| If you are planning a fly fishing trip to New | | | | 'Go Bush' and taken to the remote property to |
| Zealand it's difficult to decide where to go | | | | start the real adventure. Picture 3,000 acres of |
| because there are so many options. What spot | | | | New Zealand wilderness, steep mountains and |
| do you go to? Which guide do you choose? So, | | | | gorges with 6 kilometres of river frontage - a |
| let me tell you about my husband's and my | | | | fisherman's (or woman's) paradise. |
| experience. | | | | The adventure starts at the front gate as the |
| It all started when I decided to surprise Neil (my | | | | only access to the lodge is via 4wd or horse. |
| husband) with a fly fishing trip for his birthday. So | | | | Here we meet Danny the other half of 'Go Bush' |
| straight to the internet I went and started | | | | and take off into the hills. It soon becomes |
| researching the different options. | | | | apparent that this is serious 4wd country and that |
| I settled on the North Island of New Zealand | | | | you had better hold on. Wow - the scenery is |
| because there were heaps of fishing spots and | | | | magical - steep gorges of tree ferns, wild goats |
| heaps of other things to do when I tired of fishing | | | | scurrying off the track and birds everywhere. We |
| (Neil of course never does :-) | | | | stop at a few lookouts along the way and take in |
| After searching for countless hours and looking at | | | | the amazing vista of snow capped mountains - a |
| hundreds of websites I finally settled for a four | | | | view that literally takes your breath away. |
| day three night wilderness experience from | | | | When we finally get to the cabins, I just can't |
| Taupo. It had everything I was looking for - | | | | believe it. Here we are miles from civilisation with |
| heaps of fish, accommodation, fishing guides and | | | | no one around and here lies the most amazing |
| best of all no other people; just Neil, I and a | | | | cabins. It transpires that the 'Go bush' team milled |
| couple of guides. | | | | all the timber on site and built the very |
| So with crossed fingers I sent off my credit card | | | | comfortable accommodation themselves with |
| details and just hoped it would be ok. I mean here | | | | flushing toilets and all. |
| I was sitting in Australia and I had no idea of what | | | | I decide to let the boys go fishing as I relax - so |
| I was really signing up for. | | | | Neil, Kelvin and Fishy Steve set off in the pursuit |
| We got to Taupo and checked into our Motel for | | | | of fish whilst Danny sets up the camp and |
| the night. The weather was closing in and so we | | | | prepares dinner. |
| got a phone call saying there was a change of | | | | After a feast of wild boar we sit around the |
| plans for the first day. So the first thing I learnt | | | | campfire and listen to the tales of the day's |
| was to expect the unexpected and be prepared | | | | fishing; of the five that were caught and of the |
| to work with the weather. | | | | even bigger ones that got away. |
| The wilderness lodge was so remote that if we | | | | The next day I decide I had better go fishing as |
| got any rain we would not be able to get into it - | | | | well, so off we go. An exhilarating 4wd trip has us |
| the week before it took them six hours to get | | | | dropped off into a gorge and we set off up river |
| out compared to the usual one hour. So the first | | | | in pursuit of that 'big' fish. What a walk - Kelvin |
| day we were hooked up with guide "Fishy Steve". | | | | had us scrambling up rock faces and along ledges, |
| Well what a blessing that was! | | | | crossing swift water and what a blast we had. |
| Fishy Steve proved to be a fabulous find. He had | | | | Absolutely exhausted at the end of the day, once |
| been guiding in New Zealand for seven years and | | | | again we sat around the camp fire with tales of |
| had been to guide school. Steve was so attentive, | | | | the days fishing but this time it was after we had |
| passionate about fishing and a great teacher- | | | | a hungi feast. |
| even had me with a nice 4 pound rainbow trout | | | | When it was time to leave, Neil and I both |
| within a couple of hours. I tend to get bored with | | | | dragged our feet as neither of us wanted to |
| fishing but with learning about fly fishing and hiking | | | | leave. Me because it was just so beautiful and |
| such a scenic river - the time passed quickly. | | | | relaxing and Neil because he wanted another 'go' |
| By the end of the day we had a total count of | | | | at that brown that got away. |
| eight rainbow trout; all 4 pounds plus and big | | | | And we've both had such a good time that I think |
| smiles on both our faces. We talked Fishy Steve | | | | we will try to fit in another day of fishing with |
| into coming to the wilderness lodge with us (mind | | | | Fishy Steve next week before we have to go |
| you it did not take much convincing). | | | | home. But either way we will definitely be back |
| So on day two we were collected by Kelvin from | | | | for more of the same. |