Cedar Lodge – South Island
THE FISHING
Cedar Lodge is the only dedicated daily helicopter fly out lodge in the New Zealand. Each fishing day guests will board a helicopter with their guide to fly to one of the areas many rivers. The only time that roads and driving might be utilized is when the weather is too bad to fly. This is extremely rare and has not happened in several years.
The fishing will mostly be sight casting to both Rainbow and Brown Trout and the guides will usually start out with dry flies and then switch to nymphs and even streamers, depending on things like fish reaction and weather conditions. There are definitely opportunities for trophy fish every day and guests can expect to at least see double digit fish, even if they don’t catch them.
Under the direction of head guide Paul Wright, the guiding at Cedar Lodge is very strong and the lodge employs a daily guide rotation so that guests get to fish with a different guide on most day.
One of the great attributes to fish out of Cedar Lodge, aside from the gorgeous location, great food and well-oiled helicopter fly out program, is that the footing on the rivers you fish is relatively easy in this southern part of the country. Unlike the northern part of the South Island, where uneven terrain, rocks and boulders can make things quite treacherous, the Cedar Lodge daily heli-fly out locations are much easier to navigate, making this an ideal location for those who might not be as spry as many rivers in the north require.
BOATS AND EQUIPMENT
The helicopter you’ll fly in daily may vary, based on the number of anglers/guide and the location you choose. However, all helicopters are turbine driven machines.
Hughes/MacDonald Douglas 500 – up to 4 passengers (including guide) + pilot
GETTING THERE
The majority of flights coming in to New Zealand from the US and Canada arrive in Auckland, which is located on the north island. Unless you are on one of our North and South Island trips where you start on the North Island, guests will fly from Auckland by jet down to Queenstown, where you will be picked up by the Cedar Lodge driver (usually Marc O’Connor) for the gorgeous two hour drive north to the lodge.
RATES FOR 2024
$3,100.00 USD per room per night for double occupancy
$2,480.00 USD per room per night for single occupancy
- CHC - New Zealand
- Decmber to March
- Rainbow / Brown Trout
- 8 Rods per week guests
- Wifi: Yes
- Language: English
- Physicality: Low
- CC Payment at Facility : Yes
From our gallery
Cedar Lodge – South Island
Tour Location
LOCATION
PRIMARY SPECIES
SEASON OF OPERATION
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE LOGISTICS
THE LODGE
The lodge is situated in the Makarora Valley, just a couple of hundred yards from the Makarora River. It’s views are to the west and the Mount Aspiring National Park and the mountain range that sits between the lodge and the West Coast of New Zealand. Depending on the time of year you are fishing, these mountains will be snow capped early and late in the season.
The lodge has four double occupancy bedrooms, two of which are located on either aside of the main lodge dining and social area. Each room has a simple yet elegant style, along with adjoining en suite bathroom. The rooms are comfortable and quiet and come with coffee makers and plenty of storage for clothing and gear. The main lodge dining social room has enormous windows that offer a spectacular view of the valley and mountains to the west. Meals are taken in the lodge if its cool out or raining, but other wise guests will usually have dinner each night out on the patio dining area that is situated between the lodge and the helicopter platform. This area is a wonderful place for post fishing cocktails at the end of the day.
DESTINATION CAPACITY
Cedar Lodge – South Island
Cedar Lodge – South Island
INCLUDED IN PRICE
- The number of nights at the lodge as per package purchased.
- The number of days fishing as per package purchased
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.
- Local wines, beer and spirits
- 15% New Zealand Government Goods and Service Tax (GST)
NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE
- International and domestic airfare to and within New Zealand
- Transfers to and from the Lodge on arrival and departure days
- Fishing License
- Gratuities for the lodge staff and guides
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
U.S., Canadian and EU members must have a passport that is valid for 3 months beyond intended stay as well as tickets and documents for return or onward travel. As of the Fall of 2019, all guests will also need an Electronic Travel Authority to New Zealand (NZeTA). Please contact our office for information on how to apply for the NZeTA.