Waipahi River Home (pronounced Why-pah-hee)

The Waipahi River Home provides a unique low cost alternative to high priced lodges for the independent flyfisher. New Zealand's South Island offers anglers some of the finest dry fly and nymph fishing in the world for brown and rainbow trout of trophy proportions. Until now, experienced anglers have had only two options for enjoying this famous fishery: Paying for highly structured, expensive guided tours or lodges, or struggling to figure out accommodations, travel plans and fishing locations on their own, without any prior knowledge or help. Now, there is another way to fish the South Island, especially designed for the independent, experienced angler on a budget.
Guests stay in our comfortable country home in the heart of the South Island's best fishing region on their own, at a very reasonable price. At the same time, they have the benefit of intimate local fishing knowledge from our detailed house guidebook, available only to our guests. The guidebook is based on our flyfishing experiences throughout the region, and includes specific access information and essential tips on how to fish around the rivers of the local area. Everything you need to know to fish the South Island waters like a local is clearly outlined in the guidebook. The guidebook tells you where, when, and how to catch the trophy trout that surround you- details of fly patterns to use, how to tie them, specific access information to dozens of our favorite fishing areas, and local flyfishing strategies. In most of the places we direct you to, you will seldom see another angler. You rent the house, we help you find the fish. This independent way of discovering New Zealand's legendary trout fishing fills a need in the flyfishing adventure travel market by offering you the flexibility, independence and economy of doing it on your own, but with the increased confidence you gain from having inside knowledge of the local fishery.

Our beautiful country home is just outside the small town of Gore, which calls itself the World Capital of Brown Trout Fishing (see web link). The house is easy to find, just off New Zealand Highway 1 between Gore and the small village of Clinton (known as the Clinton-Gore Presidential Highway!). The home is quiet and private but with convenient access to restaurants, shopping and fishing supplies. Our Waipahi River home water just across the street has browns of up to 5 pounds in a spring creek-like setting. Waipahi River Home is also only minutes from the Mataura River, rated the best dry fly fishing river on the South Island, with its famous mayfly hatches and the "mad Mataura rise". A few minutes in the other direction is the Pomahaka River, with its diverse waters and annual migration of sea-run browns. Within easy reach are these and scores of other world-class fishing destinations, including spring creeks, lakes, mountain freestone rivers, and estuaries with schools of sea run browns. These nearby waters are in settings ranging from the high desert hills of Central Otago to the ancient rainforests of Fjordland, but they all have one thing in common: uncrowded angling for trophy fish.

With our house guidebook as the key to your independent fly-fishing adventure, you can explore the angling opportunities of the South Island without costly guided trips or lodge commitments. Our goal at Waipahi River Home is simple: to provide you with a reasonably priced, independent New Zealand flyfishing experience that you will never forget..

Inside the house

Waipahi River Home is set up to provide comfortable, roomy accommodations for one to six anglers, friends or family members in a quiet, scenic rural setting. Our modern brick home has three bedrooms. The master bedroom has one queen-sized bed, and features double glass doors opening directly onto the back garden and patio area. Each of the other two bedrooms is furnished with two comfortable twin beds. The house has a sunny, fully-equipped modern electric kitchen and a dining area that look out onto the beautifully landscaped back garden. The living room features a bay window with views of the peaceful New Zealand countryside and a cozy fireplace (firewood provided) to make you and your guests feel right at home. The house is equipped with laundry facilities and electric heat. On those long warm South Island evenings, you and your guests can relax après-fishing with a drink and dinner in the brick back patio area equipped with a gas barbeque and picnic table. The half-acre yard is landscaped with flowers, lawns and many native New Zealand trees and shrubs. A brick garage is available for your rental car.

Inside, the house is furnished as a do-it-yourself flyfishing lodge, with rustic décor in a New Zealand theme. A fully equipped flytying bench is located in the living room to allow you to tie up a few more of those successful patterns for the next day’s fishing.
The walls are decorated with photos of local rivers, scenery and trophy fish, New Zealand artifacts, maps of the area on several scales, and displays of recommended fly patterns (including both traditional New Zealand patterns and our own favorites). The house library includes the best of the New Zealand trout fishing books and novels by Kiwi authors. A house flyfishing logbook allows you to record your fishing successes for the benefit of later guests, as well as giving you the advantage of learning about what worked for earlier groups of clients. Two bound copies of the Waipahi River Home guidebook will allow you to easily locate and successfully fish the best local waters. Road atlases and topographical maps of the local area are provided for your use while visiting, marked with the specific access locations described in detail in the house guidebook.

Guests are greeted on their arrival with a detailed writeup on the house and suggestions on how to make the best use of their fishing days. Recommendations to all of the local services available in the nearby town of Gore are also available. These include local restaurants, supermarkets, pubs, liquor and hardware stores, museums and movie theaters, sporting goods and fishing supply stores, emergency services and gas stations. Information is also given on local activities other than fishing, including guided tours, golfing, horseback riding, mountain biking, sea and lake kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, hiking, shopping, wine tasting, wildlife viewing, and even adventure sports like bungee jumping, jet boating, whitewater rafting, parasailing and skydiving. Although our focus at Waipahi River Home is on world-class flyfishing, we encourage anglers to bring along your family or non-fishing friends. Besides offering some of the best trout fishing in the world, New Zealand is also a world famous scenic destination.

We have a local handyman and a cleaning service who will respond quickly to deal with any minor problems that may arise during your stay. Our house handyman also owns the local taxidermy shop. Although we strongly encourage catch and release fishing, if you land a trophy fish and want a professional wall mount for your home, he is the one to call.

Finally, we should mention our hosted trips. For those guests who request it, we can arrange to personally host your visit and make sure you have everything you need, including fishing licenses, flies and home-cooked meals. Of course, these trips are available only by prior arrangement and at special pricing rates.