The ultimate New Zealand hunting experience
Lake Hawea Hunting Safaris offers the ultimate New Zealand hunting experience. Welcome to New Zealand hunting as it should be.
How are we different?
We offer exceptional, high quality, high opportunity, genuine free range hunting on 75,000 acres of exclusive hunting grounds. Game estate options for some of New Zealand’s biggest genetically improved red stags and fallow bucks are also available.
Our core hunts include:
Outfitter Chris McCarthy is a fifth-generation Lake Hawea local and has been outfitting for over 20 years, offering experience and genuine Kiwi hospitality coupled with professionalism and attention to detail. Chris is currently serving as President of the New Zealand Professional Hunting Guides Association (NZPHGA), 2024–2026.
Hunting Packages
Lake Hawea Hunting Safaris offers hunting packages for our four main game animals. Combination hunts and group hunts are what we do best.
South Pacific Elk, South Pacific Whitetail, Arapawa Ram, Goat, and Boar can be added to any hunting package. Can’t find the right fit or combination? Ask Chris to build a tailored hunt for you.
Hunting Lodge
Our fully revamped lodge, boasting five luxury rooms with ensuite bathrooms, will be completed in time for the 2028 season.
High-end finishing meets rustic charm — the perfect balance of craftsmanship and comfort, showcasing beautiful examples of New Zealand and international taxidermy.
Set on a farm, tucked away in a quiet valley where not another building can be seen, the lodge is still just a 5-minute drive from the beautiful little town of Lake Hawea, which offers basic services, and a 15-minute drive from the larger tourist town of Wanaka.
Non-hunters are most welcome, more info on our lodge here: Our Hunting Lodge
New Zealand Hunting Species Available
Tailored New Zealand Hunting
We offer New Zealand hunting in the Otago high country on exclusive private properties from comfortable accommodation where non hunters are welcome, or for those who like to get out on the wild side we offer the best of New Zealand’s alpine wilderness hunting from basic tent camps. We can tailor a New Zealand hunting package that suits you. We offer New Zealand’s premium, genuine, free range red stag hunt for the best possible trophies or estate red stags as big as anywhere in the country.
Lake Hawea Hunting Safaris, Quality trophies, quality experiences
Chris McCarthy your New Zealand outfitter offers the services of his close knit, experienced, dedicated and professional team. All are New Zealand experts and all have international guiding experience ranging from Asiatic Buffalo to Dall Rams.
New Zealand Hunting Packages
Book a New Zealand hunting package with Lake Hawea Hunting Safaris in the knowledge that we hold a Department of Conservation approved concession, robust landowner agreements, hunting leases and rights of access. We are proud members of the New Zealand Professional Hunting Guides Association.
Lake Hawea Hunting Safaris objective is for everyone to have an enjoyable and successful New Zealand hunting experience as well as a safe and comfortable one.
Our best selling hunting packages
Red Stags and Fallow Bucks are hunted on private property, either free range or on a high fenced estate, that decision is yours. Tahr and Chamois can be hunted with helicopter support, spot and stalk on private property or from a basic wilderness camp accessed by helicopter.
Premium free-range combo
- Includes red stag – tahr – fallow with chamois also available
- Are you a free-range purist…? This is the hunt for you our premium free-range combo
- 7-days / 8-nights 1×1 $42,000 (Incl first-class red stag) or $31,000 (incl second-class red stag)
- Incredible hunting opportunities within our premium, exclusive, free-range 50,000-acre area. Spot & stalk hunting, extremely high success.
- Chamois can be added as a 4th species on a trophy fee basis of + $8000 (we recommend adding 3 additional days to hunt chamois to make a 10-day hunt)
- Premium cross over rut dates between species where possible, April & May
- Helicopter assistance for tahr and chamois can be arranged, we do encourage our hunters to hunt spot and stalk
- If one of our incredible first-class free-range Otago red stags is not of importance to you it can be swapped out for a red stag of up to 500 class hunted on a 4,000 acre high fenced estate for the same price
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