Need some help planning - We areheaded to New Zealand!! - March 2012

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

Well we are packing our bags and heading upside down to spend two weeks with my good friends JeepinBear and his wife! We will be touring the South Island for about 13 days. We are just begining the planning stage and the Excel speradsheets will be started shortly! (As an engineer I am probably way to structured!)

First things first, Vehicle! Although I would love to travel around in a Parado or Patrol with a RTT and all of the fixings for an epic adventure, my financial planner says 'NO!' So, plan B: We have been discussing 'hiring' a camper van.

Does anybody have any experience with rental companies in Christchurch?

So far we have found the following RV and campervan rentals:
http://www.maui.co.nz/
http://www.escaperentals.co.nz/vans.asp
http://www.britz.co.nz/campervan-hire-new-zealand

After a quick Google search, we found several. We will start contacting some of them soon, but I wanted to see if anybody hand any experience with a company on the South Island.

[windsock]

G'day Beau,

I am in the southern North Island if you are driving past but if you are hiring out of Chch I figure you'll be flying overhead. Call by if you are driving by. I figure from your name you fish, I can show you a few places to cast some bugs about... brown beetle is going well at the moment as is anything brown and small... :wings:

Campers, try these guys... http://www.newzealandnz.co.nz/tuicampers/4wd-bushcamper.html I have no experience withthem but I have seen one of their 4WD campers - nice set up. South Island has a few nice back country roads leading to great fishing. I guess you will be already in the know about all the earthquakes they're currently having down that way. Expect and accept some sort of chaos if dealing with folk down there at the moment. They're doing it hard and some businesses are operating out of temporary bases.

Another option for 4WD camper is a Mitsubishi van - http://www.campasouth.com/sleepervan.html No experience and no sighting of these outfits.

All the best and keep that spreadsheet going... :victory:

Phil

[TangoBlue]

Lucky...

Looking forward to the pics and write up. Perhaps it will inspire me to document something...

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

Thanks guys! Roseann at Overland Expo was kind enough to post my question on their site (http://www.overlandexpo.com/overland-tech-travel/2011/12/22/vehicle-rentals-in-new-zealand.html). So far I have two replies!

I will be sending out some emails this week. I am thinking we will either get a small SUV and RTT from Overland.co.nz or some sort of camper van. We will see.

Phil, the 4wd bushcamper would be awesome, but at $280nz/day it is out of my price range. I am looking for something under $120nz/day. Those 4WD campers looked like a good option.

We know all about the earthquakes and dealing with chaos. We were staying on the coast of Chile when the Japanese earthquake struck. We had to gather all of our gear together and prepare for an evacuation in the event of a tsunami.

[windsock]

Phil, the 4wd bushcamper would be awesome, but at $280nz/day it is out of my price range. I am looking for something under $120nz/day. Those 4WD campers looked like a good option.

We know all about the earthquakes and dealing with chaos. We were staying on the coast of Chile when the Japanese earthquake struck. We had to gather all of our gear together and prepare for an evacuation in the event of a tsunami.

Yes, the land cruisers are nice but not totally necessary. I guess if you are travelling with your friends in their 110 you will gain access to all and sundry that you would hope to be able to. If this is so, then I would content myself with a conventional campervan with all the amenities and then plan on day trips out to the beyond in the land rover for the day etc.

If you are planning on needing a GPS while here check out the http://forums.gps.org.nz/ site for downloadable maps complete with points of interest and contours etc. I use these maps in a Garmin handheld and so you may find something to suit if required.

Go to http://www.geonet.org.nz/ to keep up to date with the earthquake situation down in Christchurch. Still shaking quite actively. A 5.5 the other morning. A 6.0 a few days ago.

Are you planning on fishing while here? A silly question perhaps? Check out the rules and regulations and fisheries information here at http://www.fishandgame.org.nz/ You'll need a licence but I understand it is quite cheap compared to elsewhere in the world. Keep your gear clean if coming from state-side and keep it clean between rivers down there also. Didymo is found in South Island rivers only. So far the North Island is still didymo free. Check out the status of any river catchment you are planning to fish in here at http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/didymo and here http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/didymo/where-is-it Be parepared to declare any fishing gear on arrival at customs and have them inspect it. There is a good section here http://www.sexyloops.com/nz/index.shtml on fly fishing in NZ.

Tightlines,

Phil

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

Phil, you rock! Thank you for all of the information! Yes we will be fly fishing while we are down there. I cannot wait!

I sent an email off to the folks at Campa South to see if I could get some additional information and photos on their vans. This looks like the best option for us. Their 4WD Camper is only a little more money than the Escape Rentals, but I think they will be an all-around better vehicle. Plus I don't want to drive around in a mural.

[windsock]

Hi Beau,

Just thinking of a few other bits of info that may be useful... :wings:

For a self-confessed spreadsheet user you may like to look at these sites. Whenever I move to another catchment to fish I look for hydro data and become familiar with recent flows and rainfall - flood event levels so I can judge whether fishable or not. In NZ the local .govt body responsible for monitoring water for flooding and quality are called regional councils and are geographically based on river catchments for boundarys. They have many hydrological monitoring sites all usually linked via telemetry, and much of the flow and level data is available via their websites. You may be interested in perusing the following links and if a time limitation of your travels combines adversely with weater events you may want to change an itinirary around to catch the clear flows. South Island has a mountain range going roughly north-south and the weater usually arrives on an easterly or westerly quarter (give or take 20-30 degrees) and so if it is raining on one side it'll be clear on the other... however, with mountains the world over, if it is raining in the high country watch for rising water in the lowlands under a hot sun etc... your mileage may vary andall the usual disclaimers... The .govt funded meteorological service website is here (http://www.metservice.com/national/index). If you are not going to be travelling with ability to get online then internet cafes abound in NZ.

Anyway, regional council websites. Most often only flow or level data is present. Sometimes turbidity and temperature is but you may need to dig around for it. Starting at the top...
Nelson Marlbourough (http://hydro.marlborough.govt.nz/cgi-bin/hydwebserver.cgi)
Canterbury (http://ecan.govt.nz/services/online-services/monitoring/river-flows/pages/default.aspx) - Environment Canterbury
Westland (http://www.wcrc.govt.nz/river_level_rainfall/)- West Coast Regional Council
Otago (http://water.orc.govt.nz/WaterInfo/Default.aspx)
Southland (http://www.es.govt.nz/rivers-and-rainfall/)

Yes, Escape vans are gaudy and you will draw attention to yourself as a 'freedom camper' something that has become a bad thing to be in NZ lately. We have had a huge level of backpackers hiring these types of vans over the last few years and being ill-equipped for camping on the side of roads they have become synonymous with toileting in the bushes at popular spots and generally despoiling beauty whereever they go. Local bylaws are now in place to put a halt to this and you may like to review these laws at here (http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/freedom-camping-bill-passed-law), here (http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2011/0061/latest/DLM3742815.html), and read some news by googling the term. I have freedom camped for many years now and have always either bagged or buried waste. I still vividly remember a sign I once saw at a paticularly beautiful spot. "No spade, no stay, bury your ****". Sadly, younger folk seem less interested in doing this or are of lessor intelligence to realise a need to do this and despoil the very beauty they seek to enjoy. My recommendation is either stay at established camps or get a van with a toilet and you'll be better placed to discuss your way out of trouble if you seek to freedom camp.

The Department of Conservation (DoC) has an extensive array of established campgrounds and many are availble for a low fee and have very adequate facilities for camping (vs glamping). See a full list via PDF here (http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/campsite-information/full-list-of-south-island-campsites.pdf) or a website with other downloadable stuff here (http://www.doc.govt.nz/publications/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/campsites-drive-in/conservation-campsites-south-island/).

What sort of fishing gear (flys and line weights etc) are you considering bringing?

Phil

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

Phil, again you are a wealth of information!

As far as fishing goes, I still need to do my research. I plan on taking 5wt rods and a couple of boxes of flies, but I am not sure what.

[windsock]

Phil, again you are a wealth of information!

As far as fishing goes, I still need to do my research. I plan on taking 5wt rods and a couple of boxes of flies, but I am not sure what.

I am glad to be of help :victory:

Not too sure whether they will allow your flys into NZ without treating them with some pretty harsh chemicals. You can generally buy flies/patterns whereever you go that work in that particular river or time-space etc. I am not yet at the stage of tying my own and generally end up paying NZ$2.50 for an unweighted nymph or dry fly and NZ$3.50 for a beaded nymph. You can get them cheaper by the dozen at times. Tungsten beads and lead and copper windings are quite common here so as to sink the bug in fast moving water. A good chain of shops is Hunting and Fishing (http://www.huntingandfishing.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/28). They can be found nation-wide it seems. I don't think they cater to online sales though. Each shop has their resident expert in the ways of the local rivers and will be able to advise on fly type, size and colours that seem to be working for the time you are here. There are some universal colours and types for my area but whether these work in the south is something I would try but if I was time-limited maybe i would seek local knowledge. Closest website I could find that came anywhere near a good list is here (http://www.flyfishingnz.co.nz/flies.htm). Stu's Fly Shop (http://www.stusflyshop.com/) is also a good source of locally tied flies for local conditions. Manic Tackle Project (http://www.manictackleproject.com/manic-trout-flies-for-new-zealand-fly-fishing/) has some good flies that have been tied with advice from good people. I use the Mirfz BLT's here in size 14-16 sucessfully as a "go to" nymph. BLT = Brown Little Thing or Black Little Thing. These flies are sold via the Hunting and Fishing chain as above. As for dries, a brown beetle is doing it as a dry lately but this changes rapidly.

http://www.flyshop.co.nz/mm5/graphics/00000001/mirfs_lbt_brn.jpghttp://www.flyshop.co.nz/mm5/graphics/00000001/mirfs.jpg

Some of the wind, waters and fish in the South Island may put pressure on your 5wt to both cast the distance and land the fish. However, in saying that many folk use that size and smaller even down there in big waters and get away with it. You go with what you do. No amount of recommendations have helped me catch fish and I have had to adapt and adopt. Some advice has been adopted and some adapted. In NZ, a 6wt seems to be the "go to" size for the distance and fish in our rivers and lakes. I have settled on a 9'.0" 6wt med-fast. I would be tempted to go to a faster action if I fished larger waters but at the moment the weight and the action suit what I do - smaller rivers approx 2-3' deep and 15-30' wide. I use the Airflo Explorer II WF floater taper and rio tapered leaders or tie my own leaders. I also have an Airflo intermediate sink for streamer fishing and a Rio Grand for wild and windy days. I am considering a Rio Gold to replace the Explorer. Any good tippet material from Rio (Fluoroflex plus) or Airflo (co-polymer) will be fine. A guy I know uses Maxima Camo to tie his own knotted-tapered leaders and they work well for him. Good footwear is vital as you will most likely put some miles in between fish and vehicle. I wear Simms Rivershed boots with vibram streamtread sole and over the summer months I place six hardbite cleats per foot. By March the rocks will be slimey and slippery. Felt soles are banned here.

Don't underestimate the clarity of our skies and the power of the sun. It is clear down there and the sun burns quickly, especially if fresh from a northern winter. New Zealand is a windy country. We get the westerlies from the weather systems in the roaring forties to the south and valley thermal winds. You will need to be adept at off-side casting and casting into or with the wind. If I couldn't fish in the wind I would lose 75%-85% of my fishing days - a reality here in lower North Island.

Tightlines,

Phil

[JeepinBear]

Hey Beau,

As far as GPS is concerned, you can borrow the nuvi from Michelle's car. I will have mine in the 110. Also, we have 2 of the new Rinos for us to communicate car to car as your phones will probably not work here. All have NZ maps and data.

We will be bringing the new canoe too so if you want to rent some kayaks in the Marlborough Sounds, we will all be able to go. :-)

Maybe you can teach Michelle and I to fly fish?

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

We are working out the specifics on pickup and dropoff times with the campervan rental company! We are getting close. We chose to go with CampaSouth 4WD Camper. They sent us a couple of interior shots of the sleeping/cooking arangement and I really like the setup. It is simple and looked to be the best value.

Thanks Phil for the fly fishing information! It has been too long since we last had our fly rods out! This is going to be great.

[windsock]

Hey Beau,

It is getting close indeed. I note that NZ Fish and Game has a new website that has an "Overseas Visitors (http://fishing.fishandgame.org.nz/overseas-visitors)" page. I am not sure whether you've seen this already but if not then it has some good info there on getting gear into the country.

Let us know if you are land-based when travelling down the lower North Island. I can show you some nice camping spots beside the river here.

All the best and I look forward to seeing pictures of the large Southland browns with mountain backdrops... :victory:

Phil