Sight cast to big browns on 29 distinct rivers and streams all within a 90-minute drive. Four- to six-pound browns are a daily norm, with trophies reaching 10+ pounds.
NEW ZEALAND / -41.6723°S, 172.4626°E
Lodge Destinations
Guided Adventures
Home to the World’s Best Brown Trout Sight Fishing
Nelson Region, South Island, New Zealand
Known for its gin-clear water and large trout, the South Island is a global fly fishing icon. With quick access to nearly 30 brown trout fisheries in the Tasman region, Owen River Lodge has a world-renowned reputation for delivering an unrivaled sight fishing experience. Surrounded by three national parks, the lodge’s remote riverside setting offers unobstructed views of exotic landscapes.
Welcome to Owen River Lodge
A Brown Trout Powerhouse
Longtime Guide Operation
With over 20 years as a dedicated fly fishing operation, Owen River Lodge brings you seasoned guides with longtime local knowledge of the best rivers and techniques.
Riverside Cottage Lodging
A four-time winner of Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards, Owen River Lodge’s three riverfront cottages, hot tub, and main lodge are surrounded by gardens and rugged peaks.
Garden-to-Table Meals
Our talented chefs craft classic New Zealand dishes using local produce and our own garden’s veggies. Breakfast, lunch, après, and dinner are included.
Sight cast to big browns on 29 distinct rivers and streams all within a 90-minute drive. Four- to six-pound browns are a daily norm, with trophies reaching 10+ pounds.
With over 20 years as a dedicated fly fishing operation, Owen River Lodge brings you seasoned guides with longtime local knowledge of the best rivers and techniques.
A four-time winner of Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards, Owen River Lodge’s three riverfront cottages, hot tub, and main lodge are surrounded by gardens and rugged peaks.
Our talented chefs craft classic New Zealand dishes using local produce and our own garden’s veggies. Breakfast, lunch, après, and dinner are included.
Fly Fishing
Strategically Located for the Best Sight Fishing
We straddle three of New Zealand’s world-class fishing areas—the Nelson/Marlborough, West Coast, and North Canterbury regions—giving you strategic access to 29 fisheries less than 1.5 hours away. From farmland valley streams to foothill and headwater rivers with rapids, pools, and large boulders, the variety of freestone rivers offers crystal-clear water and trout averaging four–six pounds, with seven–eight-pound trout caught weekly and 10+-pound browns caught numerous times per year. Add on the area’s best guides, stunning scenery, and the ability to tap a helicopter, and Owen River Lodge is hard to beat.
Lodge Details
Riverfront Lodging in a Remote South Island Landscape
Found along the Owen River in a garden of native flora, our three double cottages are lined with verandas overlooking Kahurangi National Park. Along with a main lodge and massage room, the property has an expansive veggie garden and an outdoor hot tub. Remote by nature and comprehensive in its amenities, Owen River Lodge is a four-time winner of Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
Guest Rooms
- Three riverside cottages, each offering two split king rooms with private entrances, en suite bathrooms, and verandas
Facilities
- Main lodge with dining room, lounge, bar, and veranda
- Massage room
- Outdoor hot tub
- Retail shop
- Fly-tying bench
Special Features
- Expansive riverside vegetable and herb gardens, harvested for meals
Seasonal Weather Patterns and Fishing Conditions
Expect excellent conditions throughout Cedar Lodge’s summer season, which runs from October through the end of April. Here are specifics based on your timing.
Early Season (October–December)
Spring brings rain, rising water levels, and the first hatches. Trout are less selective and more aggressive, making for great dry fly, dry dropper, and nymph fishing.
Mid Season (January–February)
Expect summer temps, ideal water clarity, and heavy insect activity. This is peak season for throwing single dries with ideal sight fishing conditions.
Late Season (March–April)
Autumn brings cool temps, low water levels, and the chance to catch the largest trout of the season. Avid anglers will enjoy challenging but rewarding conditions.
Sample Itinerary
A Day of Fly Fishing
Fully personalized to your preferences, your itinerary can include any combination of experiences. Here are a few of our favorites.
01 / 06
Get started with a chef-made breakfast as your guides brief you on the day’s conditions
Take a short drive to the water that’s fishing best for a morning of walk-and-stalk fly fishing
Break for a riverside lunch prepared by the lodge chef
Continue targeting big browns on the stretches that are proving most effective
Head back for après on the lodge deck, followed by a sustainable dinner full of South Island flavors
Sip a local brew in the hot tub before turning in for the night
Food & Drink
Backyard-to-Table Meals
With an onsite veggie garden, Kiwi chef, and in-house baker, Owen River Lodge’s culinary program has caught global attention. Fresh seafood and the island’s lamb and root crops are artistically prepared to your tastes. Breakfast, après, and dinner are served at the lodge or out on the deck, and lunch is served picnic style in-field. All meals are included.
Booking Details
Season Dates: September 30, 2025 – April 30, 2026
GUIDED ADVENTURES
- Daily guided walk and wade fishing
- Access to over 30 fisheries within 1.5-hour drive
- Guided by expert, tenured Eleven guides
- Industry-leading gear provided, including Thomas & Thomas and Sage fly rods, Hatch and Sage fly reels, Simms and Patagonia waders and boots, neoprene wading socks, wading staffs, and a full assortment of commercial and custom-tied guide flies
- Other non-guided activities
- Hiking and mountain biking
- Use of on-property mountain bikes
FOOD & DRINK
- Daily chef-prepared breakfast, lunch, après, and dinner
- In-room snack and drink assortment
- A selection of house beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages
TRAVEL & LOGISTICS
- Ground transfers to and from all guided fly fishing
- Custom pre-arrival planning with Eleven's Experience Team
*See our booking policies and information
INDIVIDUAL ROOMS
Nightly rate starting at $1,330 based on single occupancy, or $1,660 based on double occupancy
- 3-night minimum required
Meet Our Team
The Local Experts Guiding Your Experience
Our New Zealand team brings decades of specialized fly fishing knowledge, warm Kiwi-style hospitality, and a keen eye for personalization on and off the water.
Chris Williams
Chris Williams is a Fly Fishing Guide at Owen River Lodge. Originally from Christchurch and now living on a remote glacial plateau in New Zealand, he brings over six seasons of guiding experience—and a passion for helping guests land the fish of their dreams.
Adam Peat
Adam Peat is a fly fishing guide at Owen River Lodge with 9 years of experience. A native Kiwi, he’s passionate about helping guests land trophy browns in remote New Zealand waters.
Paul Van Dee Loo
Paul van de Loo is a seasoned fishing guide with 35 years of experience, guiding around New Zealand’s South Island and beyond since 1990.
Getting Here
Owen Valley East Road, Owen River 7073, New Zealand
Recommended Route
- Fly into Nelson Airport (NSN) on the South Island of New Zealand
- Rent a car or let us arrange a private shuttle for the 90-minute drive to Owen River Lodge
NEW ZEALAND / -41.6723°S, 172.4626°E
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