New Zealand Fly Fishing
New Zealand Fly Fishing Adventure – Not For Wimps
If you are planning a fly fishing trip to New Zealand it’s difficult to decide where to go because there are so many options. What spot do you go to? Which guide do you choose? So, let me tell you about my husband’s and my experience.
It all started when I decided to surprise Neil (my husband) with a fly fishing trip for his birthday. So straight to the internet I went and started researching the different options.
I settled on the North Island of New Zealand because there were heaps of fishing spots and heaps of other things to do when I tired of fishing (Neil of course never does 
After searching for countless hours and looking at hundreds of websites I finally settled for a four day three night wilderness experience from Taupo. It had everything I was looking for – heaps of fish, accommodation, fishing guides and best of all no other people; just Neil, I and a couple of guides.
So with crossed fingers I sent off my credit card details and just hoped it would be ok. I mean here I was sitting in Australia and I had no idea of what I was really signing up for.
We got to Taupo and checked into our Motel for the night. The weather was closing in and so we got a phone call saying there was a change of plans for the first day. So the first thing I learnt was to expect the unexpected and be prepared to work with the weather.
The wilderness lodge was so remote that if we got any rain we would not be able to get into it – the week before it took them six hours to get out compared to the usual one hour. So the first day we were hooked up with guide “Fishy Steve”. Well what a blessing that was!
Fishy Steve proved to be a fabulous find. He had been guiding in New Zealand for seven years and had been to guide school. Steve was so attentive, passionate about fishing and a great teacher- even had me with a nice 4 pound rainbow trout within a couple of hours. I tend to get bored with fishing but with learning about fly fishing and hiking such a scenic river – the time passed quickly.
By the end of the day we had a total count of eight rainbow trout; all 4 pounds plus and big smiles on both our faces. We talked Fishy Steve into coming to the wilderness lodge with us (mind you it did not take much convincing).
So on day two we were collected by Kelvin from ‘Go Bush’ and taken to the remote property to start the real adventure. Picture 3,000 acres of New Zealand wilderness, steep mountains and gorges with 6 kilometres of river frontage – a fisherman’s (or woman’s) paradise.
The adventure starts at the front gate as the only access to the lodge is via 4wd or horse. Here we meet Danny the other half of ‘Go Bush’ and take off into the hills. It soon becomes apparent that this is serious 4wd country and that you had better hold on. Wow – the scenery is magical – steep gorges of tree ferns, wild goats scurrying off the track and birds everywhere. We stop at a few lookouts along the way and take in the amazing vista of snow capped mountains – a view that literally takes your breath away.
When we finally get to the cabins, I just can’t believe it. Here we are miles from civilisation with no one around and here lies the most amazing cabins. It transpires that the ‘Go bush’ team milled all the timber on site and built the very comfortable accommodation themselves with flushing toilets and all.
I decide to let the boys go fishing as I relax – so Neil, Kelvin and Fishy Steve set off in the pursuit of fish whilst Danny sets up the camp and prepares dinner.
After a feast of wild boar we sit around the campfire and listen to the tales of the day’s fishing; of the five that were caught and of the even bigger ones that got away.
The next day I decide I had better go fishing as well, so off we go. An exhilarating 4wd trip has us dropped off into a gorge and we set off up river in pursuit of that ‘big’ fish. What a walk – Kelvin had us scrambling up rock faces and along ledges, crossing swift water and what a blast we had. Absolutely exhausted at the end of the day, once again we sat around the camp fire with tales of the days fishing but this time it was after we had a hungi feast.
When it was time to leave, Neil and I both dragged our feet as neither of us wanted to leave. Me because it was just so beautiful and relaxing and Neil because he wanted another ‘go’ at that brown that got away.
And we’ve both had such a good time that I think we will try to fit in another day of fishing with Fishy Steve next week before we have to go home. But either way we will definitely be back for more of the same.
So that’s our New Zealand Fly Fishing adventure. It’s not for the faint hearted but if you want an authentic wilderness experience I suggest you have a chat with Kelvin and Danny at Go Bush. And for an attentive New Zealand fly fishing guide who really knows how to get you the fish, be sure to contact Fishy Steve. And let them know that Lisa said “hi”.