Experience

Exclusive Adventures New Zealand

• Travel Arrangements
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director, Manager, and Head Guide

  • Jan 2010 - Present

  High quality big game hunting, fishing and adventure services, with luxury accommodation and professional staff. Based near Wanaka, a small picturesque town nestled in the game rich mountains of New Zealand's South Island. Your hosts Shaun Allison and Ben Ferguson are devoted hunters, fisherman, and entertainers and thrive on sharing adventures with guests while doing what they love. Shaun and Ben started Exclusive Adventures in 2011 to raise the standard of existing hunting, fishing and adventure companies in New Zealand, and this is exactly what they have done. Exclusive Adventures New Zealand is how Shaun and Ben share their passion with international guests in the quest to hunt trophy animals, fish abundant waters, and seek adventure in one of the worlds most beautiful destinations. With access to the New Zealand's best trophy hunting and fishing locations available, coupled with exclusive use of the finest lodgings and professional staff, they pride themselves on providing guests with a safe, successful and unforgettable adventure. Show less



Contract New Zealand Hunting Guiding

• Hunting Guide

  • 2005 - 2013

  During my university/college education, and throughout my teaching career I conducted part time guided hunts during my holidays. This encouraged my passion to do it full time. From 2011 onwards my focus has been on both studying established trophy hunting operations and doing contract guiding for them. This has enabled be to learn how successful operations run and also how they can be improved. Every client I have the pleasure of guiding I try learn what makes hunting so enjoyable for them and what makes a guiding service/outfitter one to remember. This I believe has accelerated Exclusive Adventures New Zealand to one of the superior outfitters in New Zealand, due to learning from other successful operations the professional way to run a lodge, then giving ours the X-factor and making Exclusive Adventures New Zealand so much better. Show less



Ministry of Education of New Zealand

• New Zealand
• Education Administration Programs
• 700 & Above Employee

• High School Teacher, specialising in Physical & Outdoor Education & Coaching

  • 2008 - 2011

  I taught for three years as a high school education teacher. I taught physical education, health, economics, outdoor education and also did a lot of sport coaching. I started teaching as I wanted be a positive role model to students and help them through a time of life which can be challenging for some. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching and still miss it today. I really got into the outdoor education program where we would take students into the mountains, hiking, camping, snow craft, teach students how to build shelters including snow caves, and cover risk management in that environment. My true addiction in life is hunting and fishing, and after 3 years of teaching I wanted to try full time hunting guiding, and share this passion with clients from all around the world. Through teaching I learnt so many important skills that have since become even more valuable in the hunting industry. These skills include: - Developing rapport with a wide range of people, with varying ages, personalities and skill sets. - Ability to quickly relate with kids and work together with them to achieve their goals. - Ability to manage large groups of people, through good planning, logistics and rapport. - Maintain risk analysis of any activity to minimize potential injury, yet maximize experience and enjoyment. All these skills have helped me maintain a high level of professionalism in my hunting guiding and my business, Exclusive Adventures New Zealand. It enables me to cater for family groups in a personable and experienced way, work together with clients to successfully manage difficult situations while achieve our desired goals, organise large hunting parties or families in a coordinated and professional way, deliver superior hunting, fishing and adventure services where the risks involved have been minimized through strategic planning all while the excitement and enjoyment are amplified. Show less