Im off to New zealand for a month in december in a camper van and was just trying to decide where to go and how many days to stay in each island and what to do as well as fish for my holiday.Can anyone advise me what route to take?

Hi OD,

I was there two years ago and am going again this winter for six weeks. The South Island is definitely the place to go if you like wilderness though oddly, some friends who trekked the entire length found parts of the more habited North Island (with 3/4 of the population) the most remote!

However, most of the best fly fishing is on the North Island (around Taupo) and the north of the South Island (around Nelson). And I would recommend that you do not get too ambitious about your travels and focus on a few areas (it worked for us anyway!). Plenty of stuff on the web on these two areas too.

And while you are there go fishing for the Kahawia in the coastal waters - pound for pound they are as hard-fighting as a mackerel but several times the size. I had an amazing couple of hours at the mouth of the Greymouth River where I was shown to retrieve the spinner at speed across the top of the water and the takes and chases I got were amongst the best fishing moments of my life! Plus the strength of the current . . .. They do well on the fly as well!

Enjoy yourself -you'll have a great time!

Andy

First, lucky you. I'm heading home to NZ in February but only for two weeks and with my in-laws. I'll try to sneak in as much fishing as possible but I really want to do what you're doing.

Second, buy Trout Bum Diaries Vol 2 to whet your appetite. It's on my iPhone and I keep drooling over it.

The weather in December can be unsettled. (Mid summer is more like February.)

Even though I am from the North Island I would recommend biaising your time towards the South Island.

I think we'd need to know more about what other interests you'd like to explore while there. For example, are you a wine enthusiast? Do you like jumping off bridges with a rubber band tied to your legs?

In the North Island, you want to spend time around all the streams and tributaries of the Waikato area, you must fish the Mohaka, and the Tuki Tuki is worthwhile also.

You'll undoubtedly fly into Auckland. If you want to visit Northland (less fishing unless you want to chase Kingies with a saltwater rod) then do that first and head south from there, through the Waikato, across to Hawkes Bay (fishing the Mohaka on the way) to drink some of the best wine in the world and fish the Tuki Tuki. Then south, perhaps stopping in the Wairapa region (another great wine area).

Google for guides to get an idea of locations etc.

Here's a place I am going to visit on my trip which will give you a sense of the Mohaka:

http://www.poronui.co.nz/Home/Fly-Fishing.aspx

Here's a link for the Fish & Game access maps for Hawkes Bay fisheries:

http://www.nzfishing.com/AboutFishin...Bpamphlets.htm

(Well worth looking for the Fish & Game website)

Some random South Island:

http://www.owenriverlodge.co.nz/rivers.htm

---------- Post added at 12:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:51 PM ----------

Kahawai are basically a type of sea trout. They come in and out of river mouths/estuaries with the tide. I fished the river mouth of the Ngaruroro river for kahawai as a kid. Great fun.


Here's the Fish and Game website:

http://www.fishandgame.org.nz/Site/R...Pamphlets.aspx

---------- Post added at 01:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 PM ----------

Also, if you're interested in the local entomology and tying flies for the trip then buy this book:

TROUT STREAM INSECTS OF NEW ZEALAND - HOW TO IMITATE AND USE THEM
by Norman Marsh

PS: Don't forget, no felt soled wading boots unless you want to go to prison. Read up on didymo (although you'll be given pamphlets at the airport). Make sure all of your gear is absolutely spotless before entering the country otherwise you'll spend forever at the Agri screen in Auckland.

now i am green with envy lol. NZ is a country on my top 5 countries to go to before i die.
and that's exactly what i want to do when i get there stevekale ( jump of bridges with an elastic band on me ankles ). plus all the other extreme sports on offer . but that wont happen for many many many years to come.
plus i think if i were to go out there just now in my young age i would be doing so to live there and never stepping foot back into the UK lol.

There used to be a regular poster on here called Wizzard, he was married to a New Zealand girl and had been endless times, why not send him a PM and see what turns up.

I went a few years back, before I really started this fly fishing ark and was totally gobsmacked by the place, can't wait to get back there, on my must do list, wonderful country and terrific people, only shock was the lack of pubs, not that they dont like a drink, its just a different culture, especially away from the cities.

Have a great time

OTT

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'If you didn't waste your youth, you never had one!'. Bloke in the public bar circa 1970

It's a stunning coutry with amzing fishing.

I still remember walking up to a pool on the Tongariro river or the first time, the cicadas singing loudly, a myriad of birds overhead and the snow covered mountains overlooking the crystal clear water.

Looking from above I could see a brownie of well over 9lbs, possibly 10. We had a try for it but this was my first real attempt at fly fishing and needless to say the trout wasn't impressed.

I'm looking forward to the chance of going back now I know a little more.

I'm off there in March so I'll follow this thread with interest.

If you want to see the best Fishing DVDs ever, bar none, get a copy of at least some of these..I have them all.

"New Zealand Trophy Waters". Some of the best Anglers I've ever seen, fantastic fishing and scenery. None of the demented music that you get on the Trout Bum Diaries but that's a personal thing.

http://www.fishingvideo.co.nz/

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Roy

Roy can I come with you? I have also watched the NZ Trophy Waters, and it's enough to make a man go mad.
I envy you, wish my wife would fly long haul.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.