NEW ZEALAND
Fantasies about this land can consume you, but the reality is better: legendary fish wavering beneath emerald currents, the grandeur of the Southern Alps, rainbows arcing from gray clouds to bright green fields of grazing sheep, and a race of people more hearty, humorous and hospitable than a newcomer could hope to find.
After fishing these waters, you will want to believe that New Zealand is the homeland from which all trout evolved. Imagining rivers of such beauty without trout - tussock foothill streams, roiling, deep blue freestones, spring creeks and lush rain forest rivers - is to imagine a clear night sky without stars.
This is trout fishing distilled - angling in which every cast to a sighted fish indelibly etches itself to memory. This is all you have ever wanted: fields of lupine, fiords and tree ferns, and huge spotted fish whose fins flare as they slowly rise to meet your fly.
NMAGATEA STATION
Words can do little justice to the magnitude and beauty of the 80,000 acres that comprise Nmagatea Station located on the North Island not far from Napier. With rolling grasslands, thick native bush, mountain peaks, and two of the world's greatest rainbow trout systems coursing through its valleys, it is as magnificent a property as could be imagined. Here anglers will enjoy world class private access fishing on the famed waters of the Rangitikei and the lesser known but highly productive Taruarau River. The Rangitikei is known for its powerful beauty and exceptionally large, wary rainbows while the Taruarau is an intimate freestone that offers outstanding, small-stream dry-fly fishing for hearty, uneducated rainbows.
The Owen River Lodge is a boutique, contemporary styled fly fishing lodge, which opened in November 2003. They are located in the Owen Valley, in the Nelson Lakes district of the South Island of New Zealand. The lodge is situated on 16 acres of gardens and farmland with almost 1 kilometre of Owen River frontage has views of the owner river valley as well as Mount Owen.
What makes fishing at Poronui Ranch so special is the exclusive and immediate access to so many of New Zealand's best quality fishing waters and guides. The property has almost 25 miles of private water. The Taharua - a spring creek - meanders down the valley, while the Mohaka River - a tumbling freestone stream - wraps itself around one boundary. The mountains adjacent to Poronui are vast estates of Maori-owned land. The Lodge is privileged to have access to much of this wonderful wilderness reserve. Without a doubt, the exclusivity and remoteness of these rivers and streams make them some of the most prized fly fishing waters in the world.
