It is one thing to be heading in for the hunt of a lifetime with two friends, but add the guys Willie and Emil, from TV’s NZ Hunter Adventures, into the mix and it makes for an even more interesting soup pot of nerves and excitement. Not to mention the thoughts of “don’t do or say anything stupid”, “be normal”, and “don’t face plant in the bog” on national television.

Below are my daily journal entries from this trip. I write these every adventure I am lucky enough to go on, to remember the feelings and experiences—all the little things that time washes away. It’s awesome to read back on these moments. This one was even better to rewatch—what a privilege!

I won’t say too much more as my diary entries speak for themselves, but what I will say is; if you haven’t seen it yet, go and watch this episode—Season 12, Episode 5—let me know what you think!

Thursday

To Te Anau

Not much sleep at home last night as I was too excited. Flew Tauranga to Auckland and down to Queenstown. Managed to squeeze in a bit of work between travelling and had a good catch up with Roy in the car about our current agenda for FWF, he picked me up from Queenstown airport.

We packed our meals and had dinner while we waited for Willie and Emil to arrive, Hannah would be over for brekky and to sort her gear then.

Willie had a lot of gear he wanted us to use due to their sponsorship and partners, so brought us plenty of options to replace our gear with plus a few perks like puffer pants and toasty gloves for around camp and in our sleeping bags.

The weather is looking like snow after 10am tomorrow as we walk up the valley, so we’ll see if we get hit with it—hopefully I have enough warm gear!

Friday

Day 01

I think I slept well, woke up and did some last minute packing and sorting. A big brekky from Roy’s legendary wife, Fiona. Hannah joined us and we soon headed off to Southern Lakes Heli.

We loaded the gear and soon enough we were off. My stomach had been churning all morning, it was the feeling of nervous excitement, “am I going to be fit enough”, “what’s it going to be like” “will it be too cold”. Sitting in the chopper the nerves started to settle, feeling more calm as the anticipation of leaving would soon be over. I think it might have something to do with the fact that you can’t do or change anything once you’re in there so it doesn’t matter once you’re in the air.

A stunning flight across Lake Te Anau to Lake Thompson. Sir Richard Hayes flew us and tried to give us a peep up to Lake Sutherland where we were headed, however the snow flurries were too thick so we flew back down and landed along the river bed near Thompson hut.

A short walk to the hut and we dropped some extra food and gear there for our last night to come back to.

The next five hours we journeyed up Wapiti River to Lake Sutherland. Pretty cool country, mostly flat, and plenty of rests with a bit of filming along the way. We started with a short intro and then small updates along the way. I’ll have to get used to speaking in front of a camera. A great leisurely pace most of the journey. We came across snow on the ground as we neared the lake. I felt the most challenged by a river crossing across a fallen log that was suspended about 2m above the river. Emil scurried across to test it out—no worries at all! Hannah and I hung back and watched. When it was our turn the boys carried our packs across and helped us, very grateful for this, I probably would have just got my legs wet instead. A welcomed lunch soon after and the rain / sleet had also started—very hard to stay warm while stationery.

We were only 90-120mins to the lake so on we went. Lots of bog and wet feet at this end. I took a tumble complete with face plant after the piece of dirt I was using slipped away under me. Very funny. I hope Emil got that on film.

The last 30mins I struggled and couldn’t maintain my footing, I started to lose balance as well. Some more electrolytes and lollies helped push me through.

More rain and sleet and finally, the lake! We looked across the other side to a clearing for a while, nothing to see. The boys scurried around looking for a camp site with no huge amount of options, we picked a spot and got to work. Emil cut down trees and created a clearing while Willie helped us remove rocks from our little tent site. Roy helped us harvest moss for under the tent and then they helped us pitch the tent. We returned the favour.

Fingers numb and ready to get out of our wet gear we climbed into the tent.

Base not waterproof so we improvised with an emergency blanket under our sleeping mats. Ideal. Dinner, choccy, some chats and off to sleep. I write this listening to more rain in the tent, I’m hoping it stops before we wake up. Excited for another good day tomorrow and to see what it brings.

Saturday

Day 02

Broken sleep but still good, settling into camp sleeping, I guess. The rain subsided and the gentle drift of sleety snow replaced the sound on the tent. I can hear the wind in the trees but not so bad on the ground. Wore two thermals and three puffers to bed + puffer pants and a base layer. SO glad we have the puffer pants, moments of cold but nothing too bad.

A sleep in and we’re stoked the cold has meant next to no bugs! Han and I were awake and had brekky in the tent by 8am, the boys were in no rush.

Roy spotted a cow, and we all went down to a small point to look down the lake. We decided we’d chill and head up the lake mid-afternoon. We went back to our sleeping bags and chatted all things life and business. Lunch at 12.30pm, packed up and we headed off at around 2.30pm.

Forty-ish minutes up the line, and we turned around to a little campsite we found to set up camp, and then walk up the lake to glass and maybe hunt. No rain now, so lovely but still cold as.

More filming along the way with both GoPros and walking shots.

7-8 cows glassed and a spiker just on the lakes edge, grazing. Some big cows amongst them. Dusk set in and the temperature dropped; we headed back to camp.

Dinner and a hot choccy with some laughs and banter to end the day.

Up early tomorrow to go back to the clearing and peer across the lake. We’ll see what it brings—very excited!

*Morning glass up the lake (and absorbing some sun)*

Sunday

Day 03

Up early with a glass over to the same spot. A cow and calf grazing but that was it for 3.5 hours. Willie grabbed us some hot drinks from camp and then we walked further around the lake. Plenty of sign but decided to head back as we didn’t want to scent the area in case we want to put down a cow before we leave.

Back to camp for a late lunch then another glass at the same spot for 4pm. Willie stays at camp and glasses the clearing on the other side. A radio from him and he’s spotted three so we join him. Got very cold today, so an extra puffer for the evening glass. One bull across the lake looks promising. We hope to get another look tomorrow to see how old he really is.

We share some yarns about UFO’s, ghosts, gangs and other random tales over dinner and a hot cuppa before bed.

My stomach is starting to turn on me with all the dehydrated meals—less than ideal. But feel pretty good overall. I’ve made a hottie out of a drink bottle tonight in the hope of keeping my feet warm. Back and hips have been sore in bed, let’s hope tonight is better.

*Willie watching the cows across the lake*

Monday

Day 04

Great sleep last night, a couple of painkillers to help with the achey body plus the hot water bottle really helped.

Hannah and I got up before the guys and went for a glass near camp. Nothing showed up till after they joined us. The same six-pointer came out and then spooked and trotted back into the bush. The nice creamy nine grazed the faces again. We set up the rifle with a couple of dry fires, and Willie and Emil made a platform to stand on in our “duck blind” amongst some fallen logs.

We broke for lunch and had some interviews at camp to add to the episode, then back to glassing late arvo. There wasn’t much around for a while until Hannah spotted a nice ten high on the faces. While we were looking at that, what we thought was the same six-pointer came out on the lakefront. Emil was glassing it and wasn’t convinced it was the same bull, so Willie got the scope on it, and he confirmed it was one of the bulls we had seen on the faces the night before. A mature bull, 9 points, low body, big fore and back quarters, low head, smaller antler…culling material. It was the animal we were looking for and a perfect first bull for me.

Roy had been down the way looking at the other clearing, so Willie radioed him to run back to age it to confirm for us. While we waited, I got set up and lined him in the crosshairs.

As I followed him along the lake’s edge, Emil got the cameras set up and ready to film the shot.

Roy appeared and confirmed it was the one to take down, and with that Willie guided me through, but I took my time to shoot him, waiting for the perfect shoulder shot, broadside.

A deep breath in and a squeeze of the trigger on my breath out, nailed him in the shoulder. I followed him in the scope as he hopped along a few metres, turned back, reared his head and lay down on his final resting place. Partially in the lake, but on what looks like a bit of a beach from this side. Hugs all round, even for Roy, who hates hugs. A few CHEHOOS and lots of smiles. Unbelievable and a bit lost for words.

We decide that we’ll collect him in the morning on our way out and collect the skin too to sell and donate to the Foundation / Wāhine & Wapiti trip.

Back to camp for dinner, more yarns and off to bed. Still can’t believe I shot a bull today, can’t wait to get up close and personal tomorrow.

*The ‘duck blind’ where I shot from, across the lake*

Tuesday

Day 05

A broken sleep with lots of dreams about what had happened, but up reasonably early for brekky and to pack up. We set off at 9.45am to our first campsite, ditch our bags and head across the outlet to find the bull. Once we spotted him, we saw the beach he had dropped on was actually sinking mud. It takes four of us to pry him out. A bit of a weird feeling being there so long after, as well as being filmed. It was hard to speak about what I was feeling in the moment.

What was I feeling in the moment? I thanked him before everyone came over.

I learnt how gas can taint the meat. We harvest as much meat as we can. Unfortunately, his coat is a right off as his winter coat is still coming in and will be hard to auction or sell so we leave that with him.

Photos, some filming, and we walk back to our packs. Another big creamy bull sits in the clearing above us.

We head back to the hut, determined to make it by dusk. We don’t stop for snacks or lunch.

A side quest for some of us means we are off track for 20 minutes or so.

We make really good time, setting off at 1.30pm and we are back at the hut in four hours. In the last hour, I start to feel my glucose levels dropping and energy depleting, I’m also hot and juggling carrying the head. One last push up to the hut, and the camera is out again. I need a moment to regather myself and end up having a little cry—I think I am overwhelmed and also know I just can’t push through like that without food. Hannah brings me some lollies and nut bars. I regather myself and head into the hut.

An awesome evening of hut banter, a warm fire plus back steaks with fried onion and a squeeze lemon — not to mention the Wapiti Foundation’s cow valley gin. What a treat!

*Willie, Roy, myself, Hannah and the Bull*

Wednesday

Day 06

It started raining last night and continued into the morning, so we didn’t check the flats at Lake Thompson, which had been our intention to try and get something for Hannah. A big sleep and slow pack up with a heli pick up at 1pm.

A thought lingered in my mind as we walked out to meet the heli; “how is this my life”? I am still in awe about what we’ve just experienced. I can’t wait to share this adventure as well as share what we do with the Wāhine & Wapiti experiences. Being able to do that through a reputable TV show like NZ Hunter is next level, all while having a memorable hunt immortalised.

Some welcomed hot lunches at the Sandfly Cafe once back in Te Anau. Then back to Roy’s to unpack, have a hot shower, and book my flights home.

What a trip! I will be coming back down to earth for a few days yet.

Watching the show the following February, I was equal parts nervous and excited. It really hit home for me how much impact the Wāhine & Wapiti experiences have and how proud I am of what we’ve created. It brings so much meaning to my year when I see the applications flow in, we formulate the groups, and then see the comparison of everyone when they set off, to the day they return. Nothing can quite explain that transformation.

If it sounds like something you could be interested in, keep an eye out for submissions opening in August 2026. I’d love to see your entry amongst them.

To hear more on some of the ladies’ experiences, watch the episode or listen to the FWF podcast here.

A very chilly Wapiti Hunt