| Name |
Backcountry New Zealand Fishing and Hunting Guides |
| Contact |
Nigel and Myriam Birt and their outfitting team |
| Postal address |
PO Box 72
Methven |
| Contact details |
Phone: +64 (0) 21 644 507
Fax: +64 3 308 2665
Email: mail@backcountry.co.nz
Web: www.backcountry.co.nz |
| Location |
Backcountry New Zealand is
based in the resort town of Methven (Mt Hutt village) which is marked
on the lower
Rakaia River map.
It is 1.5 hrs drive from the city of Christchurch
and the Christchurch International Airport.
For a map and driving directions, see the Backcountry
New Zealand website. |
| Fishing waters |
With its base in the central
South Island, Backcountry's guiding services span most of the South
Island, including the:
|
| Fishing options |
- Full-day guided fly-fishing
- Heli-fishing tour
- Multi-day tours with hiking and helicopter
options
|
| See video |
See this and other hunting
and fishing
video clips from Backcountry New Zealand. |
| Equipment provided |
Backcountry New Zealand provides
high quality fishing equipment, 4WD vehicles and modern lightweight
waders.
If you wish to bring your own equipment, refer
to the Fly
Fishing Fact Sheet at the Backcountry New Zealand website. |
| Guiding services |
Backcountry New Zealand
provides:
- Experienced professional guides
- Tuition and skills development as requried
- Passenger certified vehicles
- Passenger certified drivers/guides
- All specialist equipment
- Private land access
- N.Z.P.F.G.A. Guides with relevant qualifications/experience
- First Aid qualified guides
- Strict safety management policies
- Department of Conservation concession
- Public liability insurance
|
| Your guides |
Head guide
Nigel Birt is an Executive Member of the
New Zealand Professional Fishing Guides Association and has:
- Vast knowledge of fly-fishing guiding in
New Zealand
- Worked professionally as a fly-fishing guide
and instructor since 1988
- A degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Management, Wilderness EMT, Advanced First Aid
- Served his apprenticeship at a top New Zealand
fishing lodge
- A great knowledge of New Zealand flora and
fauna, geology, and backcountry survival
- Qualifications and work experience
as an avalanche forecaster as safety manager for several New Zealand
ski areas and as a heliski guide for Mt Hutt Helicopters
Guiding team
All Backcountry New Zealand guides have gained
invaluable experience and a wealth of knowledge through guiding
throughout the South Island. Each guide is a member of the New Zealand
Professional Fishing Guides Association.
Photos and profiles of the guides can be found
at the
Backcountry New Zealand website. |
| Other activities |
Backcountry New Zealand
was the winner of the 2004 Ashburton District Tourism Awards Visitor
Activity category. As well as fly fishing adventures, its activities
include:
|
 |
Packages and indicative costs
as at 1 October 2010 |
Backcountry New
Zealand Fly Fishing Adventure packages include:
- Fishing guiding and tuition
- Airport transfers if included in a package
- 4WD Transport
- All accommodation and meals as per the package
description
- Use of fishing equipment as required
- Streamside lunches
- Full season fishing licence
- Access and concessions
- 15% GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Canterbury day fishing trips
- NZ$795 for two anglers and one guide
- Non angling companion - complementary
There for the Taking (7 days / 6 nights)
- Accommodation in farmstay, motels or cabins
- NZ$6,450 for 2 anglers and one guide per
person
- NZ$10,450 for one angler and one guide
Central South Island (5 days / 4 nights)
- Accommodation examples: Beluga Lodge, Ski
Time Apartments, Flock Hill, and others
- NZ$3,700 for 2 anglers and one guide per
person
- NZ$6,150 for one angler and one guide
Springs and Freestone (3 days / 2 nights)
- Accommodation at Beluga Lodge
- NZ$2,150 for 2 anglers and one guide per
person
- NZ$3,450 for one angler and one guide
Beluga Intro (2 days / 2 nights)
- Accommodation Quality Bed & Breakfasts
/ Lodges
- NZ$1,550 for 2 anglers and one guide per
person
- NZ$2,450 for one angler and one guide
Grasmere exclusive (2 days / 2 nights)
- Accommodation Grasmere Exclusive Luxury Lodge
- NZ$4,100 for 2 anglers and one guide per
person
- NZ$5,000 for one angler and one guide
A detailed
itinerary for each package is available in pdf format at the
Backcountry New Zealand website. |
| Testimonials |
'... without doubt the
best guide I have ever had. I don't recall seeing a single other
fisherman in the 4 days we were out. I caught 7 or 8 trout, Browns
and Rainbows and missed at least that many others cause I was slow
on the hookset or blew the cast. It was overcast 3 of the 4 days
and our guide was still seeing the fish well. Even when he pointed
them out I did not always see them.Thank you for a great trip.'
Kim Pattee
'... We had such a good holiday in New Zealand
and have been telling everyone to go... We all enjoyed your company
and help, and it all ran so smoothly; we have many many happy memories
of the trip, helped by your photographs. We haven't used a guide
before, as you know, but one could get used to this standard of
hassle free holiday!'
Romayne & John
'... I have fished with a fair number of
guides in and out of the states. Nigel Birt is the best guide I
have had the pleasure to fish with. Excellent in all aspects of
the guiding experience. Also provided a CD of the pictures of the
fish we caught!...'
Robert J. Slezak |
| Bookings |
Phone or email
to make a booking or complete
the online request form at the Backcountry New Zealand website
if you have an enquiry. |
