Fly-fishing in the South Island Itinerary

Spend your first day exploring Invercargill, Southland's largest city. 

Invercargill is known for its elegant old department stores and wide, easy-to-navigate streets. Local food specialities include Bluff oysters and blue cod. The Southland Museum and Gallery has a tuatara house and an excellent exhibition about New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands. Transport World is another must-see attraction, with its huge range of automotive and motorcycles.

Gore is a fly-fisher’s paradise. The self-proclaimed ‘Capital of Brown Trout’ even has a giant leaping brown trout monument in the town centre. Anglers travel from all over to experience the famous ‘May-fly’ hatch or ‘Rising fish’ on the Mataura River. Spend a couple of days exploring the best fishing spots around Gore. Fly Fish Mataura offer guided tours or visit the local iSITE for more information on the best fishing spots.

Non-fishers can visit the Hokonui Moonshine Museum to learn about the history of illicit whisky distilling, pop across to the Eastern Southland Gallery or travel further afield to The Catlins, for its rugged coastline and abundant wildlife.

Travel to Fiordland, one of the most dramatic and stunning parts of New Zealand. The region encompasses Fiordland National Park (a world heritage site) and also includes the famous Milford, Dusky and Doubtful Sounds.

Set aside a day for fly-fishing. There are plenty of options for guided fishing in this area. If you're going alone, some of the best rivers in the region are Eglington and Routeburn. 

For non-fishing members, there are a number of activities on offer so you can get up close and personal with the stunning scenery. Hike, fly, kayak or cruise around Fiordland. 

Explore the majestic fiords in the area. Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound provide great day trips from Te Anau. While Milford Sound is the more famous of the two, Doubtful Sound has the advantage of being the less crowded option. In either case, you'll enjoy spectacular scenery, beautiful waterfalls and plenty of wildlife.

Spend the last day of your journey exploring Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand. Take a break from fishing and experience one of the many activities on offer from kayaking and cycling to jet boating and bungy jumping. 

Queenstown is also home to spectacular golf courses such as Millbrook, Jack's Point and The Hills. Or travel to the Gibbston Valley to sample the region's world famous wines.