About Us

Sandra
and Nev Cunningham
Your Mt Cook Trophy Hunting Hosts
Neville has been involved in hunting most of his life and this is a major passion of his. He has hunted all over the world and he has been involved in Game Animals (not only the hunting side of things but in research and relocation of animals) including live capture of big horn sheep at Antelope Island, Salt Lake City, USA. He has studied Elk Genetics in Canada and the import/export of live animals from Canada, USA and China. The results of some of these endeavours can be measured by the amont of world record trophies that have been taken from Mt Cook Safari Park and other parks in NZ.
About 20 years ago when Neville lived in the deep south of NZ he went
on a Tahr hunt to the Mt Cook region and automatically fell in love with
the area. After his travels around the world and seeing other hunting
programmes and what was involved, he knew that Mt Cook would be the best
place to set up his Safari Park in New Zealand, because there are few
places in the world that encompass the game, the diversity of terrain,
the remote environment and the awe inspiring views that Mt Cook can.
That dream and vision that Neville had all those years
ago has now turned in to reality. Mt Cook has produced some of the largest
estate hunting available in New Zealand now encompassing almost 8000
acres of mountainous terrain with the most panoramic views in the Southern
Hemisphere. We also back on to and hold concessions for the famous Mt
Cook National World Heritage Park where
we carry out our free range and helicopter assisted hunts because of
the distances and ruggedness of the terrain, ideal for the younger, fitter
hunter.
Our Safari Park is right in the heart of the Tahr country,
in fact, we are only 5kms from the original liberaration in 1906, with
an abundance of Red Stag, Elk, Fallow Deer and the quality of the trophies
is getting better every year - which is the result of 20 years of selective
culling.
Neville still gets the adrenalin rush from every hunt
he undertakes which is why he will personally take the hunters out himself
when he can. He tailor makes every hunt with the clients needs in mind
to ensure that they receive the best experience possible. Neville personally
likes hunting Tahr because it is in the open, clean, alpine country were
you get an opportunity to glass the animals well before the hunt.
My
rifle of choice for Tahr shooting is the latest acquisition, a Weatherby
300 magnum equipped with a Zess scope. I have also used the 50 calibre
Blackpowder Ultimate Firearm, muzzle loader to take Red Stag, Chamois
and Tahr this season and I have since purchased two of these firearms
to enhance the range of services that we can offer at Mt Cook Trophy
Hunting (these are available for hire by arrangement).
Neville and his wife Sandra love to entertain and build
friendships with their clients and ensure that the well renowned NZ hospitality
and Kiwi experience is alive and well. Sandra has accommpanied Neville
on two African Safari's so she is well versed on the requirements of
the hunter and what their needs are when in New Zealand. When staying
at the lodge Sandra will do most of the catering herself and her food
is delicious, home cooked, kiwi style including some secret game recipies.
She also undertakes to look after the partners and do all the 'girly'
things that women enjoy - something us 'men' know little about.