New Zealand Brown Trout
Guided. Hosted. Done Right.
Fish West Coast rivers with guides who know the water—and return each evening to a hosted lodge where everything else has already been taken care of.
Fish With Local Knowledge
Our guides fish these rivers week after week, adapting each day to conditions so you're spending your time on the right water—not guessing where to go.
Hosted From Arrival to Departure
Accommodation, seasonal dinners, breakfasts, guiding and logistics are all arranged. You focus on fishing—we take care of everything else.
Partner-Friendly by Design
Whether you're travelling with another angler or someone who simply wants to unwind, every stay is designed so everyone enjoys the experience.
A Typical Day on the Water
Morning
Wake to fresh coffee and breakfast prepared for you. While you enjoy the view across the lake, your guide has already chosen today's river based on the conditions.
Evening
Return to a hot shower, a seasonal dinner and stories around the table. As the evening winds down, tomorrow's river is already being planned.
Today’s River
Spend the day fishing West Coast rivers selected for the day's conditions—not fixed schedules. Your guide takes care of the planning, leaving you free to focus on the water.
Every day is built around the conditions, not the clock. That's the advantage of fishing with local guides and returning each evening to a fully hosted lodge.
Choose Your Fly-Fishing Experience
From a first taste of West Coast fishing to a full seven-night immersion, choose the stay that fits the way you want to fish
Every stay is guided, fully hosted and shaped around current conditions. Your guide decides where the best opportunities are; we take care of the accommodation, meals and logistics around it.
2 Night Fly-Fishing Experience
The perfect introduction.
2 nights · 1 full day guided fishing
A short, beautifully hosted introduction to West Coast brown trout fishing. Ideal for first-time New Zealand anglers or anyone adding a day on the water to a wider South Island journey.
Arrive, settle in and enjoy dinner at the lodge. The following morning, your guide takes you to the water offering the best opportunity for the conditions that day.
Best for: First-time anglers, shorter itineraries and those wanting a taste of West Coast fishing.
Includes
2 nights hosted accommodation
1 full day of guided fly-fishing
Breakfast and dinner each day
Packed lunch while fishing
Fishing equipment if required
Local knowledge and access to West Coast waters
NZ$2,905 for 2 guests | NZ$2,605 solo
3 Night Fishing Escape
The perfect balance.
3 nights · 2 full days guided fishing
Two days on the water give your guide more freedom to respond to changing weather, river levels and fishing conditions — while still fitting comfortably into a wider New Zealand itinerary.
There's time to fish, time to recover at the lodge, and enough flexibility to experience more than one piece of West Coast water.
Best for: First-time New Zealand anglers, couples and travellers adding serious fishing to a South Island holiday.
Includes
3 nights hosted accommodation
2 full days of guided fly-fishing
Breakfast and dinner each day
Packed lunches while fishing
Fishing equipment if required
Daily fishing decisions based on local conditions
NZ$4,995 for 2 guests | NZ$4,545 solo
5 Night Guided Experience
The sweet spot for serious anglers.
5 nights · 4 full days guided fishing
Four fishing days create something particularly valuable on the West Coast:
Your guide can work with changing conditions rather than forcing a fixed itinerary, opening up opportunities across different rivers and stillwaters as weather, flows and fish dictate.
It's enough time to settle into the rhythm of the fishing — without turning your entire New Zealand journey into a fishing trip.
Best for: Serious anglers, returning New Zealand travellers and those travelling specifically for exceptional brown trout fishing.
Includes
5 nights hosted accommodation
4 full days of guided fly-fishing
Flexible river and stillwater selection
Breakfast, packed fishing lunches and dinner
Fishing equipment if required
Full lodge hosting throughout your stay
NZ$9,175 for 2 guests | NZ$8,425 solo
7 Night Full Immersion
The bucket-list trip.
7 nights · Maximum fishing time
For anglers who haven't travelled this far to compromise.
A full week gives your guide the greatest flexibility to work around weather, water and opportunity — exploring multiple West Coast river systems and making decisions day by day rather than months in advance.
And when the fishing day finishes, everything else is waiting for you: a comfortable lodge, a hot shower, dinner and the chance to do it all again tomorrow.
Best for: International anglers, dedicated fly-fishers and travellers making New Zealand brown trout the purpose of the journey.
Includes
7 nights fully hosted accommodation
Maximum guided fishing time
Flexible fishing based on conditions
Access to multiple West Coast waters
Breakfast, packed fishing lunches and dinner
Fishing equipment if required
Full lodge hosting and recovery between fishing days
NZ$13,499 for 2 guests | NZ$12,499 solo
Every Fly-Fishing Stay Is Fully Hosted
You focus on the fishing. We take care of everything around it.
Accommodation, breakfast, packed lunches on fishing days, three-course seasonal dinners, local guiding and fishing equipment if required are included in your stay.
Fishing licences are not included and can be purchased separately. We're happy to help arrange this. Guide availability is confirmed before your booking is finalised. Rates are in NZD, include GST and are valid for the 2026/27 fishing season. Terms and cancellation conditions apply.
Local Knowledge Changes Everything
West Coast rivers can change quickly. Your guides bring years of experience fishing these waters and make the decisions that matter — where to go, when to move, and how to make the most of the conditions on the day.
Dustin Zirbel
Dustin combines technical fly-fishing knowledge with a calm, practical guiding style. His ability to adapt to conditions and to the angler makes for focused, rewarding days on the water.
Dean Harrison
Dean brings decades of fly-fishing experience and a deep understanding of West Coast water. Reading rivers, adapting tactics and helping anglers make good decisions as conditions change are at the heart of his approach.
You are guided by the people who fish here.
You Came to Fish. They Came for New Zealand.
A great fly-fishing trip shouldn't mean asking your partner to spend their holiday waiting for you to come back from the river.
At Lake Brunner, fishing can be the reason for the journey without needing to be the whole holiday.
While you're out with your guide, your partner can slow down at the lodge, spend time around the lake and surrounding wilderness, or simply enjoy having nowhere they need to be.
Then you come back together — for a hot shower, a hosted dinner, a glass of wine and the stories of the day.
Time to explore — or simply stop.
Lake, forest, quiet places and unhurried time. There's no need to fill every hour.
Come back together.
Dinner is prepared, the lodge is warm, and there's time to share the stories of the day.
Fish properly.
Spend the day with your guide, knowing the person you came with is enjoying their holiday too.
The fishing can be yours. The holiday belongs to both of you.
What Guests Remember
“The experience became even more special when we were taken out by a fishing guide to catch the biggest brown trout of our lives.”
Lake Brunner Lodge was the most incredible way to begin our honeymoon in New Zealand. After the long journey from Texas, Brenda made us feel genuinely welcomed and cared for from the moment we arrived.
“We are so grateful for the hospitality, incredible food, beautiful setting, and memories we made here. Lake Brunner Lodge will always be one of the highlights of our honeymoon.”
Ryley & Skylar Brooks · Texas, USA
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. Our guided fly-fishing stays are suitable for a range of experience levels, from people relatively new to fly fishing through to experienced anglers.
Your guide adapts the day to your experience, the conditions and the type of fishing you want to do.
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Your package includes accommodation at Lake Brunner Eco Lodge, a seasonal three-course dinner each night, continental breakfast each morning, lunch on fishing days and full-day guided fishing according to the package you choose.
Rods, reels, boots and other fishing gear can also be provided if needed.
A New Zealand fishing licence is not included. We can help you arrange this when you arrive.
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Our hosted fly-fishing packages are available during the New Zealand trout season, from 1 October to 30 April.
There isn't one perfect week to come. West Coast weather, river flows and water clarity can change quickly, which is why we work with experienced local guides who choose the most suitable water for the conditions.
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Fishing days can take you to West Coast rivers, streams and stillwaters within driving distance of the lodge.
We don't lock you into one river in advance. Your guide makes decisions according to weather, water clarity, flows, access and fish behaviour, giving you the best opportunity for a rewarding day on the water.
Want to know more about the local waters, trout season and what fishing here is really like. Explore our West Coast Fly Fishing Guide
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That's part of fishing on the West Coast — and one of the reasons local knowledge matters.
Rather than following a rigid itinerary, your guide can adapt the day's fishing to current conditions and choose where and when to fish accordingly.
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Absolutely. Your partner doesn't need to be an angler to enjoy staying at Lake Brunner.
While you're fishing, they can enjoy time at the lodge and around Lake Brunner, and you'll come back together each evening for a hosted dinner.
The fishing can be yours. The holiday can still belong to both of you.
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Start by sending us an enquiry with your preferred dates, number of guests and the package you're interested in.
We'll confirm guide availability and talk through your experience level and what you're hoping to get from the trip before your booking is finalised.
Fly-fishing packages are subject to guide availability
Plan Your Fly-Fishing Stay
You don't need to have every detail worked out.
Tell us when you're thinking of travelling, who you're coming with and the kind of fishing experience you're looking for.
We'll check guide availability, help you choose the right length of stay, and work through the details with you.
Your enquiry doesn't commit you to anything — it's simply the beginning of planning the right trip.
Your enquiry comes directly to Brenda, who'll help you with availability and the next steps.