New Zealand fly fishing

Ask anyone who has fished in New Zealand how they got out into our pristine wilderness rivers and they will probably say "by helicopter." Helicopters are indeed a great way to access the wilderness, but obviously they come at a price which may very well be in the $NZ1500 - $2000 range.

So how do you get into the wilderness without spending this kind of money? There are three options:

1. Raft fishing. This is a fabulous option and is especially good for anyone who has mobility issues. The raft is used to transport you down the river from one fishing spot to the next. Generally you do not fish from the raft, you pull ashore, get out, and fish from the river bank or wade. Your guide does all the work as far as the raft goes, so you get to conserve all your energy for catching fish. You can go for a day trip, or better yet, do an overnight trip and camp out on the river bank. You will get into some water that is inaccessible to anyone on foot and therefore receives far less fishing pressure. Not to mention the scenery you'll experience along the way. Take a look at http://www.fishinginnewzealand.com/raft_fishing.htm
2. Find a private property through which a wilderness river flows, and which can be accessed by four-wheel drive. Here's an example: http://www.fishinginnewzealand.com/wilderness_fishing_trip.htm This 3000 acre property is owned by a Maori family (Maori are New Zealand's indigenous people) and the fishing and hunting on the property are guided by brothers Danny and Kelvin. You drive to the front gate, and from there hop in a short wheel base jeep for a one hour journey through spectacular bush terrain to arrive at the river cabins. You will feel like you've left the real world behind and entered a slice of paradise you never knew existed. Danny will take care of all the cooking, and will also take you horseback riding if you want, as well as hunting for those who choose (there are heaps of wild goats on the property). Kelvin is your fishing guide, and from the cabins you have wading access to about 4 miles of water which rarely sees other anglers. The river has a good mix of browns and rainbows, typically in the 2-4lb range but with the occasional 5-6 pounder.
3. Hike in. New Zealand's Department of Conservation (http://www.doc.govt.nz/explore/003~huts-cabins-and-campsites/index.asp) manages back-country huts all over the wilderness. If you're up for a few hours of hiking and don't mind multiple river crossings, you can hike into one of these huts and use it as a base for your fishing adventure. You will want to go in with a guide who has intimate knowledge of the area, and who will take care of cooking your meals as well as getting you onto the fish. The cabins are spartan - they have bunk beds, a fireplace, a few pots and pans and generally a long-drop outdoor toilet. But believe me, if you've got the time and the mobility, there is no better way to enjoy wilderness fishing.