South Island: 7 Day Fly Fishing Adventures 2014

Trips Dates for Summer 2014

PRICE $3,950 per person

We believe our NZ package is among the finest fly fishing trips available. Staying seven nights deep in the heart of the Southland region and being fully guided by the Goulburn Valley Fly Fishing Centre team, this trip represents extraordinary value and offers you the chance to fish some of the world’s best trout streams.

These trips begin and end on a Sunday at Queenstown airport. An inexpensive three hour flight from either Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane puts you on the ground in Queenstown where you will be met by our team of guides. From there it is a 90 minute drive along the stunningly beautiful Lake Wakatipu and down the Mataura River valley to our base of operations; a working deer farm outside of Mossburn in the centre of New Zealand’s best trout fishing region.

Upon arrival you will choose a bed, drop off your gear and get ready to head out for a brief orientation session on the lawn. It is here that we check everyone's gear and initiate first timers as to what to expect when stalking and fighting wily south island browns. Once this hour long session is complete, you can make the short stroll across the paddocks to fish the river for the evening rise. This is then followed by six full days of superlative dry fly fishing for wild brown and rainbow trout.

Participants this season (2013) caught fish up to 9lb in weight, with the average a solid 3-4lbs. Most of the rivers contain good numbers of large brown trout with daytime sight fishing the norm. By far the majority of fish are caught with dry flies. Glancing through our guides journals from recent years reveals that over 95% of all fish were taken on dry flies.

The Accommodation

The accommodation is comfortable and cozy but not upmarket; perfect for a group of keen fly fishers who only return home each evening to eat, sleep and recharge the batteries! The house is located on a working deer farm with the famous Aparima River running through it. From this base we have access to nearly twenty waters in the immediate area and many more within a 60 minute drive. You can even walk out the back door and fish to 3-5lb browns before breakfast or of an evening if you so choose!

The Food

The meals are prepared by our own cook that travels with us on the trips. She is actually a very keen fly fisher but always manages to prepare something enjoyable for dinner despite the temptation to just fish all day! Her desserts are legendary among our clientele. Expect wholesome and tasty lunches ready to grab on the way out the door each morning and home cooked meals waiting for us when we return from fishing each evening. This allows us, the guides, to focus on what we do best; making sure you have the best fishing experience possible.

The Rivers

During the week we will fish a number of rivers, from the large, braided, flood-prone rivers of the valley floors to the smaller tributaries that cut their way through the rich farmland of the region. There will be an opportunity to fish and experience a wide variety of waters. The options are many and varied, allowing us to pick and choose what we want to do each day depending on the weather and the preferences of our clients.

The Pace

This is perhaps our most asked question. Will I be able to cope with the demands placed on me? Our trips are for fly fishers of all ages and all skill levels. We pride ourselves on reading the needs of all trip participants and amending the pace to suit as required. If the pace is too great we can tone it down as the days go along. Conversely, if you have a need to maximise that one week of fly fishing for the year or you are just an angling 'glutton', we can ensure the maximum amount of time streamside. Don’t be put off simply because you feel that you would not cope. We regularly take people of all ages from young teens to the two octogenarians that book each and every year!

Your Skills

If you are concerned that you may not be ready for a trip like this all I can say is please phone us for a chat. We can assist you to improve your skill level dramatically before you go, no matter whether you are new to it or just need a little polish. We can also ensure that you are matched with someone at a similar level who has similar expectations.

Package Overview

Seven days starting and ending at Queenstown Airport on a Sunday. The trip price includes transport, accommodation, meals, fishing licence and guiding. The only thing not included is alcohol and flights.

Bring a Friend

All trips are based on a guide ratio of 2:1.That is there is a guide for every two fly fishers. This ensures lots of quality time with an expert at your shoulder, but nothing is better than sharing the experience with a good friend or family member. Many of our regulars come back every year, either in pairs or in small groups and father/son pairings are common. This year, we again have several parties of four and two groups of six that have rebooked. Some have been coming with us for over twelve years now. Please let us know when enquiring if you are interested in more than one spot.

Summer 2013 Trip Photos

We have uploaded a selection of photos from last year for you to take a look at. These pics will give you a great idea of the sort of fishing done and the sort of places that we visit. There are photos from previous years at the bottom of this page but the most recent ones can be accessed by clicking here.

You've almost convinced me. Tell me more.

GVFFC has been operating since 1994 as a full time guide service and has been running New Zealand trips for nearly that entire time. Our guides are full time experts who live, eat and breathe fly fishing. We take trips to destinations all over the world and our staff are also casting instructors, drift boat guides and generally experienced in all apsects of fly fishing.

That aside the key difference between us and most of the other guides out there is that we treat our guided trips like we would a personal trip. We do long hours and don't have to be back in time for 5pm cocktails (as many other lodges require). We don't watch the clock or the petrol bowser when determining where to go on any given day. We go where the best fishing is with the only consideration being what shape the rivers are in and the wishes of our clients.

Annella, our cook, prepares meals based on where we are fishing on any given day. Sometimes that may mean a 5.30pm dinner because our clients have indicated a preference to fish the evening rise after dinner. Other times we may decide to stay out late and dinner may not be until we get back; sometimes after dark. Sometimes one group may choose to not stay out and will arrive home early while the other stays out late. As such the meals are coordinated to fit in with the fishing and not the other way around.

Our guides stay on the same property as the guests and come back each night to eat and socialise with the group. While most other guides are dropping clients back at their hotel or lodge at 5pm and then taking off home, we are often still fishing and on the water until early evening; returning back to base later to eat and enjoy the company of our guests.

After fishing in many of the world's premier fly fishing locations with some of the best guides, we feel that we have a package that is totally unique. Come join us for a week of superlative dry fly fishing in 2014 and see why so many of our clients come back year after year!

Client's quotes from Summer 2013 Trips (we will add more as they come to hand)

Hi Guys,

My first NZ trip with the GVFFC team this year. Everything I hoped it would be and more. I can't imagine a better package for an Aussie fly fisher wanting to experience Southland. The accommodation, company and quality of guiding was spot on. Many thanks to your team and I can't wait to do it all again.

Miles

Hi Antony and co,

As a first time participant in a guided NZ tour I cannot speak highly enough of these GVFFC trips. The organisation and attention to detail is outstanding, and the trips represent fantastic value for money given the long hours we spend on the river with guides who are extremely knowledgeable, skilled, patient and supportive.

As a first timer I was made to feel very welcome, both from the guides and the other fishers in my group. We fished a different river each day which broadened our experiences of varying water and fishing conditions - I have learnt more in the past week with these guys than in the last 10 years.

Thanks!
Greg

Hi Antony,

I had a great time again. A lot of fun. I especially like the variety. I only recognised one place that I had fished during the previous two years. There seems no reason I would want to go to another part of the world since the experience in NZ is new every time. That said, there are many places I have been with you in NZ that I would be happy to see again. I look forward to a mix of old favourites and new challenges next year.

I really can't think of anything I would ask to be changed. The accommodation, the food, the guides and Nella are all great. Everyone goes far beyond what is required. No-one seems to watch the clock or want to finish fishing after a fixed number of hours. All instruction is tailored perfectly to our fishing level and physical ability. All we need to do is ask and a patient, complete answer is available on any fishing topic. I also enjoy the company of the other fishermen. All blokes I would never have met otherwise. We are now firm friends.

We all appreciated the lengths that you went to so that we had a full week of fishing despite our error of booking before we realised that there was a Sunday to Sunday turn around. I promise to pay close attention from now on.

Please keep doing what you are doing.

Cheers
Scott

Hi Antony,

Once again GVFFC provide a great weeks fishing in NZ. The effort that David, Cameron and Annella went to exceeds expectations. After six trips it only gets better.

Regards
Leo

• FIRST ROUND OFFER: Those that went with us to NZ in the past will be given first choice of the available dates for 2014 trips on Friday 1st March 2013
  
  
• SECOND ROUND OFFER: On Friday March 8, 2013 - any remaining spots will be advertised via the website, emails, online forums and print advertising..
  
  
• All bookings require a $1000 deposit made by credit card, cheque, EFT or cash. A valid credit card must also be provided to finalise the booking regardless of which method is used to pay the deposit. The balance is due no later than December 1st, 2013.
  
  
• Our cancellation policy can be viewed here.

Trips Dates for Summer 2014

Please phone about the spots available even if they are listed as booked out as we sometimes have cancellations/other options available. Trips will run Sunday to Sunday in 2014 due to the flight schedule determined by the various airlines. Direct flights mean cheaper tickets and less travelling time.

Need More Info?

A comprehensive brochure and promotional DVD is available for those needing more info. You can receive this by filling out our brochure request form located here. After receiving your request we will send you all the relevant info by mail ASAP. You will also receive our NZ brochure via email immediately.