Otago
Queenstown – Glenorchy – Wanaka
Queenstown, sits on the shores of the South Island’s Lake Wakatipu, set against the dramatic Southern Alps. Queenstown reputation is centred around its renowned outdoor adventure sports, it is also a great base for exploring the region’s vineyards and historic mining towns. There’s bungee jumping off Kawarau Gorge Bridge and jetboating on the Shotover and Dart rivers. In winter, there’s skiing on the slopes of The Remarkables and Coronet Peak.
Glenorchy is a very small settlement at the head or northern end of Lake Wakatipu, Glenorchy is a popular tourist spot, the close by settlements of Kinloch and Paradise are known for their stunning scenery and tranquil setting. The area is also the gateway to several world-famous multi-day hikes including the Routeburn Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. For walking tracks closer to town, there are well-graded walkways that lead to points of interest including the Glenorchy Walkway, Whakaari Conservation Area and Mt Judah, where the remains of scheelite mines can be found. For more detailed information please visit/contact the Queenstown information centre.
Guided Flyfishing Expeditions – Queenstown -Wanaka – Glenorchy
There are several prime waters accessible by four-wheel drive and walk-ins however to access the remote South Western and Western waters a Heli flight will be required, this is wild Backcountry wilderness, exposed to frontal systems but when weather patterns are stable and favourable trout fishing in this location is amazing. There are several classical rivers well off the beaten track that offer incredible dry fly trout fishing, hungry Rainbows will come from fast rapids and deep pools to take well-presented dry fly patterns. Hooking up with a guide will insure you get to fish some amazing smaller streams in the outer boundaries of Queenstown and Wanaka.
Wanaka, a resort town on New Zealand’s South Island, is set on the southern end of its namesake lake with views of snow-capped mountains. It is the gateway to the Southern Alps Mount Aspiring National Park, a wilderness of glaciers, beech forests and alpine lakes. Treble Cone and Cardrona ski resorts are near the park. Just outside the town is the outdoor maze and sculpture gallery of Puzzling World.
For the best fly-fishing locations, a little drive time may be required, hot summer days with stable weather conditions will see some incredible fishing up in the distant valleys.
Contact us for guides availability and recommendations. Fly fishing Guides for New Zealand’s South Islands Queenstown Glenorcky and Wanaka.
North Otago
North Otago and Otago’s Southwestern boundaries are recognized for its excellent Back Country fisheries. This region offers a good number of rivers to explore and fish with a couple noted for its extra-large Brown and Rainbow trout. The westerly trade winds tend to come up most days which make for difficult spotting and casting, a good weather forecast, or stable high-pressure weather systems are preferred when planning to fish this location especially when targeting the larger trout, these spectacular valleys are so exposed to the down valley trade winds. The Sound of Cicadas At the peak of summer, you may get to experience the trout feeding on big terrestrial cicadas, this occurrence is a fly fishers dream, watching these mostly large trout loosen up as they aggressively snap at the unlucky Cicadas that have crashed landed onto the water can be a very memorable experience for the angler, Cicada time would be one of our most anticipated and favourite events of the trout season calendar. Cicadas fly patterns, a good selection of Cicada patterns are essential, you can find these at New Zealand’s top online fly shops or local flyfishing and hunting stores.
Haast
New Zealand fly fishing adventures for Haast
Haast is a very small town in the Westland District on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The Haast region covers over 2,500 square kilometres. The main activities in the Haast region are Hunting, fishing and tourism.
The Westland temperate rain forests are extremely vast, these amazing towering timberlands and lush native forest really give a prehistoric feeling to those who venture within this heritage parkland, truly a unique wild region of New Zealand’s South Island.
This very remote Westland District offers challenging conditions for the Flyfisher, access and unsettled weather along with heavy rains make this stunningly beautiful area particularly challenging for the fly-fishing angler to navigate. Now these negative factors aside we have a very soft spot for a number of the smaller tributary streams and upper reaches or heard waters of these larger rivers, it is more suited for the adventure/ hiking angler, but the rewards can be well worth the exploring time put in if time is on your side. The lower reaches of the coastal waters are known for their big sea run trout, sea run browns will present a challenge as they may be accustomed to praying on smaller fish around the estuary waters, better for a little streamer fishing.
The head waters and smaller tributary streams present some prime wilderness flyfishing, access can be difficult, Heli charters are differently the best option for these back country fly fishing excursions, when good conditions present the fishing can be fantastic.
