Minaret Station is New Zealand’s premium alpine experience providing guests with the opportunity to explore the wilderness of New Zealand’s South Island through many unique products, including Heli-Adventures and Guided Fly fishing. Minaret Station is also a working high-country farm, with deer, sheep and cattle. Nestled on the western shores of Lake Wanaka it is only accessible by boat or by helicopter.

Accommodation is in chalets nestled on the valley hillside where guests are afforded the privacy, warmth and comfort of tasteful high-country design, with each chalet featuring sheepskin carpets, a king-size bed, en-suite bathroom, internet access and a hot tub on the adjoining private deck, where they can relax under the stars.

Central to the Alpine Lodge is the Mountain Kitchen. Linked to the chalets by a series of raised wooden boardwalks, the Mountain Kitchen features two separate living areas, wood-burning fires, a well-stocked library, a cellar and first-class dining facilities.

The dining and cuisine are central to any luxury vacation experience. Using fresh local produce, the resident chef prepares European and Asian Fusion cuisine coupled with an extensive range of local and award-winning wines. Guests can choose to dine in the Mountain Kitchen’s dining-room, alfresco on the deck or in the privacy of their own chalet.

In addition, fly fishing guests can enjoy a range of activities including mountain biking, hiking, hunting, sea-fishing, heli-skiing (in winter), jet-boating and more…

WIFI is available in the lodge.

Minaret Station is the first choice for guided fishing and specialises in backcountry fly fishing experiences targeting primarily Rainbow and Brown Trout with both species often sharing the same stretch of water. Chinook Salmon provide an exciting challenge during their short season.

Minaret Station privately owns a 50,000-acre parcel of wilderness providing guests with exclusive access to prime fishing rivers in the Southern Alps. In addition to this, Minaret Station holds independent concessions to fish on conservation lands, covering some four million acres including National Parks and world heritage areas.

Oxygen and nutrient-rich glacier-fed alpine streams and rivers produce fish that are in strong condition. Gin-clear water allows early spotting of fish. This clarity, however, means that whilst anglers can see the fish, the fish can also see the angler. ‘Spot and stalk’ is the method of choice and by far the most exciting. Anglers often use dry fly, streamer and nymph techniques on the same stretch of water.

South Island river-fishing opens at the beginning of October and runs through to the end of April. The season is characterised by distinct periods which present quite different fishing conditions and challenges to the angler. Most of the major lakes can be fished on a year-round basis with varying levels of activity.

Minaret Station employs a strict ‘catch and release’ policy to ensure a healthy and sustainable resource.

Ideally, as with the fly line, clothing must be dull and drab in colour. Waders are used in the alpine streams as the headwaters are often snow-fed and walking and wading is the fishing style. A typical day starts from around 8.30 am or 9:00 am until 5:00 pm approx. Lunch is included in the full day and taken streamside.

Layered clothing is the best approach. Clothing should blend and allow for a stealthy approach as this style of fishing is akin to hunting.

Passport with a minimum of six months validity and photo ID to purchase a fishing licence. A Visa is required for non-Australian and NZ citizens.

Various international flight options to Wellington, Auckland or Christchurch. Internal flights to Queenstown then heli-transfer to the lodge.

Let us do the groundwork for you.

Our tailored fly fishing and accommodation itineraries are designed with you in mind to suit your preferences. They are also quoted in your local currency with very favourable exchange rates.

Fly Odyssey has access to the best guiding and lodging rates, suitable tides and updated availability to this destination which can vary throughout the season.

This includes flight bookings, transit accommodation, transfers and a host of non-angling activities and experiences.

We specialise in group stays to the region, and our long involvement with our partners on the ground in New Zealand will ensure you are well looked after both on and off the water.

This includes extended stays in Queenstown, Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington.

Please enquire for the latest rates and availability, including information on any applicable special offers.

CONTACT OUR AUSTRALIAN OFFICE

• M: +61 (0)499 900816
• E: travel@flyodyssey.com.au

CONTACT OUR UK OFFICE

• M: +44 (0)7936 708305
• E: enquiries@flyodyssey.co.uk

Creating and sharing memorable travel experiences with our clients and friends provides us with genuine satisfaction. All of our trips are bespoke, tailored to your needs, and we always love hearing all about the adventure on your return.

Our knowledge of travel logistics saves you time, and our highly experienced team is here to ensure it’s spent on the water and not at the desk or on a long flight connection that you didn’t require. Since 2006 we have developed a valued client-base that has travelled to all corners of the globe.

We are a fully-accredited travel agency, where all of our flights, accommodation and associated travel bookings are made in-house, which means that you pay less. We have access to a huge range of specials, deals, great volume pricing and excellent currency exchange rates which allows us to pass these benefits directly onto you.

On the fishing front, our extensive expertise and experience around prime seasons, species, moon-phases, tides and personalised customer service is centred around one principal – preparation. This includes detailed gear and equipment lists, the fly patterns, transfer details, up-to-date fishing reports and some of the finer aspects that can often be overlooked.

We travel extensively and understand that your free-time is important. Just as we all understand from experience, that the key to a successful trip is pre-trip preparation.

Our highly experienced team has fly fished the world for the last 25 years, and we understand the considerations and gear needed to turn a good fly fishing trip into a great one.

Fly fishing and travel is our passion. It’s all we do.