A Letter From Your Guide

It’s no secret that New Zealand is home to the world’s biggest trout. At Owen River Lodge and Cedar Lodge, it’s more than a reputation—it’s a fact. We get you on an enormous variety of gin-clear water that’s rarely fished by others, and our seasoned guide teams make sure you’re on the right stretch, using the right techniques, at exactly the right time. Casting at targeted trout can be technically challenging, but that makes the reward—watching a huge brown rise to crush your fly—all the better.

If you’re wondering which lodge to go to, you just can’t go wrong—and hitting both is the obvious best answer. Both lodges offer stunning riverfront accommodations, seasonal food prepared by local chefs, and strategic locales designed to put you in the middle of New Zealand’s best sighted fishing. If you’re looking for a more technical wading and casting experience, and have tunnel vision on landing the biggest brown of your life, Owen River Lodge is the place for you. Our guests here land 6-lb browns almost every day, and a good number of double-digit trophies over the course of the season. And while Owen River Lodge offers the option to helicopter in, Cedar Lodge’s bread and butter is its heli-operation in Mt. Aspiring National Park. Flying in gives you really remote access to gorgeous stretches where you’ll have an impressive quantity of browns and rainbows all to yourself.

We can’t wait to get out on the water with you and show you all our island has to offer. Give us a ring to talk through your trip.

What will your New Zealand trip look like?

Day 1 - ARRIVAL AT OWEN RIVER LODGE

Take a domestic flight to Nelson, drive yourself or purchase a ground transfer to Owen River Lodge, check-in and enjoy a hearty dinner the night before your adventure begins.

Day 2-5 - FOUR FULL DAYS OF FISHING

Wake up to a homemade breakfast each morning. Fish the rivers and streams that are fishing best with daily drive out fishing at Owen River Lodge. Enjoy a field lunch by the stream while your guide shares some new tricks. Apres and dinner wrap up the evening. Consider a down day for one of the many other adventures available including wine tasting, hiking, golfing, whitewater rafting, jet boating, mountain biking, or Nelson visits.

Day 6 - FISH YOUR WAY TO CEDAR LODGE

Choose how to make your way to Cedar Lodge: heli transfer and fish the Canterbury Region, take a fixed wing transfer to Makarora, or drive yourself to the West Coast to Cedar Lodge. Then, check-in and enjoy a chef-prepared dinner.

Day 7-10 - FOUR DAYS OF HELI-FISHING

The fishing continues with heli access fly fishing at Cedar Lodge. Wake up each morning to breakfast and a scenic flight to remote waters where the fish are plentiful. Down day options include heli-hiking, hiking, heli-mountain biking, mountain biking, lake activities, wine tasting/vineyard exploring, horseback riding, adrenaline sports, canyoning, golfing, Wanaka visits, and jet boating.

Day 11 - DEPARTURE DAY

Wake up to a delicious send-off breakfast, then hop a flight to your next destination in New Zealand or fly out of Queenstown to Auckland and back to the States.