfitters. One of the outfitters is on the SI, and the other 2 are on the NI.

We are NOT bringing guns, as all 3 places have offered to let us use theirs. Even though I'd prefer to use one of mine, the hassle of import, along with the fact that I don't own a suppressor due to them being illegal in the PRC (Peoples' Republic of California) makes it more enticing to use a local's. We are actually doing bow hunts, but will switch to rifle if we are unable to get close.

If we do the SI hunt, we are most likely going to leave Cali on 2.19.24, arriving 2.20. We may stay the night on the NI, or just get it over with and fly on the 20th to the SI. We'd stay in a hotel to get over the jet lag, then get picked up by the outfitter on the 21st.

My wife will fly out either with me and stay in a hotel during the time I'm hunting, or come out towards day 3 of the hunt and stay in a hotel until I'm done. She will rent a car when she arrives.

The SI outfitter said he would keep my meat (if I'm successful) and any hunting gear while my wife and I travel 'round NZ for several days, so I'll spend some time looking at things to do on the SI, maybe even taking a trip to the NI...

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1 thing that may confuse you with bookings etc is the dates. For us that would be 19-02-24 and 20-02-24 we go day-month-year.
Anyway have a great time