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SW Guiding

View video footage

Simon Wilkinson specializes in sight fly fishing to trout using 4WD and helicopters (or even jet boats and rafts) to access remote wilderness fishing rivers and the trout to be found in these pristine scenic areas.

A variety of guiding options are available from October to the end of April, and Simon will happily customize a trip for you that can include homestay accommodation.

Fishing guide Simon Wilkinson
Homestay

Simon and Lucy Wilkinson

Lumsden

Contact details

Phone: +64 3 442 1950
Mobile: 027 216 3787

Email: siwilkinson@xnet.co.nz

Web: www.swguiding.wikispaces.com

Blog: www.flyfishingexpeditions.co.nz

Please mention nzfishing.com when you make an enquiry or booking.

Fishing waters

Some of the many waters fished by SW Guiding include:

Oreti River

Mataura River

Waikaia River

Hollyford River

Ahuriri River

Caples River
Hunter River

Cascade River

Fishing options

Fishing options include:

  • Queenstown-based day fishing trips
    Single day trips from Queenstown. Set out early, drive 1-2 hours, then fish all day for as long as you want.
  • Overnighter trips
    Multi day fly fishing trips to some of the more than 40 varied rivers, streams and lakes that are within a 1.5 hour radius of the accommodation at Lumsden.
  • Safari fishing trips
    On the road for a number of days exploring fishing waters in Southland, Otago, South Westland or the Mackenzie Basin. Super flexible safari itineraries take you through remote areas and awe-inspiring fly-fishing terrain, with the chance to hook into truly stunning New Zealand trout.
  • Helicopter excusions
    Access remote wilderness rivers by helicopter using professional heli charters.
View videos

View YouTube videos from SW Guiding:

Jack the 'Bow

Over the Rainbow

On Safari

Overnight fishing safari

Fishing safari

Big brown trout on bamboo

A day in NZ's backcountry

Overnighter trips

When you choose an overnighter trip, you'll enjoy genuine southern New Zealand hospitality sharing Simon and Lucy's summer fishing home and its facilities.

  • Located in Lumsden, a great base for fly fishing trips
  • Comfortable and warm with a rustic feel
  • Kiwi-style cooked breakfasts
  • Hearty, tasty, back-country style lunches
  • Geat snacks and a fabulous dinner prepared by Lucy, an accomplished foodie
  • Many ingredients are sourced straight from the garden or from the nearby rural area
About your guide

Simon Wilkinson grew up in the North Island in a family that loved the outdoors including fly fishing and hunting. He was taught how to fly cast in Taupo and then caught his first trout on the fly rod in the Tongarario River - a nice 6 lbs - at the age of eight. He fly-fished all over the North Island as a teenager and young man and would always get some fishing in while overseas in Europe, Canada and the US.

By 1995 Simon had put down roots in the Queenstown area where, after some serious time exploring the rivers, he began showing clients what South Island fly fishing is all about. His ability to instruct, knowledge of our waters, background in jet boating, the sheer amount of time spent in helicopters flying around the lower third of the South Island and a pretty good set of fish spotting eyes means Simon's clients have a great time on fly fishing trips.

Qualifications and certifications
  • Current member of the New Zealand Professional Fishing Guides Association (NZPFGA)
  • Commercial liability insurance and an audited safety operations plan through the NZPFGA
  • Department of Conservation concessions authorization to guide on DOC land almost (through the NZPFGA)
  • Current outdoors and workplace first aid certificates as required by OSH
  • Helicopter loading and ground handling certificate
  • Commercial certified driver with a P endorsement
  • Operates a commercially certified vehicle (CoF)
  • Commercial vehicle insurance
  • Transport Service Licence (TSL)
  • Certified commercial jet boat driver
Indicative costs
to 1 Dec 2009

Queenstown-based day fishing trips

 

NZ$785 for one person
NZ$800 for two people ($400 per person)

Capacity is 2 guests only.

Price includes:

- Fishing guide
- All food and non alcoholic refreshments
- All equipment

- Digital images, safety and risk management and DoC concessions
- Transport
- GST

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Overnight Safari Expedition Description

Day 1 – I will pick you up from the Queenstown airport or your Queenstown accommodation at a pre-arranged time. Depending on the forecast for the next 2 days we will head out of Queenstown and towards the area that is going be best suited to our Overnight Safari Expedition. After some awesome fishing on the way to our camp, we set up camp, eat some kai (dinner) and get ready for the next day on the river. You may be able to get the evening rise in at our selected camp site.

Day 2 – After a hearty breakfast at camp, some lunch prep we will head off hunting for those big NZ trout in our chosen area. This may mean we just walk direct from our campsite or it could involve a short drive from our camp area before starting to fish. Many of the areas we stop in have multiple options to fish different water. This is your last day to hit some great fishing as you return to your Queenstown accommodation or the Queenstown airport as required and the end of a great camping/fishing expedition.

NZ$1,800 for one person

NZ$1930 for two people

Capacity is 2 guests only

Price includes:

- 2 days guided fly-fishing (longer stays are available)

- 1 nights accommodation

- All food and non alcoholic refreshments

- All equipment

- Digital images, safety and risk management and DoC concessions

- All transport including transfer days

- GST

-------------------------------------------

Multi Day Safari Expedition Description


Day One – I will pick you up from the Queenstown airport or your Queenstown accommodation at a pre-arranged time. Depending on the forecast for the next few days we will head out of Queenstown and towards the area that is going be best suited to start our expedition taking into account of what may happen to the weather in a few days time – this will constantly be assessed throughout the course of the expedition to maximize your time and fishing opportunties. After some fishing on the way to our first nights camp, we set up camp, eat some kai (dinner) and get ready for the next day on the river. You may be able to get the evening rise in at our selected camp site.

Days 2 and 3 – After a hearty breakfast at camp, some lunch prep we will head off hunting for those big NZ trout in our chosen area. This may mean we just walk direct from our campsite or it could involve a short drive from our camp area before starting to fish. Many of the areas we will stop in have multiple options to fish different water in the nearby area without having to move camp every day – sometimes we may need to move camp more regularly. After we have finished fishing for the day, its’ back to camp for some kai and maybe it’s time to move on to our next area. When it comes time to move we can choose the time of our departure either by rising early and moving in the morning and fishing a stream on the way to our next locale or by moving in the evening after a days fishing depending on where our next location is and the energy levels we have left!

Day 4 –This is your last day to hit some fishing as you return to Queenstown accommodation or the Queenstown airport as required and the end of a great trip.

NZ$3,420.00 for 1 person (extra days NZD 905.00 per day)

NZ$3,925.00 for 2 people (extra days 1030.00 per day)

Price includes:

- 4 days guided fly-fishing (longer stays are available)

- 3 nights accommodation

- All food and non alcoholic refreshments

- All equipment

- Digital images, safety and risk management and DoC concessions

- All transport including transfer days

- GST

-------------------------------------------

Southland Homestay Expedition Description

Day One – Pick up from your Queenstown accommodation at a pre-arranged time and then drive into Southland where you will spend the rest of the day casting to stalked and sighted fish ranging in size from 3lbs – 5lbs, always with the possibility of seeing and hooking into much larger fish. After fishing on this day we will arrive at our accommodation in Lumsden and settle in for dinner and a couple of drinks with tales from the day.

Day 2 - 3 The next morning after a hearty kiwi breakfast you will be off to explore some of the other water in the area and the fishing they offer. Another lunch will see you through an afternoon full of fishing and finishing back in your Lumsden accommodation and the end of another great day and plenty more tales.

Day4 After another hearty breakfast we will head out for your last days fly fishing on the expedition and arrive back in Queenstown where I will drop you off at your Queenstown accommodation or airport as required.

NZ$3,675 for one person (Extra days NZ$990)

NZ$4240 for two people (Extra days NZ$1130)

Capacity is 2 guests only

Price includes:

- 4 days guided fly-fishing (longer stays are available)

- 3 nights accommodation

- All food and non alcoholic refreshments

- All equipment

- Digital images, safety and risk management and DoC concessions

- All transport including transfer days

- GST

Prices do not include:

- Fishing licenses

- Helicopter excursions

- Boat trips (ask for prices of heli or boat fishing)

- Alcoholic refreshments

- Gratuities

Bookings and enquiries

Please send an email to Simon and supply the following information where possible. (You can copy and paste the questions below into the email and then add your answers).

Simon willl reply to your inquiry usually within 24 hours and let you know his availability and confirm the booking with you.

  • Date(s)
  • Type of trip
    - One day
    - Overnighter
    - Safari
  • Name(s) of people fishing
  • Do you require fly fishing equipment to be supplied (rods, waders etc)?
  • If so, what are your shoe sizes (for wading boots)? What country is that shoe size based on?
  • What is your general level of fitness?
  • Do you have any medical conditions of concern?
  • Do you have any special dietary requirements?
  • What is your level of fly fishing experience?
  • Have you fly fished in New Zealand before?
  • What sort of fly fishing experience are you expecting?
  • Do you have a New Zealand fishing licence already? If so what type: Full season, Day, or Family licence?
Booking confirmation

When confirming a single day trip, no deposit is required.

When confirming a multi-day booking, a 50% deposit is to be paid by the client to SWG’s bank account at the time of confirming the booking. The remainder is to be paid at the time of the trip.

Cancellation

The following cancellation policies apply to all confirmed bookings:

Inclement weather or river conditions

Only the guide can postpone or cancel the trip due to inclement weather or river conditions or any factors that may compromise the safety of the client and/or guide.

All trips that cannot be postponed will be cancelled with no charge to the client.

Multi day trips

On multi day trips the guide will always endeavour to do his best to take you to the best available water on any day of the trip taking into account the weather and river conditions. However no refund is given on any days lost due to adverse weather/river conditions during multi day trips.

Client cancellation

If you cancel the trip:

  • More than a month before the date of the trip, you receive a full refund of the deposit amount less bank transaction fees.
  • Within a month of the trip date but more than a week from the trip date, you will be reimbursed 50% of the deposit amount less bank transaction fees.
  • Seven or fewer days before the trip date, no refund is given.

 

Homestay

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