Waterfowl Hunting - Guided Duck Hunts

For the duck hunting trip of a lifetime, make Riverview Lodge your first choice destination in New Zealand.

Duck hunting guides provide guided duck hunts for New Zealand waterfowl, including the beautiful Paradise Duck, endemic to New Zealand, plus New Zealand Grey, Mallard and Spoonbill ducks. The Black Swan can be another option if you are a trophy bird collector.
Riverview Lodge specializes in small groups of maximum/minimum 4 hunters, and wives if they desire. If you wish to bring your wife/partner there are many things for her to do in Hanmer Springs and Robin has a partners program available. (See Activities page). We are the only duck hunting lodge in New Zealand to provide delux accommodation with cuisine food as well as top, professional, and dedicated duck hunts. Riverview Lodge employs a chef and specialise in game cuisine as desired.

Owner John, personally has a great passion for duck hunting and as he has being doing it all his life, holds huge knowledge. He has secured some really good waters on approximately 20 different properties, within 30-60 minutes drive from Riverview Lodge. It is legal to bait ponds in New Zealand and most seasons John feeds out 20 tons of grain, which in turn helps hold the birds. It is legal to shoot 5 shot automatics in New Zealand. An average wing shot should get around 15 ducks per day.

When hunting, Mallards, Greys and Spoonbills we shoot mornings and evenings, and when hunting Paradise Ducks we shoot days. The Black Swan hunt (for the Bird Collector) takes place close to Christchurch and requests need to be by made at time of reservation to arrange this. Most hunting slots are for 5 days with a day of R & R during that time which makes for a more pleasurable week. We only do a limited number of waterfowl hunts per season. This allows our areas not be overhunted and ensures you good shooting.

Guns

With the problems of shipping guns these days, Riverview Lodge has a supply of 12 guage Beretta Ureka automatic shotguns and two 20 guage Beretta's on hand for clients to hire.

Taxidermist

We use an experienced and reliable taxidermist in Christchurch to arrange permits, customs and expedite waterfowl trophies for you if desired.

Package inclusion

Met and transfers from Christchurch airport to Riverview Lodge return. Guiding, hunting licenses, accommodation - individual private rooms with own bathroom. All meals including beer and house wine, (other wines available). Ammunition is not included but is able to be purchased at Riverview Lodge at the going market rate, ie $14US lead and $18 US Steel 3 inch. As already stated, non-participants are welcome to accompany their hunters - see Activities page for Partners Program.

The Paradise Duck / putakitaki ' putangitangi

The paradise shelduck is New Zealand's only shelduck. Unusually for ducks, the female paradise shelduck is more eye-catching than the male; females have a pure white head and chestnut-coloured body, while males hae a dark grey body and black head. They are commonly observed flying in pairs or grazing on pasture. They are very vocal birds, with males giving a characteristic 'zonk, zonk', while females make a more shrill 'zeek, zeek' while flying or as a warning to intruders. Paradise shelducks feed on grass, clover, aquatic vegetation and crops of peas or grain.

The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) - For the Collector.

In 1864, the Australian Black Swan was introduced to New Zealand as an ornamental waterfowl However, they have also naturally flown to New Zealand, leading scientists to consider them a self-introduced native rather than exotic species. With it's long neck, the black swan is New Zealand's largest wetland bird. On the water, it appears all vlack with a bright red bill; however in flight the bird shows white wing margins.