New Zealand Fishing Trip Guide: The Complete Route from North Island to Milford Sound

This article contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Yagichan

Hi everyone, this is Yagi! I’ve put together my New Zealand trout fishing trip reports, from the North Island all the way to the South Island, organized in geographic order. I hope this helps if you’re planning your own itinerary.

I’ve covered pre-trip prep — SIM cards, tap-to-pay, climate, cash situation, and more — in a separate article. Check that out first before planning your itinerary.

あわせて読みたい

【海外釣り旅準備＆知って得する注意点】ニュージーランド・韓国・中国で実際に気づいたことまとめ

あわせて読みたい

【ニュージーランド釣行記】北島でトラウトを求めて｜ガイドなし現地探索＆初ブラウン・ニジマス釣果レポ

あわせて読みたい

【NZ北島釣行記】湖・川・温泉を満喫！レンタカーで巡るおすすめ釣りスポット＆注意点まとめ

あわせて読みたい

【南島編】ニュージーランド釣行おすすめ釣り場4選＆リアル体験メモ

North Island: Whakapapa River

The trip started on the North Island, where I targeted mainstem trout on the Whakapapa River near Kakahi.

あわせて読みたい

【NZ北島釣行記】Whakapapa Riverで本流トラウト！Kakahi周辺の実釣レポとルアー選び

Moving from North Island to South Island

After finishing up fishing on the North Island, it’s time to head to the South Island. I’ve also covered how to choose between flying, the ferry, or a rental car, plus how to spend an airport layover.

あわせて読みたい

North Island to South Island New Zealand: Fly or Take the Ferry?

あわせて読みたい

Gimhae Airport Layover Guide: Can You Visit Busan in 6–8 Hours?

Central South Island: Omarama to Wanaka

Once on the South Island, I fished my way through the central region’s famous spots: the Twizel and Ahuriri Rivers around Omarama, the Lindis River, and the Clutha River near Wanaka.

あわせて読みたい

【南島編②】ニュージーランド・オマラマ周辺釣行記｜Twizel River＆Ahuriri Riverの特徴・攻略法・注意点

あわせて読みたい

NZ南島③ Lindis Riverレビュー｜初心者でも大型トラウトが狙える最強スポットを実釣解説

あわせて読みたい

【南島編④】NZワナカ周辺・Clutha Riverエリア釣行＆キャンプ完全ガイド｜絶景と共に釣りを楽しもう

Southern South Island: Gore to Milford Sound

The farther south you go, the more you find areas known as brown trout meccas. I made my way through Gore and the Mataura River, from Lumsden toward Milford Sound, and out to Lake Wakatipu.

あわせて読みたい

【ニュージーランド南島】Gore・Mataura River釣行記｜ブラウントラウトの聖地を攻める

あわせて読みたい

【南島第6弾】Lumsden〜ミルフォードサウンド周辺釣行・無料キャンプ徹底ガイド

あわせて読みたい

【南島第7弾】Mataura River・Lake Wakatipu周辺｜絶景＆釣果両立！南島釣行ガイド

Related: South Island Camping Guides

Choosing where to camp or sleep in your car between fishing sessions is a key part of any fishing trip. Be sure to check out these area-by-area roundup articles too.

あわせて読みたい

【保存版】ニュージーランド南島中央部・無料＆格安キャンプ場まとめ｜釣り旅・車中泊にも最適

あわせて読みたい

NZ南島南部キャンプ場3選｜無料・快適・絶景——釣り旅・車中泊アングラーに本当に使えるスポットだけまとめた

あわせて読みたい

【保存版】南島・ニュージーランド無料キャンプ場まとめ｜旅スタイル別おすすめ＆注意点も解説

Non-Fishing Options Along This Route

Fishing fills most of this itinerary, but a couple of non-fishing options are worth knowing about if you want a change of pace or a different way to cover ground:

• Northern Explorer train ticket (Auckland–Wellington) — an alternative to driving for the North Island leg above, if you’d rather watch the scenery than be behind the wheel.
• Milford Sound Cruise — if your route takes you out to Milford Sound as described above, a boat cruise is the standard way to see the fiord itself, without needing your own gear.

Neither is required for the fishing trip itself — just options if you have room in the schedule.

Summary: A River Journey from North Island to South Island

あわせて読みたい

【海外釣り旅準備＆知って得する注意点】ニュージーランド・韓国・中国で実際に気づいたことまとめ

あわせて読みたい

【ニュージーランド釣行記】北島でトラウトを求めて｜ガイドなし現地探索＆初ブラウン・ニジマス釣果レポ

あわせて読みたい

【NZ北島釣行記】湖・川・温泉を満喫！レンタカーで巡るおすすめ釣りスポット＆注意点まとめ

あわせて読みたい

【南島編】ニュージーランド釣行おすすめ釣り場4選＆リアル体験メモ

Yagichan

Trout Angler & Outdoor Traveler

InstagramYouTubeContact

Hi, I’m Yagi, an outdoor enthusiast from Japan who loves trout fishing and travel. I share firsthand fishing reports, local rules and licenses, destination guides, gear reviews, and outdoor adventures from across Japan and beyond. Whether you are planning a fishing trip to Japan or simply enjoy exploring nature, I hope these guides help you travel with confidence and discover something new.