Fly Fishing in Southland, New Zealand
Clear Water. Wild Brown Trout.
Six full days of guided fishing, seven nights at Dunrobin and just four anglers each week, with private-bedroom and twin-share accommodation options. 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. Private bedrooms and twin-share accommodation are available, with your room arrangement confirmed when you book. You head out with your guide each morning and return to familiar surroundings, good company and a comfortable place to unwind.
With the Aparima’s home pool just a short walk from the cottage, there’s also the option of heading out after dinner to fish the evening rise when conditions suit.
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 | Seven nights at Dunrobin, with private bedrooms available in limited numbers and a twin-share option |
| Meals | Breakfast provisions, streamside lunches and dinners |
| Transport | Queenstown Airport transfers and daily transport to the fishing |
| Price | A$5,900 per person twin share; A$6,250 per person with a private bedroom, subject to availability |
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.
Dunrobin’s position in the Aparima Valley gives us options in several directions across Southland and towards Fiordland. Alongside the Oreti, Aparima and Mataura, we can explore waters including the Waiau, Whitestone, Mararoa, Eglinton and Waikaia, selected spring creeks and the Mavora Lakes. The advantage is having different places to turn when rain, wind or river conditions affect one part of the region.
Each morning, we consider water levels, clarity, wind, light and what you would most enjoy fishing. The two guide-and-angler pairs can head in different directions, choosing the water that best suits each pair. Some days that will be close to Dunrobin; on others, we’re happy to travel farther when the fishing justifies it. Dry flies, nymphs and other approaches all have their place, and the plan develops with the conditions throughout the week.
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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 farm in the Aparima Valley, with open paddocks, country views and the river a short walk from the cottage. You stay here throughout the week, with time to unpack, organise your fishing gear and make yourself at home.
Over the years, Aileen and Ian have become friends, and seeing them again is something we look forward to each summer. They make us and our guests feel very welcome. Their warmth and hospitality are an important part of the Dunrobin experience, alongside the fishing and the company around the dinner table.
We offer both private-bedroom and twin-share accommodation. With four guests accommodated across the cottage’s three bedrooms, there is capacity for two guests to have their own rooms and two to share a twin bedroom with separate beds. Private rooms are limited, so please discuss your preference with us when enquiring.
A private bedroom costs A$6,250 per person for the week and gives you somewhere to rest, read or make a call home without sharing your sleeping space. Twin share costs A$5,900 per person and is a good option for friends travelling together. Both options include the same guiding, meals, transfers and other trip inclusions.
The cottage has a kitchen, shared living areas, bathroom and laundry facilities, and a deck. Bathroom facilities are shared. We discuss and confirm your room arrangement with you before you book.
Guest accommodation at Dunrobin.
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The Evening Rise, a Short Walk Away
One of the pleasures of staying at Dunrobin is having the Aparima River within walking distance. The home pool is roughly 200 yards from the cottage, with water to explore upstream and downstream.
On suitable evenings, you can finish dinner, pick up a rod and wander down for another hour or two on the water. There’s time to watch a pool, look for rising trout and enjoy the last of the light, with the cottage only a short walk away when you’ve had enough.
You can fish this nearby water independently, so there’s no need for everyone to make the same plans. Some guests head back to the river; others settle in for a quiet evening at Dunrobin. That freedom is a lovely part of spending the whole week here.
When conditions are promising and guests are keen, our guides also arrange evening-rise sessions on other rivers. We work these into the week according to the fishing and the group’s interests.
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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. Private bedrooms are available in limited numbers, while twin share is a good option for friends travelling together. If you are travelling alone, we can discuss private-room availability or whether a suitable sharing arrangement is possible. Your accommodation is agreed before you book.
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.
Private-bedroom and twin-share places are available, with availability varying by week. Contact Anthony to discuss your preferred dates and accommodation, and confirm your arrangements 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$5,900 per person — twin share
A$6,250 per person — private bedroom, subject to availability
Both accommodation options include:
- Seven nights at Dunrobin in your confirmed private bedroom or twin-share room.
- Six full days of guided fishing, with two guides for the four-angler group and a maximum of two anglers per guide throughout all six days.
- 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.
Private bedrooms are limited to two per week. Please discuss your preference when enquiring so we can confirm the available options.
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 accommodation arrangements, a 50% deposit confirms your booking:
- Twin share: A$2,950 per person.
- Private bedroom: A$3,125 per person.
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, accommodation preference and a little about the fishing you enjoy. Whether you are travelling alone, with a companion or as a group of four, we’ll talk through the available weeks, guiding and room 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