After a 2.5 hour drive in the rain from Queenstown, we arrived at the edge of the Fjordland National Park and Te Anua to find sunshine and clear skies. Tomorrow we take the tour to Milford Sound, reportedly one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
I sprung for the Real Journeys tour which includes bus transport, cruise, and lunch for $167 NZ each. If we had taken the cruise portion only, it was $62 for the 2 hour nature tour. They also offer an hour and a half scenic cruise. I know the move was not frugal, but I’m struggling a little with the driving and it appears I want to be watching out the glass ceilings as we go. Sometimes, you just gotta spring for it. Photos to follow.
This afternoon we scoped out trout fishing spots. The Fish and Wildlife Division provides a great map of access sites and info about the character of each of the rivers, suggested lures and flies and fish populations.
We first visited the Upper Waiau River which was large and fast with limited walking along the shoreline or in the water. So big and fast, I passed and we headed on to the Upukerora River where I found the conditions much more to my liking. I can get in the river at three different locations and have plenty of room to roam. The rain this morning has the river chocolate brown but it should clear with 24 hours of sunshine and be ready for my assault on Tuesday morning. The reported average trout size is 1 to 1.5 kilos.
Fishing is only with artificials and each site suggests the limit per day. I will be catch and release fishing after Katy redeems herself with the camera this time. Again photos to follow.
Trout fishing int he east is usually very limited without much room for casting and certainly limited for fly fishing. Here you have all the room in the world and at the 4 spots we checked out, I saw two fisherman total. This place is in high season and yet empty because of the vastness of fishing available.
We’ll also catch the glow worms cave while we’re here, some sunshine, and fresh air. Hiking will be along the rivers and exploring will be two tracking in our pint sized rental car.
We are on the edge of heaven again. I can feel it in the air. I can’t wait to report in the next few days!
