Fly Fishing Near Dunedin
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If you’re visiting Dunedin and want to experience some of New Zealand’s finest fly fishing, the city itself isn’t where you’ll find the best water. The real action is about 90 minutes southwest, in Gore, the Brown Trout Capital of the world. That’s where I’ll take you.
As an experienced fly fishing guide, I spend my seasons on the Mataura River and surrounding Southland streams, rivers where wild brown trout rise freely to well-presented dry flies. Book your fly fishing Dunedin day trip and fish in water most anglers only dream about!
What Your Fly Fishing Dunedin Day Trip Includes
When you book a guided day of trout fishing from Dunedin, I’ll sort everything you need so you can focus on the fishing. I offer morning pickup from your Dunedin location or can meet in Gore if you’re driving yourself, and I’ll have equipment available for hire @ $60.00 per person per day, including:
Rods
Reels
Waders
Boots
Whether you’re new to the sport or an experienced angler, I’ll adapt the day to your skill level. Beginners get patient instruction; seasoned fly fishers get access to challenging fish on uncrowded water. Either way, you’ll be sight fishing with a dry fly in NZ waters, where the trout are wild, and the pressure is low.
Why Travel from Dunedin for Trout Fishing?
Dunedin has a few local reservoirs and nearby streams, but they don’t compare to what you’ll find in Southland. The Mataura River produces some of the best trout fishing in the Southern Hemisphere, with mayfly hatching and bringing browns to the surface all day long.
The difference is variety and access. Southland isn’t a one-river destination. When conditions on the Mataura aren’t quite right, I know dozens of alternative spots within reach. My relationships with local landowners open up private stretches of river that most visiting anglers who are used to fishing in Dunedin and NZ will never see.
When trout fishing from Dunedin, the 90-minute drive is a small trade-off for uncrowded banks, gin-clear water, and trout that haven’t been spooked by heavy foot traffic. You’ll spend your day actually fishing, not competing for space.
Book Your Fly Fishing in Dunedin Today
Ready to experience what makes Southland’s rivers world-famous? A day trip from Dunedin puts you on water where wild brown trout rise freely to well-presented flies. Whether it’s your first time picking up a fly rod or you’ve fished rivers across the globe, I’ll put you in front of fish worth catching.
If you’re looking for reliable trout fishing guides near you, trust me to take you out on the Mataura for fly fishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s about 90 minutes by car, taking you through the Southland plains. I can collect you from your accommodation in Dunedin, or you can drive yourself and meet me in Gore. Either way, we’ll be out on the water fishing by mid-morning.
The trout season runs from October to April. From December to March, the Mataura delivers its best dry fly action, allowing you to time your fishing with the mayfly hatches, which bring the trout to the surface in incredible numbers.
With early and late season fishing, you'll still see a decent amount of trout, though we'll likely be doing more nymph fishing. If you're interested in trout fishing near Dunedin during peak season, make sure to get your booking in early.
Dunedin's local spots, like Sullivan's Dam, Tomahawk Lagoon, and Southern Reservoir, are stocked waters that suit beginners and families. The Mataura is a different beast entirely. You're fishing for wild brown trout in a river renowned worldwide for its mayfly hatches and dry fly action. The fish are larger, more numerous, and far more challenging.
Add uncrowded banks, gin-clear water, and access to private stretches most anglers never see, and the 90-minute drive pays for itself before you've made your first cast.
Absolutely not. A fly fishing guide near Dunedin is available for anybody with a keen interest. Complete beginners and expert anglers are both welcome. I have all the necessary gear available for hire and will adapt the day to your skill level. New anglers get hands-on instruction while experienced anglers can access more challenging waters with fish that’ll really test their skills.