In the Wanaka area there are many opportunities to combine fly fishing with hiking. Typically these trips involve spending the days fly fishing up a wilderness river, and staying in a backcountry hut or tents.

All the cooking and hard work is done for you. We take pride in cooked breakfasts, tasty lunches and hearty evening meals. Your job is to fish, admire the view, and breathe clean mountain air.

A good level of fitness is required, as some rivers involve climbing around banks and boulders, along with several hours of hiking. You also need to be of solid intermediate casting ability to get the most out of your wilderness New Zealand fly fishing experience.

For access, we either four wheel drive as far as possible, and then hike and fish from the road end, or helicopter (extra charge) to a base, and then fish and camp.

These trips are the best way to experience true wilderness fishing in the NZ South Island backcountry. We get to beautiful places with wild rivers and soaring mountains... areas seldom visited. The fish are generally large and very strong. Hooking up is only the start.

Rates:

Guiding per day NZ$650 one angler, NZ$50 extra for another angler.

Per night fee NZ$300 one angler includes food, drink, accommodation, equipment, fuel. Additional angler NZ$100. Hunter Valley trips an extra charge of $50 per day applies for private hut access.

I guide all these trips personally to make sure you get the best out of your time in the backcountry.