Nestled at the northern tip of New Zealand's spectacular Southern Alps is Lake Rotoroa within Nelson Lakes National Park. Far from the madding crowds, this isolated and unspoiled location is surrounded by the forests and mountains and over 22 rivers and 2 lakes that provide some of the best fly fishing in New Zealand.

The Nelson Lakes NP, with its alpine environment, is just one of three National Parks that surround the city of Nelson (1½ hours away). The Abel Tasman National Park is coastal (offering some of the very finest, golden beaches in the world, together with the internationally renowned Abel Tasman Track) and New Zealand's most recently designated National Park, Kahurangi, is one of the world's great wilderness environments.

October and November are when the rivers are at their freshest, and the fish are hungry and much less spooky than in the hotter summer months when the water can be lower.

January and February are the most popular months for both visitors and New Zealanders alike, and more people are likely to be out on the river than during other months, but the dry fly fishing can be at its best.

March and April bring showers that freshen up the rivers so one can often get lucky in low rivers, which can also be fun. All these are very general trends because of the weather, which can make any month of the season.

This is brown trout heaven and the crystal clear waters often yield 3-6lb trout with monster fish of 10lb not uncommon. These can be caught on dry fly or by nymph fishing and the method varies according to the season and the availability of insects. Sight fishing is how most fish are caught and your professional guide will be with you every step of the way as you spot, stalk and land your prize fish.

With its abundance of back country wilderness this is one of the best areas of New Zealand to experience Heli-fishing. If Heli-fishing is on you agenda please enquire early as it needs to be pre booked.

Accommodation

Set on the shores of the lake in the heart of the best South Island fly fishing country, the lodge gives access to an abundance of challenging fishing. Enjoy the stunning views from the lodge's open-fired sitting room, dining room or, indeed, from many of the guest rooms. Your hosts Brent and Sharleen and their friendly and professional staff and guides will do their utmost to give you a fly fishing holiday you will forever talk about.

The lodge was built in the early 1920s, and has been lovingly restored and protected to this day. The ten individual guest rooms have en-suite bathrooms and include brass beds replete with feather quilts.

Add to that some eccentricities in the décor, artworks, fixtures and fittings and the result is a charming and comfortable New Zealand country house. The two-storey building captures your attention the moment you enter the front door. It contains an eclectic mix of objects d'art, paintings, stag trophies from the lodge's early days and, of course, the occasional trout.

The sitting room and bar has a large picture window which frames a stunning view of the lake and the dramatic mountain peaks of the Travers Range in the distance. In the evening, guests gather around the bar to tell stories of the day's fishing.

One of the key ingredients of a stay in a luxury lodge is the quality of the food and wines on offer. With breakfast and dinner served in the elegant dining room and lunch (if required) served in the bar (or as a gourmet picnic for those who venture away from the lodge), the chefs delight in designing and preparing meals for small numbers of discerning guests.

For many, dinner is the highlight of the day as guests come together by flickering candlelight to share in culinary experiences that many return to repeat, year after year. Blessed with bountiful supplies of fresh meat, fish, seafood, vegetables, locally grown berries and a great deal more, eating at the lodge is always a fun and satisfying experience. The lodge also boasts an extensive wine cellar, which showcases the finest New Zealand and Australian wines.

Breakfast may be your favourite meal of the day, so we freshly prepare a full range of options for you each day. Toasted muesli drizzled with fresh yoghurt, fabulous pancakes topped with just about anything or the more traditional New Zealand cooked breakfast. Everything is beautifully served with the care and attention that you would hope for.

Guides

There are so many reasons why a guide is vital anywhere in the world but in New Zealand the need is even more acute. We are proud of our guide crew, all of whom have very keen eyes and great knowledge of their local rivers built up from many years on the waters. Knowing how the trout behave to the entomology required as the season progresses - these skills are a vital qualification for them to work for us.

Our guides understand that not everyone has the same fishing skills or wants to walk at a fast pace. They are skilled not only at teaching but at tailoring each individual day to suit the many and varied requirements of our guests. Many of our guests just enjoy time on the water with a local New Zealander - learning about the country is as much fun as catching the next fish.

All these factors we believe contribute to a great guide and we have 100% confidence that a day on the water with our guides will be a memorable fishing experience.

Equipment

The lodge has a selection of men's and women's waders (real women's - not small men's sizes) and wading boots of all shapes and sizes, and they are clean and in very good condition. There are over 40 rods in-house ranging from 3 to 6 weights in brands such as Thomas and Thomas, Sage and Hardy. We also have two-piece to six-piece rods that will fit in the guide's pack. In summary, with the exception of a rain jacket, we have everything that any of our guests could want up to size 15 boots!

Feel free to bring along you own equipment. A list of what is recommended in New Zealand can be emailed to you on request.

Other Activities

• Photography
• Mountain Biking
• Shopping
• Kayaking
• Garden tours
• Wine tasting
• Hiking

...just to name a few.

Getting There

We can arrange transfers and self drive hire cars from Nelson which is 75 mins from the lodge or from Christchurch which is 3.5 hours away. Nelson has a domestic only airport and Christchurch is domestic and international flights.

Other Destinations

Many clients choose to visit other destinations whilst in the country. Why not visit the North island of New Zealand as well which is a very different fly fishing experience. Please see our North Island product pages.

Pricing

	Per Person
4 Nights + 3 Days	From NZD$3214
7 Nights + 6 Days	From NZD$5878
Prices are per person on a twin share basis. Various packages available. Prices are indicative only. Please contact us for possible update.

Rates are inclusive of Dinner, Breakfast, lunch, guiding, equipment and GST.