From the moment guests check in, they will experience the finest hospitality from our team and experienced guides. It’s a privilege to say that, after a visit to Poronui, our guests consider our staff and guides to also be friends.

Check in: from 2 PM

Check out: 10 AM

Our Driven Pheasant season runs from May to August and our shoot packages are 2-night experiences. Enjoy optional claybirds at our Olympic Clay range on arrival, followed by a four-course dinner in Poronui’s 15,000 bottle capacity underground wine cellar. Picture being surrounded by caves of handpicked wine in the underground cellar, with great company, enjoying the Game Dining Experience. Your wine-matched menu will be specially crafted with a focus on premium New Zealand seafood and the game the estate is renowned for.

Day Two begins early (around 7am) with the drawing of pegs and a full English breakfast.

Guns are transported to 5 different drives to experience a variety of presentations–three drives in the morning before a hearty lunch at the Poronui stables. Two more drives follow in the afternoon. The shoot day concludes with drinks and nibbles in the outdoor cabana, or fireside in the Hunting Room, before the shoot party returns to their lodgings for dinner. Tales from the day can continue over canapes and drinks in the ambience of the lodge’s riverside dinner setting.

Following breakfast on day three, guests may choose to add on an activity to their stay before heading home. Of course, your time at Poronui doesn’t have to end then–why not extend your stay and enjoy the hospitality and delights of Poronui a while longer?

The central North Island–dominated by the dramatic Lake Taupō–has some of the most stunning brown and rainbow trout fly-fishing rivers in the world secreted among back country valleys and best accessed by 4WD and helicopter. Rich with pristine vegetation and clear pools far from the crowds, the forests in this area have long been a favorite for those ‘in the know.’

We practice catch-and-release for all our fishing, as backcountry trout are special fish that live in unique and challenging conditions and are too important to only be caught once in their lifetime. Poronui is 16,000 acres, with two rivers running through it. Approximately 5,000-acres are covenant-protected to protect old-growth native beech forest. All streams and rivers on the property are fenced, creating extensive areas of riparian vegetation, which protects water quality and provides habitat.

We work closely with the Council and Department of Conservation to protect valued habitats on the property such as extensive fern wetlands and threatened species such as fernbird, spotless crake, small, scaled skink, and Pittosporum turneri. In addition to the luxury tourism offered on the property, Poronui is a working farm producing a range of premium products for the domestic and international markets. It is ideally suited for pheasants, with dense vegetation and volcanic terraces across the property. Poronui is working towards carbon zero accreditation.

You can find all pricing and rate information at https://www.poronui.com/packages/rates/

Do I need a visa to travel to New Zealand?

Visit immigration.govt.nz/nzeta to find out if you need the NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) Approval can take up to 72 hours.

How do I get to the Lodge?

There are direct flights with Air NZ to Auckland from LA, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Houston, with more options coming online, now that New Zealand is fully opened post-Covid. Delta airlines are connecting to Auckland from Dallas. From Auckland, it is a short 40-min flight to Taupo regional airport, which lines up well with most of the international arrivals. Or a four-hour car journey. Helicopter transfers from Auckland airport can also be arranged.

What is the dress code?

Most importantly you will be out in all weather, so to ensure you get the most out of the day, keeping dry, warm, and comfortable is paramount. Traditional tweed shooting attire is typically worn at Poronui. Outside of the shoot days, we celebrate relaxed informality at Poronui. Smart-casual clothes are appropriate for dinner.

Can I bring my own shotgun?

Yes. Visitors to New Zealand bringing firearms or ammunition must obtain a visitor’s firearms license. We recommend completing the application well in advance of your trip—at least six weeks—to ensure there are no issues. Visit the New Zealand Police website at www.police.govt.nz and follow the links to understand the visitor firearms license and import permit requirements. If you’re planning to travel around New Zealand after your shoot, you may like to consider storing your shotgun(s) at the Lodge while you do so. Arrangements can be made for your shotgun to meet you at your departure airport. We also recommend checking the process to return home with your firearm, as requirements vary by state.