Tongariro Lodge 

New Zealand

It was scarcely more than an experiment. One fateful day in late 1883, Malcolm Ross’ wife Forrest knelt along the bank of the upper Tongariro and released a small bucket of fingerlings. Back then, no one even fantasized that these tiny Sonoma Creek steelhead would produce one of the world’s most prolific rainbow fisheries. Today the Lake Taupo fishery is estimated to hold over one million fish averaging four pounds. And more remarkably, its prime tributary, the Tongariro, hosts 70 percent of the system’s annual spawning migration. It is no coincidence that legendary New Zealand outfitter and angler Tony Hayes built his lodge on the banks of this remarkable system.

Even more notable is that the mighty Tongariro is just the beginning of what makes the North Island’s angling experience so spectacular. With superb heli-fishing, adventuresome backcountry angling, and over thirty fishable rivers — many of which are chock-full of large, feisty rainbows — this area yields some of New Zealand’s most impressive specimens and catch rates.

Guests at Tongariro Lodge enjoy well-appointed cabins with private bathrooms. Fine cuisine is served in the main lodge. With bird shooting, horseback riding, hiking, rafting, golf, and natural hot pools, you will see why we consider this lodge a must for anglers and non-anglers alike.

Tongariro Fishing:

New Zealand is one of the World’s most unique and challenging trout fisheries where anglers have the opportunity to spot their trout before casting to it. Sight fishing (which comprises about 75% of down under angling) is demanding and intense by Western fishing standards. The fish are large and wary, the streams and rivers in which they live are often crystal clear and interestingly enough, anglers are their only formidable natural predator. As a result, Kiwi fish can be very spooky. When stalking these fish, the perfect first cast is the ultimate weapon. Generally, the key to success down under is not the ability to make long casts but lies rather in the ability to make gentle accurate presentations under pressure. More often than not, your target will be between 20 and 40 feet away. Anglers who embrace the necessary skills might expect to land three to four fish a day between three and five pounds, and while shots at larger fish will present themselves, hooking and landing the really large specimens should be considered a hard earned bonus, as opposed to a baseline expectation.

Tongariro Accommodations:

Tongariro Lodge is located the banks of the Tongariro River adjacent to the southern shores of Lake Taupo. The year-round outdoor playground of Tongariro National Park is only a short distance away. Established in 1982, the Lodge has an excellent reputation for gourmet dining, the finest accommodation, quality outdoor activities; and the very best in trout fishing guides. Guest accommodation is separate from the main Lodge. This ensures maximum privacy. Riverside chalets range from one to three bedrooms. Each chalet has private facilities and its own secluded sunny terrace with views of the Tongariro River, Lake Taupo, or the mountains.

Casting and Presentation
All stream fishing is done by wading and casting upstream. The fly is then “dead-drifted” over the back of the fish. You do not have to be a genuinely expert caster as you usually get several chances on each fish. However, you should be able to cast twenty feet of line and put the fly close to a dinner plate sized target. If you can also do this on your knees, or when you have a tree limb in front or behind you, or when it is breezy, so much the better. No one gets it right all the time and you will get some easy shots and some not so easy, each and every day.

Accommodations and Meals:
Tongariro Lodge is located on the banks of the Tongariro River adjacent to the southern shores of Lake Taupo. The year-round outdoor playground of Tongariro National Park is only a short distance away. Established in 1982, the lodge has an excellent reputation for the finest accommodations, gourmet dining, quality outdoor activities and the very best in trout fishing guides.  Guest accommodations are separate from the main lodge. This ensures maximum privacy. Riverside chalets range from one to five bedrooms. Each chalet has private facilities and its own secluded sunny terrace with views of the Tongariro River, Lake Taupo, or the mountains.Tongariro Lodge has developed an international reputation for fine food and wine. The Lodge specializes in serving the best of New Zealand game and traditional foods. The true atmosphere of the lodge is best experienced in front of an open fire over a four course evening meal as the day's activities are recounted - and stories get taller as the evening wears on.

Travel:
To get to Tongariro Lodge you will need to make travel arrangements to and from Taupo, New Zealand. In Taupo you will be met by a member of the lodge staff who will drive you to the lodge. New Zealand is a long way away but the good news is that jet lag isn’t a big issue because it is four hours earlier the next day. Do whatever you can to get some sleep on the plane and continue on with your travels. You will be tired, but for the most part your schedule hasn’t changed all that much. Remember, that when you return home, you will typically arrive home on the same day that you left New Zealand.

When entering New Zealand be forewarned that they are very concerned about invasive pests and plants entering the country. When you go through customs, you will be asked whether you have any camping gear, wading gear, fly tying materials, food etc. Be sure to clean and dry all wading gear, hiking boots, ground cloths, tent floors and the likes. Do not attempt to bring in any natural fly tying materials, grain or seed based foods, or meats such as jerky or salami. If the inspectors are not pleased with the condition of your personal items, they will take them and fumigate them while you wait. This generally takes about 15-30 minutes.

Documentation:
Valid passport is required.

Air Travel Rules and Regulations:
Before your departure we encourage you to review the current government and regulations for Air Travel. Current government rules can be found on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website: www.tsa.gov/

In addition you may want to check the US Government website: http://travel.state.gov/travel. This site gives country specific information, travel alerts, etc.

You should also visit the website of your air carrier(s) to confirm their current rules for carry-on and checked baggage. The rules and regulations are changing on a regular basis so please check these sites prior to your departure date.

Climate:
Winter temperatures from May to October average 55º Fahrenheit, with summer temperatures averaging 75º.

Wading Gear and Clothing:
Please Note: Fish & Game New Zealand has banned the use of felt soled wading boots for freshwater fishing. All anglers should bring clean Aqua Stealth rubber wading boots (with studs).

Due to the fact that sight fishing entails lots of walking in between fish, Kiwis have historically preferred to wade wet rather than using waders. However, with the advent of breathable waders, more anglers are using waders than ever before. Regardless of the season we now recommend that visiting anglers bring a pair of lightweight breathable waders in addition to wet wading gear, and to let your guide’s preference and the particular day dictate which to use. For wet wading we recommend quick dry pants, and or synthetic long underwear (like Patagonia Capilene) worn under quick dry shorts. This is a great system for long walking days and it provides protection from sun, thorns, and sand flies.

Also be sure to bring a pair of lightweight wading shoes with a good pair of neoprene socks.
When packing your clothing, bear in mind that the average Kiwi guide looks more like a bow hunter than a stateside angler. Drab green, olive, tan and brown clothing (and hats) might not make for the snappiest photos, but they will make your guide happy and they will spook less fish. Due to the surprising intensity of the sun, we recommend full brim hats (that don’t fly off in the wind), sun gloves, and a good UVA +UVB waterproof sunscreen. Lastly, a strong Deet based insect repellent, and a good raincoat and polarized glasses will have you prepared for whatever comes your way.

Travel Cash:
US dollars are readily accepted by the lodge staff for gratuities and the lodge accepts credit cards for your additional fees so you will have minimal need to carry much New Zealand currency. As a general rule we recommend bringing $1,000 per week of fishing. Extra cash if needed can be acquired at a bank in Turangi or at any bank in Taupo.

Gratuities:
We recommend guide gratuities of between $25 and $50 US per person per day and also $25 - $50 per person per day for the rest of the staff.

Power and Communications:
New Zealand has European 220 power so you will need to bring a power converter to charge your camera, laptop, etc. Communication to and from the islands is quite easy. You can buy electronic phone cards in almost every small shop. Cell phones typically work at the lodge and there is also internet access.

Laundry Services:
Tongariro Lodge has a guest’s laundry for all to use. All of their houses have laundry facilities and the lodge can provide an overnight dry cleaning service if needed.

Medical Facilities:
Turangi has a doctor and a medical center. The nearest hospital is in Taupo, which is about a 40 minute drive from the lodge.

Included:
Accommodations (based on double occupancy), all meals with a fishing package (breakfast and dinner only with a non-fishing package), guided fishing and access fees.Not Included:
Airfare to/from Taupo, transportation from Taupo to the lodge, other hotels and meals while in New Zealand, optional fly-outs by fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter, gratuities, alcohol, items of a personal nature, including fishing tackle and any other items not specifically listed in the inclusions.

Equipment:
Nine foot five and six weight rods are the New Zealand workhorses, though fours and sevens have also earned their place in some anglers bags. Floating weight forward lines in discrete colors like gray, buckskin, and clear are most popular with guides. Likewise, guides are not fond of shiny tackle, especially bright reels that might glare or flash over wary fish. Additionally, anglers might consider overloading their rods by one line weight to aid in short line casting and the combating of prevalent windy conditions. Anglers should come prepared with a good selection of 2x-5x tapered leaders ranging from 10-13 feet as well with tippets ranging from 3x-6x. Fluorocarbon tippet is quite popular but not a necessity. While many guides do not use split shot, we always carry a small assortment that ranges from BB size down to micro.

Specific fly patterns are definitely secondary to proper presentation, and most Western patterns work well. Humpies in yellow and bright green in sizes 10-16 are great producers as are royal Wulffs in the same sizes. Also pack along the parachute Adams (#12-18), elk hair caddis (#12-16), assorted mayfly cripples (#14-18) and some larger buoyant patterns to be used as indicators.
Popular nymphs include bead head princes (#12-16), hare’s ears (#12-16), pheasant tails (#14-18), bead head Bird’s nest (#12-16), A.P. blacks (#12-16), and assorted caddis pupas in sizes 12-16. It should be noted that many guides prefer using a two nymph set up for deep holding fish. In this scenario the first and larger nymph serves as the “bomb” which takes the smaller trailing pattern down. Good bomb patterns are typically tied in size 8-12 and are loaded with lead. If you are a fly tier, concentrate on tying all your nymphs with as much weight in them as possible. Patterns that utilize black tungsten beads are very effective and the beads themselves make excellent gifts for guides due to their scarcity in New Zealand.