Our Travel Tips
You will fly into Christchurch International (2.1 hours from the lodge) in the South Island where we will pick you up and drop you off unless you are self driving. Most flights leave San Francisco, LA, Houston, New York or Vancouver with our main carrier Air New Zealand (code share United) and fly into Auckland with other airlines via Australia into Christchurch. Itineraries often follow US > Auckland > Christchurch. At Auckland International Airport follow the green line to the domestic terminal which is a 10 minute easy walk or shuttle bus (there are hourly flights from Auckland so don't panic if you miss it). The lodge and most of the hunting areas are in Fairlie which is South Canterbury, South Island. You will need a visitors visa coming into New Zealand which is easiest done online. You will find instructions for the NZeTA a couple lines down on this page.
Travel insurance is recommended and a passport is required.
We highly advise you take out travel insurance at the time of booking flight, from as low as $100 per person your whole trip is covered including your hunt.
This section is only for those wanting to bring in their rifles, you do not need to do anything here if you are using one of ours.
Bringing your gun and/or ammunition into New Zealand is quite easy with a little planning. At least 1 month in advance of travel, you'll need to visit the following link to apply for your visitors license and import permit.
- Visitor Firearm License and Import Permit
You will need to know: - Your personal details
- Your passport details
- Country of Issue
- Evidence you have a firearms license (or equivalent) in your own country. When completing the form section - 'firearms license number in country of origin', we suggest that you leavethis blank and bring a past or current USA/State hunting license, firearm or hunter safety certificate. This number can be entered if required.
- Address while in NZ: 626 Hamilton Road Fairlie, South Island, NZ 7987
- Place where firearms will be stored while in NZ: Lodge Firearm Storage
- Who with: James Gibson
- Their NZ Firearms No. : S0483407
- Purpose of importation: booked hunting and touring stay
- Flights: Arrival and Departure Airport, Date and Flight Numbers
- Firearm Details: Description, Make, Model/Caliber, Serial Number, Ammunition Quantity
Check with the airlines on their specific requirements. Some will require the firearm and ammunition to be in seperate bags, and most require the bolt to be removed from the gun. Reguarding your ammunition be aware that the airlines have a specific weight restriction (typically a maximum of 5kgs) on the amount of ammunition permitted in checked paggage. This equates to 2-4 boxes or 60-80 rounds of rifle ammo. Do not exceed the weight limit.
Just as important as your New Zealand Import License, you must have a USA Customs clearance of your firearm - 4457 for the firearm(s) you bring into New Zealand and back into the US. This form must be completed and signed/stamped by a US Customs officer before your departure from the US. Customs is interested in where you purchased the firearm for tax purposes. On the form 4457, list not only the firearm details - make, model, caliber and serial number, but also the scope details - make, model and serial number.
You will need to complete a CBP Form 4457 to ensure a problem free return to the US. To complete the form contact US Customs and Boarder Protection to register your firearm for export and reentry. This can be done in advance at a Port of Entry or during the course of your travel (it is advised to allow an extra 2-3 hours if you choose this route).
You can obtain more information reguarding USA Customs regulations on firearms using the folliwng website link:
https://www.cbp.gov/document/forms/form-4457-certificate-registration-personal-effects-taken-abroad
Individuals are required to have a firearms license authorizing posession of the class of firearm. If the firearm is restricted or prohibited, a registration certificate and an Authorization to Transpoart (ATT) are also required. You can apply for an ATT by calling 1-800-731-4000. If a firearm is transported to another country, it may require an export permit from the Export Controls Division of the Global Affairs Canada. A customs officer may ask to see a copy of that permit upon re-entry to Canada.
We are on 240v, with a 2-3 pin plug. Most modern electronics now will handle both 110-240v, it will say on your plug. All you will need is a plug converter which you can get from most stores or airports and we do have some at the lodge.
Effective 1 July 2019, our government has enforced an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of $35.00 per person which is payable upon arrival into New Zealand. This applies to most international visitors. You can see the details and what it's used for in the link below.
You will need a visitors visa coming into New Zealand which is done online downloading the app https://nzeta.immigration.govt.nz/. Please visit the following link to obtain additional details.
A good idea is to download the app or fill this out a day or so before travel. It's a travel declaration into NZ, it will mean you don't have to fill one out on the place. Make sure your gear is clean, no dirt, seeds, meat, etc if you say you've veen told about this it helps speed things up (nothing to declare). Chewing tobacco is not available in NZ, 2 cans per person after that they will try to tax you.
To make your trip through Customs and BioSecurity easier:
- Be sure that ALL of your gear is clean. Yes, this includes your boots!
- ALL food must be declared.
Entering back into the US there is a new app which speeds up customs there is a new faster line so also handy.
1. Land
2. Proceed through Customs and Immigration with your completed Passenger Arrival Card that will be provided to you on your flight.
*Passengers from UK, New Zealand, Australia, US, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland and Netherlands can use the eGates for faster processing.
3. Proceed to baggage claim and the NZ Police counter to collect your gun (if applicable).
4. Go through Biosecurity with your Passenger Arrival Card.
*Be sure that all of your gear is clean. And remember ALL food must be declared or you may have to discard it.
5. Follow the signs/green line (inter terminal walkway) to the domestic terminal. It's approximately a 10 minute walk, or you can use the inter terminal busses that depart every 15 minutes.
If you are bringing your firearm into the country, domestic flights require the ammunition to be in a seperate bag and the bolt removed.
Allow a minimum of 2 hours between international and domestic flights. There are regular flights on the hour to most cities if connections are missed.
There are a lot in Christchurch with a google search but here are a few suggestions.
Commodore Hotel (discount NZSAFARI)
www.commodorehotel.co.nz
Novotel Christchurch
all.accor.com/hotel/A542/index.en.shtml
Distinction
www.distinctionhotelchristchurch.co.nz/
The balance of the hunt is paid on the last evening. Due to cheques not being in use in New Zealand you will receive a link via email to pay by card or wire via the flywire system we use. We do also take USD cash as part balance also. Paying when you get home is not an option, please read your hunting contract, it is advisable to having paid at least 50% of the hunt before you start your hunt. If you have the means it is also possible to have your bank manager aware of sending a wire for you during their working hours beofre the end of your hunt.
Planning Your Trip:
We recommend that you start making your hotel and airline flight reservations 9-10 months in advance and take out travel insurance, as the most ecomomic travel and accommodation can be hard to book at specific times during the season, if left at short notice. However, you may want to wait until at least September/October, in an attempt to book around the hight USA travel/booking season. When you contact the travel agent you must keep in mind that when traveling to NZ you will 'lose' a day getting here. For example if you depart the US on the 1st you will arrive in NZ on the 3rd. And in regard to your return trip, if you depart on the 9th you will arrive back in the US on the 9th. Furthermore we reccommend you arrive in Christchurch at least one day before the start date of your hunt - or your first hunting day. This allows you to relax from your journey and adjust to the climate and time changes, and also not be rushed into your hunting. For example, if your hunt starts on the 4th you would need to depart on the 1st to arrive on the 3rd. You would have one night in Christchurch, which would be for the 3rd, checking out the 4th. We would then pick you up from your htoel on the morning of the 4th and transfer you to the hunting lodge that morning to start your hunt.
Check with us if you have any quesitons on your arrival and departure dates from the hunt so you can plan your travel accordingly. We have a lot of clients that like to self drive before and after the hunt, if you are doing this you may be able to arrive the night before your hunts start. We do also offer pick up from the airport when you land in Christchurch but please touch base with Jim to look at arranging this.
Booking online with Air New Zealand is simple and at times considerably cheaper than a travel agent. Look at all departure airport options in your area and use the search by week option to get the best fare for flights. There are many airlines not coming to NZ like United, Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, Quantas. We find Air New Zealand is best to travel with coming out of the US.
If you need help booking your flights or plan to stay and experience a little more of the country you would like your tour pre-planned Explande Travel are very good to deal with.
Additional Questions:
If you have any questions that haven't been answered here, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to hunting with you for the experience of a lifetime with New Zealand Safaris!
