Top of the South Island Fishing Itinerary

Picton-St Arnaud

From Picton and travel south on SH 1 to Blenheim, then take SH 63 which travels along the wonderful braided river, the Wairau, to the township of St Arnaud near the beautiful Lake Rotoiti. The Wairau offers many kilometres of excellent fishing though many regard the best fishing to be had in its headwaters or its many tributaries such as the pristine Goulter River.

St Arnaud-Murchison

From St Arnaud travel a short distance westward on SH 63 and you will cross the Buller River, one of New Zealand's longest rivers and a prolific fishery. There is excellent fishing all along this stretch but continue on to the township of Murchison and take your pick of a number of rivers including the Owen, the Gowan, the Matakitaki and the Matiri to name a few. Murchison provides an excellent base to explore fishing in the region and it is advisable to plan for at least two days here. Each river is different with the one thing in common being crystal clear waters holding very large brown trout.

Around Murchison

Stay around Murchison and continue exploring the river and streams of the Buller River catchment area.

Murchison-Tapawera

Travel back along SH 6 to St Arnaud but turn off at Kawatiri onto SH 6 towards Nelson and take the Motueka Road. Tapawera, is on the famous Motueka River and gives wonderful access to some of the best fishing sections and reaches on the river as well as to a number of other excellent fisheries such as the Wangapeka and Baton Rivers. These waters hold very high stocks of brown trout but are challenging even to the best of anglers, so be warned.

Tapawera-Collingwood

Continue along the Motueka Road to the township of Motueka and then take SH 60 over the Takaka Hills to Golden Bay. Continue (if you can resist teh call of the trout) past the Takaka and Anatoki Rivers to the township of Collingwood and then take the road towards the Heaphy Track. A number of well signposted access points will guide you to fish the large Aorere River, regarded by many as one of New Zealand's best kept angling secrets.

Collingwood-Picton

Return to Picton via SH 60 and SH 6, but do allow enough time to stop on the way and fish the small Rai River which provides stunning dry fly fishing for a good population of rainbow and brown trout.