About Us
Our Philosophy;
Basic Instincts Aotearoa offers clients the best Hunting and Fishing experiences available in this region. Our reputation is built on the service we provide. Traditionally this is termed “manaakitanga” – its is a philosophy of nurturing, catering for our guests, our visitors.
Basic Instincts Aotearoa offers a range of Hunting and Fishing packages. Trophy Hunting caters for the hunter who wishes to take the best Trophy heads available in this region. Our Father and Son package is tailored to teach professional hunting and stalking skills. The “Good Keen Man” package is designed to train the novice hunter, those who are new to the game. Our Cultural / Ecological Tours provide groups with a rare insight into the traditional ways of our people, and their use of the Ngahere [Forest].
Each package is carefully designed to ensure our guests enjoy top quality service, with the most affordable Hunting and Fishing experiences possible.
Our reputation is measured by your satisfaction.
Garry M Watson – Managing Director / Hunting
Tena koe / Greetings. Welcome to Basic Instincts Aotearoa.
For more than 35 years I have lived and worked in the ngahere, the native forests of this region. Beginning in the early 1970’s I was employed by the NZ Forest Service as a Culler, moving from there into deer recovery in the early days of helicopter hunting in the Motu / East Cape region. In later years I established an Ecological Research Centre in the Bay of Plenty and expanded that operation to include outdoor pursuits and hunting training for the youth of our region.
Having noted the need for top quality affordable Hunting & Fishing excursions in the Bay of Plenty, and having noted that few guests who enjoy such activities here have a chance to experience a cultural perspective within the bush, my family and I formed Basic Instincts Aotearoa.
Our Company is dedicated to sharing the bush experience we have and cultural practices we have been taught by our elders. Engaging with our guests in these pursuits is to us like extending our family. Join us in exploring some of the most breathtaking scenic locations and hunting spots in this region.
Come join the Family.
Simon Robertson – Fishing
Simon Robertson has fished the Central North Island rivers, streams and lakes for over forty years.
He is the preferred guide for many of the worlds leading specialist agencies and is recognised as one of the most experienced fresh water fishing guides in New Zealand. He is a director of New Zealand Field and Stream, a member of the New Zealand Professional Fishing Guides Association, holds a licenced launch operators certificate, and holds a St. Johns first aid qualification.
His speciality is dry fly and nymph fishing in the more remote and less accessible rivers of the North Island, accessed by four wheel drive and helicopter. He has the most extensive tackle room of any guiding operation in New Zealand, carrying exclusively Sage and Simms products, arguably the world’s best in their field. Operating two modern four wheel drive vehicles, a well presented licenced boat for lake work and carry fishing licences for both the Rotorua and Taupo areas.