International Visitor Trips
Planning a fly fishing trip to New Zealand from overseas? Here is what you need to know about licences, seasons, travel and what to bring.
Packages are available for absolute beginners through to the experienced angler. If one of our packages isn’t exactly what you are looking for we can help you put together a fully customised trip that meets your exact needs.
Your fishing licence
Every angler fishing for trout or salmon in New Zealand needs a licence, including children, and you must buy it before the trip. Licences come from Fish & Game New Zealand through their online system and cover the whole country except the Taupo and Rotorua regions.
For the 2025-26 season, as a non-resident:
- Adult full season licence: $270
- Adult 24 hour licence: $38
- Junior and child full season: $51
- Junior and child 24 hour: $23
- Children under 12: free
If you are here for only a short excursion, a 24 hour licence may be enough. For anything more than a brief trip you need the full non-resident licence. If we are going into backcountry water on a multi-day trip, ask me whether you also need a Backcountry Endorsement for the regions we plan to fish. You can add a region to your licence at any time.
When to come
The Canterbury and West Coast season runs from 1 October to the end of April. Canterbury high country lakes and rivers open on the first Saturday in November, and rainbow trout waters at the start of December. Some lowland rivers stay open year round, which is what the winter trips use.
October and November give you trout that have not seen a fly for months. Late November brings the brown beetle hatches and excellent dusk dry fly fishing. December means long settled days, lower rivers and very visible fish. If you are choosing dates purely on fishing, any of those will serve you well.
There is more detail on the Key Fishing Info page.
Getting here and getting around
Christchurch is the practical base. It has the South Island’s main international airport, and it sits between the Canterbury rivers and the West Coast, so we can chase the better weather rather than being stuck with it. Arthur’s Pass and the Lewis Pass put the West Coast within a few hours’ drive.
You do not need to hire a car to fish with me. Travel to the water is included, by four wheel drive, from your accommodation in Christchurch or the wider Canterbury area. On a multi-day trip, if you are staying elsewhere in the South Island I can often collect you and we fish our way back. See East to West Experience for what that journey looks like.
Pick-ups can be early, sometimes 5:30am, because the best of the day is often the first of it.
What to bring
Very little. Rods, reels, flies, tippet, waders, wading boots, polarised sunglasses, a sunhat, sunscreen, insect repellent and lunch are all provided. Bring your licence, clothes you can move in, and a change of clothes to leave in the vehicle in case you get wet.
Bring your own rod if you would rather fish it. Thermal tops, waterproof jackets and gaiters can be hired for a few dollars a day. The full inclusion list is on the Pricing page.
Travel insurance
I strongly recommend all international visitors buy travel insurance. Any trip into the outdoors carries some uncertainty, and New Zealand weather can change quickly. If I have to cancel a day because no suitable water can be found, your deposit for that day is refunded in full. Insurance covers the rest of your trip, which I cannot.
Booking from overseas
A deposit of $500 NZD per guide day secures your dates. The easiest way to pay from overseas is a PayPal link, which accepts any credit card and adds PayPal’s 4% transaction fee. Wise usually costs about half that. Bank transfer is also fine.
Please read the booking terms before you pay, particularly the cancellation dates.
Useful links
- Tourism New Zealand, Christchurch and Canterbury, for planning the rest of your visit
- Fish & Game New Zealand, for licences and regulations
- MetService, the national forecaster. MetService is not associated with, and does not endorse, South Island Adventure Fly Fishing
Which trip suits you
All seven trip options, with prices for one, two and three anglers, are set out on the Packages and Pricing pages. If none of them is quite right, ask about a custom trip built to your itinerary.
If you are not sure what to choose, tell me how long you have and what you want out of the fishing, and I will suggest something. Get in touch.
Add a Little Something Kiwi to your Experience
As some of the areas we fish are located near to many uniquely New Zealand ‘non-trout’ related activities, detours can be added to the trip to enhance the kiwi experience. Just send us an email or give us a call and we can help you start the planning of your kiwi fishing adventure with us.