Fishing near Mataura, Southland

Mataura sits in the heart of Southland on the banks of the river that shares its name — a waterway with an international reputation as one of the finest brown trout fisheries on the planet. The Mataura River runs 240 km from the Eyre Mountains to the sea at Fortrose, and the town sits within easy reach of its most productive lowland reaches. Gore, a short drive downstream, carries the title Brown Trout Capital of the World. Beyond the Mataura, the Waikaia, Pomahaka, Aparima, and Ōreti rivers are all within range, making this corner of the South Island one of the most productive freshwater fishing regions in New Zealand.