Dragon Hunt Archery Experience
Reconnect with nature and yourself with this unique archery outdoor adventure.
Unique Archery Adventures in Amazing Scenery
Dragon Hunt Archery Experience
Become an archer as you hunt for Dragons and lifelike archery targets while enjoying ancient NZ native bush at its finest. You’ll be crossing glistening streams, listening to the songs of native birds and sneaking between the trunks of giant trees during the Dragon Hunt. No experience needed, full training and all the high-quality traditional Archery gear is provided. So, are you ready to hunt a Dragon?
Archery Battle – Fast and Fierce
Are you ready to shoot a mate with bow and arrow? Archery Battle is our take on the game of Archery Tag – fun, fast, safe and full of action. Think of Archery Battle as a cross between Dodge Ball, Paintball and Archery. There are no painful bruises like after paintball and it’s completely safe. Great fun for teams and groups. Come out for an action-packed afternoon of adrenaline and a good dose of competitive fun.
Team Building and Work Functions
Looking for an activity to excite your team at the next corporate event? How about something that’s fun, active and a little competitive? We tailor your event to suit your needs. Compete for the best archer on our range and try your skills at lifelike archery targets or battle it out in an epic Archery battle. To mark the occasion and reward the most deserving, medals are provided to the organiser to give out to the most legendary competitor.
Have-a-Go
at Archery
Maybe you’ve always fancied having a go at Archery – feeling like the movie legends. Maybe the thought had never crossed your mind but you think it could be something you’d enjoy. Maybe you’ve done Archery before and would like somewhere to practise. Come to our range during the casual drop-in times and get first-class instructions, tips, tricks and all the traditional Archery gear you need. Come on, give it a go.
Experienced and qualifying archers can use our target range and 3D archery field course on their own for a small fee 7 days a week!
Our Most Popular Archery Adventure – The Dragon Hunt
The Dragon Hunt Archery and Nature Experience
Reconnect with nature and yourself with this unique half-day outdoor archery adventure.
Arrive at Archery Park, only 15 minutes from Nelson City (with an optional free pick-up from i-Site visitor information centre), and embark on the Archery Adventure of a lifetime.
Your trusty guide, Markus, is an experienced archer and superb teacher. As a certified archery coach, he can turn even absolute beginners into good shots .
All gear is provided. You’ll receive a real longbow, arrows and leather quiver, and, of course, complete instructions and a chance to practise before embarking on the Dragon Hunt.
You then make your way into the stunning native forest as part of a small group with Markus, your guide. Sneak between the trunks of towering trees and through stunning native forest after walking along Nelson’s cleanest glistening stream. Birdlife is abundant and you will hear about nature highlights along the way.
Experience the thrill of the hunt as you make your way through the native forest where lifelike fantasy and game archery targets await you.
No need to worry about photos either – Markus takes loads of photos throughout the trip and will send them to you by email, so you can immerse yourself completely in the experience .
Best thing: Once you have completed this adventure you are welcome back to go on your own!
Testimonials
Our visitors, young and old, local and foreign, experienced and absolute beginners alike have raved about their experience at Archery Park.
But no need to take our word for it – see for yourself what they have said:
- edinaolive
Really enjoyed the day. Started in the range and then moved on to the stunning track. Markus is a funny guy with great coaching. Bring good shoes and be prepared... read more
11/11/2019azNelson We had a great time "hunting dragons" in the bush with Markus! All the kids absolutely loved it! Fun and friendly atmosphere, professional coaching, beautiful track in the bush. Totally... read more
07/11/2019IMacNZ In a calm and completely relaxed manner Markus quickly got us comfortable with the correct technique and we started hitting our targets before moving out into the forest and hunting... read more
11/10/2019 - TessaP248 Sick day at the park! Must do when in Nelson! Great way to spend the day 😀 Marcus was very flexible and accommodating!
07/10/2019Hetty J Fun and in depth couple of ours with a friendly skilled teacher in a great environment. Thanks Markus!
22/08/2019NZ_Blair This was such a fun activity. Our host was brilliant, funny, entertaining and very safety focused. I liked how he adjusted the difficulty up with increasing the target... read more
16/08/2019 - Workdodgersteve I took my 14 yr old daughter and her friend on a brisk winters day and we all really enjoyed our time. Markus is a patient skilled teacher who... read more
14/07/2019LSn125 My partner and I had such a great time at the Archery park thanks to Markus! Worth going if you want a taste of adventure, also great if you want... read more
30/06/2019Fieldfanau “It was really fun and the instructor was kind, supportive and really nice” William 10yo “Extremely well organised. Instructor knowledge was excellent. Top notch.” Bernie 64yo
26/04/2019
- edinaolive Really enjoyed the day. Started in the range and then moved on to the stunning track. Markus is a funny guy with great coaching. Bring good shoes and be prepared... read more
11/11/2019 - azNelson We had a great time "hunting dragons" in the bush with Markus! All the kids absolutely loved it! Fun and friendly atmosphere, professional coaching, beautiful track in the bush. Totally... read more
07/11/2019 - IMacNZ In a calm and completely relaxed manner Markus quickly got us comfortable with the correct technique and we started hitting our targets before moving out into the forest and hunting... read more
11/10/2019 - TessaP248 Sick day at the park! Must do when in Nelson! Great way to spend the day 😀 Marcus was very flexible and accommodating!
07/10/2019 - Hetty J Fun and in depth couple of ours with a friendly skilled teacher in a great environment. Thanks Markus!
22/08/2019 - NZ_Blair This was such a fun activity. Our host was brilliant, funny, entertaining and very safety focused. I liked how he adjusted the difficulty up with increasing the target... read more
16/08/2019
Click icons for more raving reviews...
5/5
5/5
5/5
Getting to Archery Park Nelson
Archery Park is only a 15-minute drive from Nelson Central. We’re located at Cable Bay Adventure Park on 194 Cable Bay Road, Nelson.
Drive 14km north from Nelson City towards Picton. Turn left into Cable Bay Road at the sign posts Cable Bay. We are 2 km down Cable Bay Road on the right-hand side – look for the Archery Park Flag and the Cable Bay Adventure Park sign.
We provide a free pickup from Nelson i-Site for all Dragon Hunt Adventure guests.
Come join us for the Archery Adventure of a Lifetime
Check Out Some of the Great Things We're Doing for our Community
Robin Hood
Scheme
We truly believe that traditional archery has a positive effect on people of all ages. But the ones that need an adventure experience the most are often also the ones that don’t have the means for such an activity.
That’s where our Robin Hood Scheme can help. Under the scheme, we work at cost to provide reduced rates to health and social services and community groups with a social purpose. We love to help because we care about people and the feedback we’ve received has been outstanding.
Archery
Club
Archery Park is a social business – our main objective is to grow the sport of traditional archery in Nelson and New Zealand. This passion was desperately needed to keep us motivated to deliver you the most exciting news since we have started!
Our plan is to offer a regular weekly club session where archers get together for archery lessons on our practise and 3D archery range and to have a good old yarn about archery. We’re even planning to host upcoming competitions.
Conservation
Efforts
We love nature and the New Zealand wildlife, so we wanted to do our part for conservation from day one – with the aim to become a Carbon Negative business. Our servers are hosted green and all material is printed on recycled paper. We are also reducing the amount of foreign plant life, removing non-native weeds and aim to give our natives space to thrive.
To give birds a better chance of survival, we have started a trapping programme and we’re baiting for wasps.
School Holiday Programme
We partner regularly with local School Holiday Programme providers to allow kids to have a go at archery at Archery Park during the school holidays. But be quick, we’re usually the day that is booked out first.
We also have a lot of families visiting us during the school holidays. And what could be better than half a day outside, strolling through the bush, equipped with bow and arrows? Get in touch if you are interested to hear about options.
About Us
About Archery Park
Archery Park is dedicated to the sport of traditional archery. It is based at the Cable Bay Adventure Park and has a fully equipped target range and a 3D field archery course following a 3km course through stunning native bush.
Archery Park gets consistently rated 5* by its guests, locally and from all over the whole world.
Beginners rave about their first experience of traditional archery and experienced archers love the setup and passion put into the 3D field archery range.
Markus, the owner, guide and coach of Archery Park, has 18 years of experience in traditional archery and is a certified New Zealand Field Archery Coach (NZFAA). He has coached hundreds of archers and has a great talent to teach anyone the basics of archery.
Markus became 2nd in the 2018 3D Bowhunter Nationals and holds the current New Zealand record for highest score on a 20 * 3D archery field course with a historic bow.
He is a member of the International Field Archery Association, New Zealand Field Archery Association, Traditional Archery Society and New Zealand Bowhunter Society.
