Watch Lions, Shoot Pheasants!

Lions and pheasants: The tour of a lifetime

Guy emigrated to New Zealand in 1996, intending to pursue a career in dairy farming, but his passion for game shooting led him to set up one of the first driven shoots in the country, which soon expanded into helping other estates set up their own driven shoots. It was a natural progression to set up a sporting agency. 

The tour, which kicks off on the 16 June, starts with a 350-bird day in the Pongakawa Valley, an idyllic spot that is reminiscent of Bavaria with a bit of rainforest thrown in for good measure. After a brief rest, the Guns will head off for dinner and drinks at the Lions Vs NZ Maori match in nearby Rotorua. 

A couple of day’s rest and sightseeing or, should you want more sport, the chance to fish for brown trout on Lake Rotoiti, will give you the chance to catch your breath before you head to the west coast, where you can take in the Waitomo Caves. It’s also the site for New Zealand’s biggest horsestud where you can take advantage of the Game Gully to up your game on a few rounds of clays. The evening holds huge excitement: the Lions will be playing the Chiefs in Hamilton. 

World-class water or huge reds

The next two days involve a trip to the central plateau and Taupo, where you’ll be spoiled for choice: red deer abound if you fancy some stalking, rafting down the Tongariro river or world-class fishing. This is followed by your second big shooting day, involving a bag of around 250 birds on the private Waikato shoot, famed for its hospitality. This is Leigh Barton, Guy’s home shoot, and there will be both pheasant and partridge on offer, but you’ll need to keep your wits about you, as the birds are fast and furious in the undulating country. 

On 24 June, it's a relaxed day in the stunning harbour town of Raglan, which has the famed surfing beach “Whale Bay”, before you head to Auckland to experience the first test from premium seating, followed by a night out in the city. The third shoot day will be another 250-bird day, in picturesque Manawatu, which takes advantage of the natural topography and a stunning stone-bottomed river to produce some tall birds off cliffs and bluffs, and famed hospitality in the field. 

You’ll then travel to Wellington, the country’s capital city, where the Lions will play the Hurricanes, and you’ll enjoy pre-match hospitality at Westpac Stadium. Heading up the east coast, you can opt for sea fishing for Hapuka, Trevelly and Kawhai or, if you are in an adventurous mood, you could go sika stalking and base yourself in a back country hut for the night. Saturday will offer a truly relaxing day, with a tour of vineyards around Hawkes Bay, followed by a helicopter right to Wellington for the highlight match of the tour, the Lions Vs All Blacks, again viewed from premium seating. 

Let rip at Oxbow

After a day of travel, a day of high adventure: Oxbow Adventures, where you’ll have the chance to sharpen your skills at clays or just let rip with jet boating, extreme off road driving or a white knuckle helicopter ride up the Clutha river. Tuesday sees a heli-tour of the Glaciers, weather permitting, which will show you some of the most stunning and unspoiled landscapes on the planet.

Wednesday will see the team based at Queenstown, where you’ll have the option to visit X-Gunz, and learn to shoot a .50Cal out to 1,500 metres, or have a go at a simulated varmint hunt with a 9mm semi-automatic. If you prefer live quarry, however, the real thing is available in the form of rabbits over spaniels or chamois, Himalayan tahr and red deer. 

Your final day will give you the chance to visit Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf, enjoying award winning wine and a delicious lunch before the final test of the series, the second Lions Vs All-Blacks game. 

For more information, see www.drivenshooting.co.nz.