%202.jpg)
I’m currently writing this post sitting in the port side of the Interislander ferry Kaitaki, which transports people from all walks of life from one half of New Zealand to the other. Only one other time in my life did I take this same route and leave Wellington for a chance to see more of the magnificent country which took place a little over a year ago, and it most certainly won’t be the last. Seven or eight months ago the idea for a holiday around the South Island came up and since then plans have been put into place to make for an incredible opportunity to explore and chase trout on new terrain. For the next month I’ll be embarking on a 4-week fly fishing trip with non-other than my partner in crime on the water, Connor Andrew. The ute (truck) is loaded to the brim with fishing gear of all sorts, gumboots, an ungodly amount of sunscreen and a roof tent to tie it all together. Soon the ferry will drop us off in Picton, a town located at the top of the South Island and from there on we’ll be traveling in style. During the journey we’ll be stopping to catch up and do a bit of fishing with some old friends, spend a couple of days relaxing on the beach at Curio Bay and finally, Connor and I will head into some of the most isolated parts of New Zealand to escape civilization and hopefully find some untouched water.
There is but only one goal for this trip and that’s to make some life-long memories. Of course, there’s no words for the amount of excitement I’m feeling just thinking about the possible opportunities to witness elusive trout eat a dry, but there’s so much more to this expedition. It’s a chance to really see more of the world and the country I now reside in and meet more of its wonderful residents. Some of the more tourist-like stops will be to explore a bit of the insanely beautiful and jaw-dropping national parks such as Milford Sound, which is renowned for its stunning landscapes and tramping trails. Queenstown is one of the many popular stops tourists and adrenaline junkies make while traveling around New Zealand all for a chance to experience the rush of bungee jumping 450 ft, so why not check that off the list as well? Finally, cooking will also play a role during this adventure as there is so much to forage for on public lands such as watercress, wild mushrooms, crayfish and pāua, fresh fish etc. which can be used to make meals. All we can do now is hope for some sunshine and that the sandflies will keep at bay. Wish us luck!
