FISHING NEW ZEALAND: SOUTH ISLAND

About the region

The lodge is in the Southland region of New Zealand, one hour's drive south of Queenstown Airport and one hour's drive from Invercargill airport.

Southland is a sparsely populated region with extreme natural contrasts, ranging from the mountainous and lush areas of Fiordland to the plains of Southland at the southern tip of the South Island.

Fiordland National Park is regarded by many as the most scenic area of New Zealand. Highlights of this park include 14 fiords surrounded by extremely steep mountainous terrain covered in lush rain forest in the lowlands and beech forests in higher altitudes. Fiordland has some impressive waterfalls, and on a rainy day it is possible to see hundreds of waterfalls side by side.

Queenstown is one of New Zealand's premier tourist destinations and is the main starting point for trips to Fiordland. It has its own international airport with regular flights from Australia and within New Zealand. The town is built on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and is framed by mountains on all sides, including the scenic Remarkables Mountain Range.

The surrounding area is abundant in action activities such as bungy jumping, jet boating, white water rafting, flightseeing and parapenting.

Fishing

The Southland region is recognized world-wide as one of New Zealand's premier brown trout fisheries. During the summer, the region has very long days, with bright daylight from 4:00am till 10:00pm. Two of the area's most famous fly-fishing rivers are the Mataura and the Oreti (though there are many options within an hour's drive from the lodge).

The Mataura River is a world-class fishery and a must-fish for dry-fly enthusiasts who love to "match the hatch." It is the second biggest river in the region - a river where good hatches can appear on even the coldest days. The upper reaches of the Oreti River contains some wily browns that top the 10 pound (4.5kg) mark. It is a medium sized, easy flowing river with wide gravel beaches and many access points.

The Lodge

The lodge, with three guest rooms, is situated south of Queenstown, directly across from the Mataura River, on 23 acres of lush New Zealand farmland. It is ideally located for easy access to Milford/Doubtful Sounds, more than 20 rivers and lakes, 4 wheel drive areas, numerous treks and all of Queenstown's tours and adventures.

Facilities provided include:

• Quiet, comfortable en suite with private bath and delightful views of the farm and mountains
• Other guest rooms have choice of queen or twin beds
• Comfortable lounge with satellite tv, and watch highlights of the days fishing!
• Sundeck for reading, catching rays, or just relaxing while watching the farm animals
• Fly tying bench and materials
• Tea, coffee, and drinks facilities
• Total privacy, superb views, farm and river walks, epic sunsets
• Laundry facilities

Dax and Leah can make arrangements on your behalf for trips to the many attractions that the region has to offer. Coaches stop nearby, offering a convenient way to access popular trips such as:

• Milford Sound and the famous Milford Track
• Doubtful Sound
• Invercargill - New Zealand's southernmost city.
• Queenstown - the adventure capital of the world
• Te Anau - gateway to Fiordland National Park
• Adventure activities - e.g. bungy jumping, jet boating, white water rafting and more.
• Tours - wine, art, sights etc.
• Mount Cook - the highest mountain in New Zealand

About your hosts

Dax graduated from university in 1997 and moved to Lake Tahoe, California to be a snowboard instructor and trout bum. He soon realized that flyfishing only a few hundred days a year was not enough and began fishing more overseas, eventually coming to the promised land, New Zealand. Since 2000, Dax has been a full-time flyfishing guide, instructor, photographer, and lecturer. Now he spends well over 300 days on the water every year chasing steelhead on the western coastal rivers of the US, bonefish in the Bahamas, finicky trout on the spring creeks of Northern California, and his favorite: sightfishing in Southland, New Zealand. Dax searched extensively to find the most strategic location for a specialty fly fishing lodge, and found it right across from the famed Upper Mataura river in the heart of Southland.

Dax is one of only a handful of Federation of Fly Fishers-Certified Casting Instructors operating in the South Island. He takes an enthusiastic, patient, and instructional approach to guiding. Before heading to the river, he usually gets clients on the lawn for a quick casting clinic, believing it's better to warm up on the lawn rather than over a sighted, feeding, superb brown trout! Dax aims to always exceed client expectations and loves sharing incredible fishing experiences.

While Dax makes sure guests have a fabulous time on the river, his wife Leah makes sure that they feel at home while at the lodge. Leah is a vegetarian who enjoys sharing her unique veggie recipes with guests (in addition to sizzling steaks, roast lamb, etc.). Many of the vegetables come from the farm's greenhouse. A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Psychology, Leah is a people person who enjoys the company of guests from all over the world. She is also an avid amateur photographer who loves taking photos of Southland's brilliant natural vistas.

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