New Zealand Fly Fishing Itineraries and Travel
New Zealand Fly Fishing Itineraries and Travel
New Zealand Fly Fishing
The Backcountry Access Alternative to Heli-Fishing
Backcountry fly fishing in New Zealand is some of the world’s best, but when anglers think of remote locations, that usually brings to mind a helicopter hovering over a distant river valley. And while heli fishing is no doubt iconic, it isn’t always the most practical, flexible, or budget friendly option. Enter the jet boat advantage on the South Island.
By utilizing New Zealand’s first and only commercially surveyed and licensed inflatable jet boat, anglers can access the same elite, low pressure waters across Canterbury, the Central South Island, and Otago at roughly half the cost of traditional helicopter charters, with greater operational freedom.
A helicopter drops you off at the start of the day and meets you at the end. A jet boat stays with you the whole time. If a stretch of water isn’t producing, there’s no waiting hours for a scheduled pickup. You simply climb back in and move to the next beat.
All weather reliability matters too. High winds, low cloud, fog, and flat light regularly ground helicopters, and even once weather clears you can face delays or get bumped to a different river entirely. A jet boat lets you start the day as planned and keep fishing through conditions that would cancel a heli day outright.
Jet boats also open up the small spring creeks and hidden tributaries that often hold New Zealand’s biggest trout. These spots are frequently out of reach on foot or by 4WD, and once you’re there, they may only offer a couple hours of good fishing, not enough to justify a heli drop off and pickup. A jet boat solves this by letting you fish two or three distinct micro fisheries in a single day.
And the two methods aren’t mutually exclusive. At only about 150 kg fully rigged, the inflatable boat can be slung beneath a helicopter and dropped into ultra remote West Coast systems, pairing the reach of a chopper with the mobility of a boat once you’re on the water.
Photo Credits: Country Club Tasmania
One thing worth clarifying: jet boat fishing in New Zealand has nothing in common with drift boat fishing in the States. New Zealand’s wild brown trout are notoriously spooky, and drifting past them in a boat will put them down instantly. Here, the jet boat is purely a high speed access tool for navigating shallow, braided channels. Once you reach the fishing water, it’s parked on a gravel bar and you step out to wet wade and sight fish upstream on foot, exactly like a classic backcountry day.
For classic summertime backcountry fishing, Lake Ohau and the Hopkins and Dobson Rivers are hard to beat. Roughly 40 minutes from Omarama, Lake Ohau sits in alpine scenery fed by braided spring creeks, and the Hopkins and Dobson offer exceptional sight fishing when running clear, water that’s genuinely difficult to reach without a jet boat.
The Ahuriri and its upper headwaters are another standout. The lower river gets most of the attention, but the best fishing is above Birchwood Station, where the river structure holds the biggest fish in the system. Getting to these upper beats takes serious ground clearance, and a custom high clearance 4WD is needed before you even launch or wade.
For a winter trip, Lake Dunstan and the Clutha delta offer both fly and spin fishing, just an hour from Wanaka and Queenstown. Conventional prop boats and bank anglers can’t reach the best of it, but an inflatable jet boat gets you to remote drop offs, weed beds, sand bars, and shallow flats, where you can step into knee deep water and sight fish for active winter trout.
Lower cost than a helicopter, all day mobility, and access to small water that’s otherwise out of reach: jet boat fishing gives you a version of backcountry New Zealand that’s hard to replicate any other way.
Ready to experience it for yourself? Reach out to one of our New Zealand fly fishing experts today and let us build a custom itinerary around this unique jet boat access, so you can spend your trip fishing water almost no one else can reach.
Best of New Zealand Fly Fishing
Whether you’re chasing your personal best or just looking for the perfect cast, we’ve got the local knowledge to get you there. Contact our team today! There are plenty of New Zealand’s hidden gems still to discover.
Looks like another successful day courtesy of our friends @tongariro_lodge !
The 2025-26 season is just around the corner! Get in touch with our experts today and start planning your epic fly fishing adventure in New Zealand’s stunning landscapes.
Looks like another successful day courtesy of our friends @tongariro_lodge !
The 2025-26 season is just around the corner! Get in touch with our experts today and start planning your epic fly fishing adventure in New Zealand’s stunning landscapes.
New Zealand`s rivers are world-class, and keeping them that way starts with how we fish them. From resting your beats to respecting fellow anglers on the water, ethical fly fishing practices protect the fishery for seasons to come.
Read our latest guide on New Zealand fly fishing etiquette via the link in our bio.
#newzealandflyfishing #flyfishingetiquette #protectnzrivers #nzflyfishing #bestofnzflyfishing
https://www.bestofnzflyfishing.com/uncategorized/fly-fishing-etiquette-rules-customs-and-river-ethics/
New Zealand`s rivers are world-class, and keeping them that way starts with how we fish them. From resting your beats to respecting fellow anglers on the water, ethical fly fishing practices protect the fishery for seasons to come.
Read our latest guide on New Zealand fly fishing etiquette via the link in our bio.
#newzealandflyfishing #flyfishingetiquette #protectnzrivers #nzflyfishing #bestofnzflyfishing
https://www.bestofnzflyfishing.com/uncategorized/fly-fishing-etiquette-rules-customs-and-river-ethics/
New Zealand is such an incredible place to chase trout, but also is home of to one of the prizes for saltwater fishing in New Zealand, the powerful Yellowtail Kingfish. Locally known as Kingi, these fish are robust, muscular and are known for fighting dirty. Once hooked they will immediately try to break you off by diving towards rocks, reefs or the prop on a boat. Beautiful catch for Stella!
#fishbayofislands #luxurytravelnz #nzfishing #saltwaterfishing #bestofnzflyfishing
New Zealand is such an incredible place to chase trout, but also is home of to one of the prizes for saltwater fishing in New Zealand, the powerful Yellowtail Kingfish. Locally known as Kingi, these fish are robust, muscular and are known for fighting dirty. Once hooked they will immediately try to break you off by diving towards rocks, reefs or the prop on a boat. Beautiful catch for Stella!
#fishbayofislands #luxurytravelnz #nzfishing #saltwaterfishing #bestofnzflyfishing
Rich Benn with a New Zealand trout 🎣
Now is the time to reach out to the experts! We are officially opening the books for the 2026-27 season.
#newzealandtravel #flyfishingnz #newzealandadventures #riverviewlodge #bestofnzflyfishing
Rich Benn with a New Zealand trout 🎣
Now is the time to reach out to the experts! We are officially opening the books for the 2026-27 season.
#newzealandtravel #flyfishingnz #newzealandadventures #riverviewlodge #bestofnzflyfishing
New Zealand trout don’t come small… and the Slivkers proved it🎣 What a day on the water, what a fish, and what a memory to take home.
Thinking of traveling for the 26-27 season? Contact our travel experts today!
#nzflyfishing #luxurynztravel #trophytrout #wildtrout #bestofnzflyfishing
New Zealand trout don’t come small… and the Slivkers proved it🎣 What a day on the water, what a fish, and what a memory to take home.
Thinking of traveling for the 26-27 season? Contact our travel experts today!
#nzflyfishing #luxurynztravel #trophytrout #wildtrout #bestofnzflyfishing
We wanted to share a few photos of Mr. Fischer enjoying fly fishing in New Zealand this past year.
If interested to plan a trip please don’t hesitate to reach out for the 2025-26 season!
#nzflyfishing #luxurynztravel #newzealandvacation #wildtrout #flyfishing #bestofnzflyfishing #catchoftheday
We wanted to share a few photos of Mr. Fischer enjoying fly fishing in New Zealand this past year.
If interested to plan a trip please don’t hesitate to reach out for the 2025-26 season!
#nzflyfishing #luxurynztravel #newzealandvacation #wildtrout #flyfishing #bestofnzflyfishing #catchoftheday
Congrats to Raffi B. for landing this trophy Brown in the heart of the South Island. Since 1990 the Best of New Zealand has specialized in those “don’t want to go home” moments. It’s about the people you meet, the hidden spots you discover, and the experts who make sure every detail is spot on.
Now is the time to reach out to the experts! We are officially opening the books for the 2026-27 season.
#newzealandtravel #flyfishingnz #newzealandadventures #riverviewlodge #bestofnzflyfishing
Congrats to Raffi B. for landing this trophy Brown in the heart of the South Island. Since 1990 the Best of New Zealand has specialized in those “don’t want to go home” moments. It’s about the people you meet, the hidden spots you discover, and the experts who make sure every detail is spot on.
Now is the time to reach out to the experts! We are officially opening the books for the 2026-27 season.
#newzealandtravel #flyfishingnz #newzealandadventures #riverviewlodge #bestofnzflyfishing
A few photos of Mr. Rooney enjoying a beautiful day @tongariro_lodge on his recent trip to New Zealand.
Thinking of travelling for the 25-26 season? Contact one of our Experts today!
#nzflyfishing #luxurynztravel #newzealandvacation #wildtrout #flyfishing #bestofnzflyfishing #catchoftheday
A few photos of Mr. Rooney enjoying a beautiful day @tongariro_lodge on his recent trip to New Zealand.
Thinking of travelling for the 25-26 season? Contact one of our Experts today!
#nzflyfishing #luxurynztravel #newzealandvacation #wildtrout #flyfishing #bestofnzflyfishing #catchoftheday
Wonderful photos from the Sabbatinis fly fishing adventure on New Zealand’s South Island rivers!🎣🏞️
#newzealandflyfishing #southislandnz #luxurytravelnz #catchandrealease #bestofnzflyfishing
Wonderful photos from the Sabbatinis fly fishing adventure on New Zealand’s South Island rivers!🎣🏞️
#newzealandflyfishing #southislandnz #luxurytravelnz #catchandrealease #bestofnzflyfishing
Terrace Downs is a resort on the South Island- a short drive out of Christchurch. Contact our experts for how to most efficiently integrate golf into your next trip to NZ! #southisland #newzealand #tourismnz #nzgolf #golfnz #nztravel #golf #golftravel
Terrace Downs is a resort on the South Island- a short drive out of Christchurch. Contact our experts for how to most efficiently integrate golf into your next trip to NZ! #southisland #newzealand #tourismnz #nzgolf #golfnz #nztravel #golf #golftravel
The Hills Golf Club blends alpine beauty with striking art and the wolf sculptures are the detail that truly sets the course apart. They appear as if they are watching your next shot and they turn an ordinary walk between holes into something memorable. If you enjoy golf with personality and depth, this is the place to play.
Read more in the link in bio⛳️
📸 The Hills Golf Club
#thehillsgolfclub #luxurygolftravel #newzealandgolfcourses #sculptureart #bestofnzgolf
The Hills Golf Club blends alpine beauty with striking art and the wolf sculptures are the detail that truly sets the course apart. They appear as if they are watching your next shot and they turn an ordinary walk between holes into something memorable. If you enjoy golf with personality and depth, this is the place to play.
Read more in the link in bio⛳️
📸 The Hills Golf Club
#thehillsgolfclub #luxurygolftravel #newzealandgolfcourses #sculptureart #bestofnzgolf
Local course Omaha beach is often overlooked simply due to time constraints of intl visitors. However this small beach town north of Auckland is a great place to have a round followed by fresh local cuisine and wine. #omahabeachgc #nzgolf #golfnz #newzealandgolf #tourismnz
Local course Omaha beach is often overlooked simply due to time constraints of intl visitors. However this small beach town north of Auckland is a great place to have a round followed by fresh local cuisine and wine. #omahabeachgc #nzgolf #golfnz #newzealandgolf #tourismnz
