Accommodation & Information

Chances are, that your fishing trip options and success will be dictated by where and how you base yourself while fishing. There are many accommodation options we can help you with…

Strike Adventure Ltd is an independent fishing guiding company aiming to provide the best fishing opportunities and results throughout the northern South Island and beyond. No one knows the area better than we do and we have more than 30 years professional service since 1985 to prove it.

Generally speaking the further away you are from civilisation or accommodation services, the better the fishing will be, although the two are not totally mutually exclusive. We have extensive knowledge of all accommodation options throughout our regions and can assist with advice and recommendations to get the best fit for the fishing you are hoping to achieve. Modern tourism has seen a proliferation of accommodation types and services which are often much better facilities for visiting anglers than the exclusive fishing lodge-type options of the past. Many of our customers prefer to stay at clean, comfortable, friendly, and cost-effective motels, homestays, bed & breakfasts, small hotels etc so they can get more fishing and better access.

Our customers enjoy accommodation types from camping in tents and backcountry huts through to luxury hotels. We fish from fixed bases as well as travelling with our anglers on extended road trips. We can advise and assist with all options available and have links to our favourite accommodation providers under RESOURCES.

Other Information for Anglers…
(Adapted from Brown Trout Heaven – Fly Fishing, New Zealand’s South Island, 2000 by Zane Mirfin, Rob Bowler, Jana Bowler, Graeme Marshall.)

Restaurants & Grocery Shopping: Ongoing population growth and modern tourism have seen a vast improvement in the dining scene within New Zealand over recent decades. Many towns like Nelson City have internationally ranked restaurants, and you can eat out at a different quality establishment every night. Some small country towns may only have one or two options, but the fishing is good. Grocery stores have gone from strength-to-strength and you can buy anything available in a thriving modern third-world country.

Taxes: Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 15% applies to all goods and services provided in New Zealand, including food, transport, guiding etc. All prices displayed are tax inclusive (it’s a legal requirement), so there should be no unpleasant surprises.

Time Difference: Daylight Saving Time in New Zealand starts on the first Sunday in October and ends on the first Sunday in April; clocks are set an hour forward during this time.  The following table is for hours behind New Zealand time (Standard Time) in the USA:
Eastern 17
Central 18
Mountain 19
An easy way to remember is that when you are in New Zealand you are a day ahead of the USA and 3-5 hours behind. For example, if it is Saturday in New Zealand at 7.00am, then it is Friday in the USA, Pacific time, between 10.00am and noon, depending on Daylight Saving Time.

Water Supply: Backcountry rivers and lakes may contain giardia, so you should boil or treat water before drinking. We prefer to use portable pump-operated water purifiers. City water as well as hotel and motel tap water is fresh and safe to drink (treated to government regulation standard). New Zealand is fortunate in having relatively pure river water by world standards. Please respect rivers, and bury toilet wastes away from water sources.

Banking: During the week, banks are open from 9.00am to 4.30pm. Automatic teller machines (ATM’s) are available and can be used with credit cards. It is a good idea to have a PIN number encoded onto your card for security reasons. Major credit cards are accepted throughout New Zealand, Visa and Mastercard are the most common and best option. Make sure you tell your bank you will be using your card overseas before you leave home, to avoid embarrassment and hassle. It pays to carry enough cash money for immediate expenses because your schedule will not always match the banking hours and many rural areas have no banking facilities.

Business Hours: Offices and businesses are open weekdays from about 8.30am to 5pm. Stores and shops are usually open from 9am to 5.30pm, with weekend shopping in the larger centres. Supermarkets and small convenience stores, have longer hours and are generally open on weekends. There is very little 24-hour service and on public holidays many shops and other services will be closed. In remote areas, such as in parts of the West Coast, it is often a long way between banks, grocery stores and gas stations. Make it a habit to fill your petrol tank when you go past a station.
Currency: The New Zealand dollar ($NZ) is divided into 100 cents. Coins are  10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2. Notes are $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Currency exchange is available at banks and the Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown airports.

Driving Left-Hand Drive: In New Zealand, driving is on the left-hand side of the road. There are increasing numbers of road accidents involving tourists who were driving on the wrong side of the road. Overseas drivers should remember that they will be driving on the opposite side of the road in a right-hand drive vehicle. Familiarise yourself with the typical road signs, especially signs for the numerous one lane bridges. Be alert, drive carefully and defensively. Many New Zealand roads are narrow, often winding and, in the back country, unsealed. Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination and avoid driving after dark on unfamiliar roads. Always be aware of other drivers on the road and be especially careful overtaking other vehicles. The official New Zealand guide to traffic rules and traffic safety is a well-illustrated, easy to read book called The Road Code.

Electrical Supply: New Zealand operates on AC electricity at 230/240 volts, 50 hertz, the same as Australia, but the plugs are different. There is usually a 110-volt, 20-watt outlet in hotels and motels for razors. A set of adaptor plugs and converter is handy to have for a razor, hairdryer, laptop computer, or smart phone. Adaptor plugs are available at international airport shops and at major city electrical stores.

Health Services: New Zealand offers health facilities in public and private hospitals and clinics, with an excellent standard of care. Check the front pages of the local telephone directory for doctors and other medical services. The term ‘chemist’ is often used instead of ‘drugstore’ but it has most of the same items as well as being a pharmacy. Travellers should have their own comprehensive travel, loss of deposit, and health insurance before entering New Zealand.

Fishing Guides: For visitors, at least one day in the company of a competent guide is well-nigh essential, if only to establish the methods used in that district. Of course there are guides and guides. Members of the New Zealand Professional Fishing Guides Association must have a reasonable track record to be accepted into the organisation and membership requires guides to adhere to a strict code of behaviour. The association’s ethics committee will thoroughly investigate any complaints against any members.

While word of mouth from satisfied customers is probably the best recommendation, it is possible to sort out a good, knowledgeable in any area of the country by doing some homework (Facebook, Youtube, and the internet require some care as you’ll likely only be seeing the highlights, and maybe not the real story behind the images and words). You could start by asking possible guides about the style of fishing they cater for, whether or not they carry statutory and public liability insurance, are up to date with their Health & Safety plan (a legal requirement) or whether they are holders of current First Aid and CPR certificates. A potential guide will take time to respond courteously to any queries you may have, including the arranging of accommodation if necessary.

It is our considered opinion that the best guides in the country are those who have made guiding their prime source of income, who are usually independent operators or working within small networks. There are some good guides operating out of major fishing lodges, but be warned, superb though they may be, these luxury lodges cater for clients with very deep pockets. If that is your thing go for it, but be aware that lodges do not offer the flexibility about meal times, for example, that independent guides operating from motels or homestays are able to offer. The latter are more prepared to travel on a daily basis if necessary, arrange camp-outs off the beaten track and generally provide a more comprehensive service.

Expectations: South Island fishing is rarely easy but always fun. Enjoy it for what it is.