Fly Fishing New Zealand: Your Ultimate Guide

In many ways, it is more like hunting than fishing, as the vast majority of time is spent walking gorgeous streams looking for fish of significance and then carefully stalking them in hopes of making your first cast count. Whether you are after luxury lodges with daily helicopter fly-outs or setting up a rambling road trip with the country’s finest independent guides, we have the connections to make your trip to New Zealand the best it can be.

Understanding the New Zealand Fishing Season

Generally, the season runs from October 1 – April 30.

October to early November
Spring in New Zealand can have unsettled weather and river conditions, but the fishing can be very productive. The fish are ready to eat and have not seen flies in months. It’s most common at this time of year to fish with nymphs and streamer rigs.

Late November to December
Late spring and early summer is our favorite time to fish New Zealand. Typically, the Kiwis get out of school for their Christmas break around December 17. We really love the late November and early December weeks—the air temps during the day are warming up, the fish are active, and the pressure is still low.

January to February
The height of summer. There will be lots of bugs hatching and the weather is more settled; the long days and clear rivers make this time ideal for fly fishing. The downside is that there are more tourists in the country and more pressure on the rivers. The fish in the summer are going to be more selective, so making the right cast the first time, controlling the fly in the drift, and doing it all while being as silent as possible is critical for success. It is tough to beat summer in New Zealand, and this is the time of year that most anglers think about going to the country.

March to April
Late summer and early fall. Don’t sleep on autumn in New Zealand—it is often overlooked and can be a great time to visit the country. The temps are cooling and the angling pressure is dropping. This time of year can be very productive dry-fly fishing with good streamer fishing as well.

Preparing for a Trip to New Zealand

To prepare yourself to be successful in New Zealand, it is important to focus on your fitness and your casting.

New Zealand is a quality-over-quantity fishery, and you are going to have to walk between fish. It is best to be able to walk 4 to 6 miles over sometimes strenuous terrain per day. Expect a couple of river crossings in your day, so make sure that you feel confident wading. It is best to work on your physical conditioning before your trip so that you are not caught off guard on site.

In New Zealand, you do not often need to make long casts. You need to be able to make accurate casts with a long leader. Practice casting at 30 feet, hitting a lunch tray, then take it down to a dinner-plate-sized target. After you feel comfortable with 30 feet, push your distance out to 40, then 50 feet. Work on casting a 15-foot leader, then work on casting it in the wind. It is difficult at first, but with some practice you can get it down and get the fly to turn over. Make sure to try to keep your false casts to a minimum to hit your target. If you are struggling with your casting, HERE are some great videos that can help.

It is said that in New Zealand, for every cast at a feeding fish, your chances go down 25% of catching that fish, so you often have four good shots. While we may not buy that 100%, we do like the idea behind that statement. Give yourself the best possible chances by preparing yourself before you go. Remember that fishing is fishing and practice is practice. Don’t be that angler who says, “I’ll just practice while fishing.” It does not work that way.

Getting to New Zealand

All travelers need a valid passport and will need to request and receive an NZeTA to enter New Zealand. NZeTA is the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority. Guests entering New Zealand will need to go to their website or download the NZeTA app to make their request. 

Most NZeTA requests are processed within 72 hours. Many requests are processed more quickly, but some may take longer. To avoid delays, we encourage guests to use the mobile app and request an NZeTA well in advance of their travel. 

Most guests flying into New Zealand will transfer through the capital city of Auckland (AKL). There are daily direct flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, Dallas, Honolulu, and Newark. Once in Auckland, guests will transfer to Taupo (TUO) on the North Island or Nelson (NSN), Christchurch (CHC), or Queenstown (ZQN) on the South Island. 

New Zealand is very concerned with invasive pests and plants entering the country. When guests go through customs, they will be asked whether they have any camping gear, wading gear, fly-tying materials, food, etc. Be sure to clean and dry all wading gear and fishing boots. Do not attempt to bring in any natural fly-tying materials, grain- or seed-based foods, or meats such as jerky or salami. If the inspectors are not pleased with the condition of personal items, they will take them and fumigate them while travelers wait. This generally takes about 15–30 minutes. 

One thing I think is very important is to distinguish the catch rate differences between the North Island, the north of the South Island, and the south of the South Island.

Understanding the North Island of New Zealand

The North Island of New Zealand’s fisheries are generally less crowded than the South Island. The North Island is predominantly a higher-catch, rainbow trout fishery. The North Island is home to two of our favorite lodges in the world, but for very different reasons. 

Tongariro Lodge
Tongariro Lodge is the best overall value in New Zealand. At Tongariro, outdoor adventure is their specialty. As New Zealand’s longest-tenured fly fishing lodge, they are within striking distance of lots of productive drive-in access as well as some of the most classic pools in New Zealand. The lodge can also add in helicopter fly-outs, overnight hut trips, and wilderness whitewater raft fishing trips. Their proximity to UNESCO World Heritage Site Tongariro National Park makes them a great base to experience North Island fishing at its best and then explore one of the coolest national parks on the planet. 

Poronui Lodge
Poronui is one of the finest sporting lodges in the world. When asked where we would go if we could go anywhere, Poronui is often at the top of the list. Everything the lodge does is world-class, and the mix of veteran and up-and-coming younger fishing guides makes for an incredible “rustic chic” experience. The Poronui home water is very productive, but where the lodge shines is in their helicopter access. The helicopters land at the lodge every morning and take guests into some of the most amazing rivers on Earth.

Understanding the South Island of New Zealand

The South Island is often what people think of when they think of New Zealand. Towering peaks that run right into the ocean, crystal-clear rivers, rolling vineyards and hop farms, sheep paddocks, and amazing beaches are all part of the South Island experience. In the South Island fisheries, anglers are sight fishing for predominantly brown trout. The South Island is home to some of the largest brown trout in the world.

We work with a few amazing lodges on the South Island:

Owen River Lodge
A lodge with very high-level service, Owen River Lodge boasts over 25 river systems within a 90-minute drive of the lodge. It is here that guests come to challenge themselves at catching the largest sighted brown trout of their lives. The fishing at Owen River Lodge can be more technical than other destinations because they tend to fish a longer leader to very educated fish, but when guests hook into them, it is an incredibly rewarding experience.

Cedar Lodge
New Zealand’s top helicopter fly-out lodge. At Cedar Lodge, helicopter fishing is included in the rate, and guests will fly out every day that the weather permits. The rivers they fish are some of the most beautiful in New Zealand. Add in a lodge with a high level of service, and an incredible lodge and guide staff, and it all adds up to an amazing experience.

Fiordland Lodge
Located just outside of Te Anau, Fiordland Lodge sits at the gates of Fiordland National Park. On a hill overlooking Lake Te Anau, the lodge may have one of the most awesome vistas from the guest rooms of any lodge in the world.

Booking New Zealand Independent Guides

Don’t need a full lodge experience? Are you interested in an authentic New Zealand experience? If all you need are world-class guides, a comfortable bed, and a hot shower, Fly Water Travel has you covered. On the South Island, we have a great network of independent guides that we work with. Guests will be on their own for accommodation and meals, but we have recommendations.

Custom Itineraries & Combination Experiences
Many anglers who travel to New Zealand will do a combo trip with different lodges or independent guides. We can help build a fully custom trip so that guests can get the trip they want and see much more of the country. Below are a few sample itineraries to give you an idea of what we can build for you.

Whether you’re dreaming of a full-service luxury lodge experience complete with daily helicopter fly-outs, a rugged trout bum road trip with local guides, or something perfectly in between, we’re here to help make it happen. With decades of firsthand experience, trusted partnerships across New Zealand, and a deep understanding of what makes a fly fishing trip truly unforgettable, we’ll help you craft an itinerary that fits your goals, interests and budget.

From logistics and travel planning to lodge recommendations and gear prep, we’ll guide you every step of the way. All you have to do is show up ready to fish. Let us help you experience the very best of New Zealand fly fishing.