Owen River Lodge, New Zealand: Trophy Trout, Familiar Waters, and a New Chapter

After an incredible stay at Poronui (see my Poronui Destination Report HERE), we traveled to New Zealand’s South Island to visit Owen River Lodge, another destination I’ve come to know and love over the past two decades.  

To get there we flew from Taupo back to Auckland and then down to Nelson. Owen River Lodge is located near the town of Murchison on New Zealand’s South Island. It’s an easy and scenic two-hour drive from Nelson, making it one of the more accessible South Island destinations. The route offers beautiful views and a growing sense of anticipation as the mountains and rivers draw closer.     

Before arriving at the lodge itself, we stopped in to visit the lodge’s founder, former owner and a dear friend of nearly 20 years, Felix Borenstein. We spent the night at his home, which lies on a beautiful farm just down the road from Owen River Lodge and enjoyed a wonderful evening with his family and a great day on the water together. Felix built something truly special at Owen River Lodge and seeing him in his element again was a meaningful start to this leg of the trip. 

A New Era with Familiar Excellence 

For many years under Felix’s leadership, Owen River Lodge was regarded as one of the best-run operations we worked with anywhere in the world. In 2023, Owen River Lodge was acquired by Eleven Experience, a company known for high-end, experience-driven travel. With the change in ownership came natural questions: Would the high standards Felix established be upheld? Would the service and personal warmth remain?  We’re happy to report that while some things have changed, as is to be expected with a shift in management, the high level of service remains firmly in place. The current team is professional, attentive, and clearly focused on maintaining the lodge’s reputation for excellence while integrating some of Eleven’s signature touches. 

Accommodations remain top-notch: warm, beautifully designed, and highly functional. The rooms are well-appointed without being overdone, and the overall feel is casual yet luxurious. Meals continue to be a highlight and are thoughtful, fresh, and delicious with an emphasis on local ingredients and relaxed, convivial dining. 

We’re happy to report that, while some aspects have understandably evolved, the core experience remains exceptional. The new team is professional, present, and clearly committed to maintaining the lodge’s longstanding reputation for excellence. The rooms remain cozy and elegant, the service is attentive but never intrusive, and the food is fresh, local, skillfully prepared and remains a highlight of the experience. 

Who is the trip best for?
Owen River Lodge continues to be an ideal destination for anglers who want access to some of the best sight-fishing for wild brown trout in the world, without sacrificing comfort. With over 25 local rivers accessible by vehicle and even more via helicopter, the variety and quality of water is hard to overstate. This trip is particularly well suited for intermediate to advanced anglers who want to test their skills in technical waters. Because of the surrounding natural beauty, access to hiking trails and proximity to the city of Nelson (the wine growing region) it is also a great base for those that don’t fish.  

A personal note: For me personally, this region represents some of the most rewarding and challenging places to hunt trophy brown trout in all of New Zealand and maybe the world. While I’ve had plenty of amazing days, as well as my fair share of tough ones, the magical 10-pound-plus fish I’ve seen has eluded me. I’ve cast to them, hooked them, and even brought one to the edge of the net, but I’ve yet to land one. It’s that challenge and that ever-present possibility of a truly unforgettable fish that keeps me coming back.  The additional interesting thing about the fishing in this region is that even though I know this is one of the most challenging regions in New Zealand it does not mean that it is off limits to beginners.  Case in point is that my wife Heather joined me on this part of the trip as well and though there were a good number of situations that were beyond her beginning skill level she had a great time and was able to hook and land several beautiful fish on the one day she joined me. This speaks to two things. First, is that she goes into the day knowing that she is going to enjoy the beauty of the area, loves just looking for the fish, and is thrilled to even hook one. Second, it speaks to the quality of the guides and their ability to read their guests' ability and do their best to put them in situations with the best opportunity for success.   

Overall, I was excited to see that Eleven Experience had upheld the high standard that Felix set with Owen River Lodge many years, while being sure to infuse the operation with all the attention to detail and luxurious appointment Eleven Experience has become known for. For guests looking for an all-encompassing New Zealand experience, a refined lodging experience and the possibility of taming that ever-elusive 10-pound brown trout, they should look no further than Owen River Lodge on New Zealand’s South Island.