Fly Fishing in Southland, New Zealand
Clear Water. Wild Brown Trout.
Six full days of guided fishing, seven nights with your own bedroom and just four anglers each week. Guiding in Southland since 2000.
Spend a week exploring Southland’s trout water with experienced guides and a comfortable country base beside the Aparima River. From open-valley rivers to willow-lined farmland streams, each day offers the opportunity to fish different water without having to organise the guiding, accommodation and transport yourself.
Our weeks are based at Dunrobin, a working property in the Aparima Valley. You have your own bedroom for the entire stay, heading out with your guide each morning and returning to familiar surroundings, good company and somewhere to enjoy a little time to yourself.
The fishing is the reason to come. The setting, company and care taken over the week are part of what makes people return.
Your Week at a Glance
| Season | January to March 2027 |
| Duration | Seven nights, with six full days of guided fishing |
| Group size | Limited to four anglers |
| Guiding | Two guides, with a maximum of two anglers per guide throughout the six fishing days |
| Accommodation | A private bedroom for every guest at Dunrobin — no single supplement |
| Meals | Breakfast provisions, streamside lunches and dinners |
| Transport | Queenstown Airport transfers and daily transport to the fishing |
| Price | A$6,250 per person, private bedroom included |
Watch a Week in Southland
Our short film offers a look at the rivers, guiding and landscapes that make up the experience. It is a useful introduction to the fishing and the country you will explore during the week.
Different Water, Chosen for the Day
There is a particular pleasure in finding a trout before making a cast. You watch it feeding, work out an approach and choose a presentation. Your guide helps with each part of that process, from recognising a fish against the riverbed to deciding when to move closer and when to leave it undisturbed.
Southland gives us a range of places to fish this way. The Oreti offers clear-water sight fishing in open country, while the Aparima, our home river, combines gravel runs, pools and willow-lined banks. The Mataura brings a different emphasis, with feeding trout and mayfly hatches rewarding careful observation and presentation.
Depending on conditions, the week may also include the Waiau, Whitestone, Mararoa, Waikaia, selected spring creeks or the Mavora Lakes. These waters broaden our choices, from larger rivers to more intimate fishing and from farmland valleys to mountain country.
We do not assign a fixed river to each day. Water levels, clarity, wind, light and your fishing preferences shape the plan. Some days the best choice may be close to Dunrobin; on others, travelling farther opens up different opportunities. Dry flies, nymphs and other approaches all have their place, with the fishing chosen around what is happening rather than what was written into an itinerary.
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Four Anglers, Personal Guiding
Each week is limited to four anglers, with two guides and a maximum of two anglers per guide on all six fishing days. Your guide helps with fish spotting, approach, fly selection and presentation, adjusting the day to your experience and the conditions.
Finding trout is only part of the work. Throughout the week, there is time to refine your casting, improve line control and understand why a particular approach or presentation is likely to work. When an opportunity does not go to plan, your guide can help you understand what happened and what to try next. The level of instruction is shaped around what you need, whether you are building confidence or refining an already well-developed technique.
Several consecutive days allow the guiding team to get to know you. Advice can build on what happened yesterday, and there is time to put new ideas into practice rather than trying to resolve everything in a single session.
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Your Base at Dunrobin
Dunrobin is a working property in the Aparima Valley, with open paddocks, country views and the river a short walk away. You stay at the property throughout the week, with time to unpack, organise your equipment and settle into the surroundings.
Every guest has their own private bedroom for all seven nights, included in the trip price with no single supplement. After a day on the river, you have somewhere to rest, read or make a call home without sharing your sleeping space.
Guest accommodation is arranged across the cottage’s three bedrooms and a separate loft on the property. The cottage has a kitchen, shared living areas, bathroom and laundry facilities, and a deck. Its bathroom facilities are shared. The loft is reached by an external staircase, so please mention any difficulty with stairs when enquiring. We discuss the room arrangements with you before confirming your place.
Evenings leave time to share photographs, talk through the day’s fishing or relax with a book. There is company when you feel like joining in and the privacy of your own room when you would rather turn in. Returning to familiar surroundings is part of the appeal, with the river and farmland still around you after the rods are put away.
Guest accommodation at Dunrobin.
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Meals and Evenings
Breakfast provisions are supplied in the cottage kitchen, including cereals, fruit, bread, eggs, bacon, tea and coffee. Guests prepare breakfast at their own pace while the guides check conditions and finalise the day’s fishing.
Lunch is taken on the river. We generally collect fresh sandwiches or wraps from a local café on the way, allowing you to choose what you would like before heading out. Bottled water is also included.
Dinners are a mixture of home-cooked meals and evenings at local pubs or restaurants. When dining out, your main course is included; desserts, coffees and other extras are paid separately. Alcohol is not included, but we allow time to purchase drinks in Queenstown on arrival. Please tell us about dietary requirements before confirming your booking so we can discuss the arrangements.
Dinner together after a day on the river.
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How the Week Works
Sunday: Arrival
We meet you at Queenstown Airport and transfer you to Dunrobin, with time to collect any last-minute supplies along the way. Once there, you can settle into your room, meet the other guests and unpack before dinner and a discussion of the fishing ahead.
Airport transfers are included within the weekly arrangements. Please speak with us before booking flights so your arrival and departure times work with the group’s transfers.
Monday to Saturday: Six Full Fishing Days
Each morning, the guides assess conditions and discuss the day’s options with the anglers before choosing where to fish. You head out in pairs, with no more than two anglers per guide. The two pairs may fish different rivers or sections, depending on conditions and the fishing each group would enjoy.
Across six full days, there is time to explore different water, develop your approach and build on what you have learnt. Guiding and coaching continue throughout the week, rather than being confined to a separate lesson.
Lunch is streamside, with the afternoon spent continuing through the selected water. Timing varies with the fishing. Some days suit an earlier start, while others may provide an opportunity to stay out for an evening rise. Dunrobin remains your base throughout.
The Following Sunday: Departure
After breakfast, we transfer you back to Queenstown Airport for your onward flight. The return arrangements are discussed before travel so the final morning fits comfortably with your departure.
Who the Trip Suits
The week suits anglers who enjoy observing the water, looking for fish and working through a presentation with their guide. Experienced fly fishers will find plenty to interest them, but you do not need to be an expert. Some familiarity with casting and line management helps, and there is time during the week to develop both.
This is primarily a walking and wading trip. Riverbanks, gravel and access routes vary, and some days involve more ground than others. Tell us about your usual fishing, the distances you are comfortable walking and any mobility concerns before booking. We can discuss suitability and the available choices without assuming that everyone wants the same sort of day.
Individual travellers and pairs are welcome, as are groups booking all four places together. You do not need to find a travelling companion or agree to share a bedroom to join us. Every guest has their own room, with no additional accommodation charge for travelling alone.
Experience in the Region Since 2000
We have held a New Zealand Department of Conservation guiding concession in this region since 2000. Over that time, we have developed long-standing relationships with local landowners and accommodation providers, alongside the knowledge that comes from returning to the rivers season after season.
Some guests have been travelling with us since the early 2000s. Whether you are returning to familiar water or joining us for the first time, the aim is the same: to help you enjoy the fishing, get to know the region and feel welcome throughout the week.
Your week is guided by the GVFFC team. Anthony oversees the programme and handles pre-trip enquiries and preparation, with guide contact details provided before departure. Please discuss any guiding preferences when arranging your place.
What Our Guests Say
The New Zealand trip that never disappoints
“I’ve been travelling with GVFFC since 2003. The guides adapt to each angler and every trip feels effortless.”
Simon, returning New Zealand guest
Spectacular New Zealand
“This trip was a 50th birthday gift, and I’ve returned every year since. Exceptional fishing and a week that never disappoints.”
Peter, returning New Zealand guest
Preparing for Your Trip
We provide detailed pre-trip information covering equipment, clothing, travel and the practical arrangements for the week. Flies and essential fishing consumables are supplied, while guests normally bring their own rods, reels, waders and boots. Equipment hire can be arranged in advance.
There is no need to buy unfamiliar equipment before speaking with us. We can discuss what you already own, what will be useful for the fishing and whether a little casting practice or tuition before departure would help you get more from the week.
2027 Dates and Availability
Our weeks run Sunday to Sunday from January to March, with four angler places each week. Individual travellers and pairs are welcome, while groups of four can enquire about reserving a full week together.
A private bedroom is included for every guest. Contact Anthony to check availability for your preferred dates and discuss the fishing and accommodation before booking flights.
| Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|
| 10 January 2027 | 17 January 2027 |
| 17 January 2027 | 24 January 2027 |
| 24 January 2027 | 31 January 2027 |
| 14 February 2027 | 21 February 2027 |
| 28 February 2027 | 7 March 2027 |
| 7 March 2027 | 14 March 2027 |
Price and Inclusions
A$6,250 per person — private bedroom included
The price includes:
- Seven nights at Dunrobin, with your own private bedroom throughout the stay and no single supplement.
- Six full days of guided fishing, with two guides for the four-angler group and a maximum of two anglers per guide.
- Breakfast provisions, streamside lunches and dinners, with the dining arrangements described above.
- Queenstown Airport transfers and daily fishing transport throughout the scheduled week.
- Flies, tippet, indicators and other essential fishing consumables, plus drinking water.
Not Included
Flights, fishing licences, travel insurance, alcohol, personal fishing equipment and any equipment hire are not included.
When dining out, your main course is included. Desserts, coffees and other extras are paid separately. Guide gratuities are optional.
Booking Your Place
Once we have agreed your dates and the arrangements for your week, a 50% deposit of A$3,125 per person confirms your booking.
The remaining balance is due on 1 November 2026. Bookings made after that date require full payment at confirmation.
Please read our booking and cancellation terms before paying your deposit. We provide payment details and pre-trip information as part of the booking process.
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Talk to Us About Your Week
Get in touch with your preferred dates and a little about the fishing you enjoy. Whether you are travelling alone, with a companion or as a group of four, we’ll will talk through the available weeks, guiding and accommodation arrangements.
There is no need to have every detail settled before making contact. The first conversation is simply about finding out whether the week is right for you.
Call or text: 0418 995 611
International: +61 418 995 611
Email: gvflyfishing@gmail.com