Southern Alps Fly Fishing Lodge South Island New Zealand

Grasmere Lodge — High Country Retreat — where luxury and natural splendour come together in the heart of the Southern Alps, to form what one international guest described as “a whole other world of peacefulness and serenity.”

Built in 1858, the original limestone homestead, now the core of the lodge, introduces you to the style of personal pampering that earned the Harper’s Hideaway Report Grand Award in 1998.

At the same time this traditional New Zealand high country station (ranch), set amid towering 7000 ft peaks, provides a wide range of outdoor activities for those seeking a more adventurous interlude.

Grasmere Lodge also offers a richness of traditional New Zealand
hospitality. Owner, Tom Butler, and his staff epitomise New Zealand
friendliness and generosity of spirit. Together they take great delight
in sharing the magic of Grasmere with their guests.

These days guests prefer larger bedrooms than when Grasmere was established in 1858, and accommodation has been purpose-built in several newer buildings.

Every guest room at Grasmere Lodge has a king bed or two single beds, two armchairs and a coffee table, CD player with Ipod dock, minibar, wi-fi, a work desk and chair. Each private patio or deck has two outdoor chairs for enjoying the views and fresh mountain air.

Our prime aim at Grasmere is for you to relax. If we find a guest asleep with a book in the library, we take that as a compliment.

Some people want to escape from city life by expending energy: going fishing, horse riding, hiking or playing tennis.

More leisurely activities at Grasmere include resting by the pool, being pampered in the spa, or picnicking under a willow tree by one of our nearby lakes.

The rivers and lakes around Grasmere lodge offer some of the best fishing that Canterbury has to offer. The fishing itself is often challenging and utilizing a guide to accelerate your learning is critical. Our Southern Alps fly fishing guides, Backcountry New Zealand, operate ‘Catch & Release’ and ‘Take only photos, leave only footprints’ policies to sustain our valuable natural resources and protect the local fisheries.

Southern Alps Trout fishing on South Island New Zealand generally has a season of 1 October through to 30 April. In the Canterbury high country the season opens on 1 November, however there is still some great fishing to be had during October in our rivers flowing out of the foothills about an hour’s drive away by 4WD.

Good fishing can be had throughout the season. October until December can be unsettled spring weather… however New Zealand with its oceanic climate can have weather of all seasons at any time of the year! Early January is when New Zealanders go on their annual leave, and during this period it is more likely that you could run into other anglers, or experience trout that are extremely cautious.

The average distance you will walk in a day is between three and five kilometers (two to three miles) on reasonably easy river stones. Often there could be a walk down a river terrace (40–50m elevation, 150 feet) at the start of the day, which often means a short walk back up at the end of the day. These walks can be steep in some locations, but there isn’t a rush and your guide will assist you where required.

If you have a limited walking ability, we suggest that you book during the months of October and November when the trout are still high in the catchments after spawning. It is easier for us to get you close to the
trout at this time of the year.

Grasmere Lodge is approximately 90 minutes drive from Christchurch city in the glorious South Island of New Zealand.

Christchurch is the gateway to the South Island and the magnificent Southern Alps.

Grasmere Lodge
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