The Area around Waipahi River Home

The landscapes and climates of the South Island vary enormously over very short distances, but all are beautiful and all hold world-class fisheries. The area just around the house includes much of the best water on the South Island, including the Waipahi, Mataura, and Pomahaka Rivers. Slightly farther afield, just to the west of Waipahi River Home (about 11⁄2 hours driving distance), is the famous Fjordland National Park, a World Heritage wilderness area. Parts of Fjordland receive some of the highest rainfall in the world, up to 20 feet a year! All this precipitation results in hundreds of places to fish, from the unexplored virgin rivers of the Fjordland west coast, to world-famous Lake Te Anu and famous flyfishing rivers like the Eglinton, Hollyford, Mararoa, Upukeroro, and Whitestone.

Central Otago lies just north of the home. This area is reminiscent of eastern California or Oregon, with vast empty plains and rolling arid hills. The unique New Zealand native tussock grass is plentiful here, and these areas are prime spots for dry fly fishing during the cicada hatch of mid-summer. Despite being arid, Central Otago has numerous rivers (like the Taieri, Oreti, Clutha and Nevis) and lakes (like Onslow, Poolburn or Manorburn) that hold large browns and rainbows. To the northwest of the house lie the Southern Alps and the famous adventure-sport town of Queenstown (about 2 hours driving distance).

Lakes like Wakatipu and Wanaka and their tributaries like the Clutha, Greenstone and Caples offer high-country fishing for resident and lake run trout, including both browns and rainbows.

Just to the south of Waipahi River Home is the Catlins mountain range, covered in native bush, and the rugged Southland coastline with rocky capes and empty beaches. This scenic area offers fishing for resident and sea run browns in wild river estuaries like the Catlins River.

New Zealand and the South Island

New Zealand is a safe, clean, English-speaking country with friendly and hospitable people who like to refer to themselves as "Kiwis". Money is easily available everywhere from automatic teller machines that will accept your home card- don't bother bringing traveler's checks. Prices are generally much cheaper than in the US, due to the favorable exchange rate. The population of the country is about 4 million in an area larger than California, and the majority of the population (80%) is concentrated on the North Island. Consequently, there is plenty of open space on the South Island and overcrowding, smog, traffic, and competition for fishing are almost non-existent.

The climate is temperate, and seldom experiences extremes of heat or cold. In mid-summer at this high latitude (about 45 degrees south) it stays light until at least 10 PM, allowing you to make the most out of your fishing day. Driving is on the left hand side of the road, and most measurements are metric, although fishermen still tend to estimate their trout in pounds. Fishing is unusually safe and secure in New Zealand- there are no poisonous insects and no snakes, and there are no bears or other dangerous wildlife either. New Zealand as an island does not have many introduced pests, and is very conscious about biosecurity. Used camping gear, waders, and boots may be fumigated by customs on arrival, a minor procedure that takes only a few minutes.

Activities Other Than Fishing

Our primary aim at Waipahi River Home is to provide you with a fishing experience that you will never forget. However, the area offers numerous other activities for your family or for non-fishing friends. The Kiwis are crazy about golf, and within easy driving distance there are at least a dozen golf courses. Golf clubs can be rented locally in Gore. Other nearby activities include horseback riding, mountain biking, sea or lake kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, or strolling on deserted beaches. Hiking in Fjordland National Park is another easy day trip option.

Wildlife viewing options include seeing the world's rarest marine mammal, the Hector's dolphin, along the Catlins coast, and visits to rookeries of yellow-eyed or blue penguins and royal albatrosses on the Otago Peninsula. Other marine animals such as Southern fur seals, New Zealand sea lions, and dusky dolphins can be viewed in Fjordland waters or along other local coastal areas. You can even visit Queenstown, adventure sport capital of the world, and try bungee jumping, jet boating, whitewater rafting, parasailing or skydiving! Queenstown is also renowned for its selection of world-class restaurants. Wine tasting in the vinyards of Central Otago, internationally renowned for their chardonnays and pinot noirs, is another short day trip option. All of these non-fishing activities are outlined in detail in the local area guide provided with the home rental.