Welcome to Overland 4WD's dedicated fishing page.

Many of our clients over the Summer season are fisherfolk, (and so are we!) so we decided it was only fitting to have a page totally dedicated to fishing.

Our rugged and dependable 4WDs are perfectly suited to fishing trips and because there are no road restrictions placed on our vehicles, you are free to explore the more remote and out of the way places. The South Island of New Zealand has some fantastic trout fishing, with more rivers and lakes than you could explore in a lifetime.

Managing Director Tony Davys is also a keen fly fisherman who loves to talk about fishing!

Above right: Tony lands a queenfish on a recent saltwater fly fishing trip to Australia. "My best fish on a fly so far. This saltwater fly fishing is addictive!". A great learning experience and just a tiny bit different to trout fishing! Thanks to the Boneheads for a great time.

As well as being able to point you in the right direction for independent fishing, we can also arrange itineraries, hosted trips and guides for those of you who might want a little extra help to find the 'big one'. Please enquire about our fishing options at: info@overland.co.nz

We also provide free cleaning kits for decontaminating your gear between waterways. This is in an effort to help limit the spread of the invasive algae didymo. You can also pre-order your NZ fishing licence so that you can hit the ground fishing! (see the booking page under "Fishing Gear" for these 2 items).

Tony with a nice Browny taken on Caddis dry Jan 2010

Here's a few comments and pictures from some of our clients just to show that we know what we're talking about!

Peter Morse and John Haenke

Peter Morse and John Haenke took a Prado on a Summer filming trip for the Fishing DVD. www.fishingdvd.com.au

Here's what Peter had to say: "When hiring a vehicle for a fly fishing holiday on New Zealand's South Island I've found Tony and Helen Davys at Overland to have exceptional service, very reasonable rates and conditions, backed up by a fleet of well maintained vehicles. Tony's a fly fisherman and a hunter as well so he understands what we want and need from a hire car - and he delivers." 
Peter Morse - Australia. 
Team Sage
FFF CCI
Fly fisherman, writer, photographer.
Australia
www.wildfish.com.au

Have a look at Peter's youtube endorsement of Overland here www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cYYSk-iRO0

Steve Starling and Stuart Hindson

Steve Starling and Stuart Hindson tangled with some Southern salmonids on a late season trip to NZ recently.

"A hired 4WD from Overland 4WD Rentals dramatically expanded my horizons while in New Zealand, allowing me to reach some magical country and catch a lot more torut! I would strongly recommend Overland 4WD Rentals to all visiting outdoors people... Best of all, it's a family company run by a mad-keen angler and hunter who speaks your language!" - Steve 'Starlo' Starling, Fishing writer & TV / DVD Presenter - Australia www.fishingdvd.com.au

Robert and Linda Kahn

Robert and Linda Kahn are long-time clients of Overland. Here's what they had to say after their most recent Summer trip.

"After renting 4WD vehicles from you for the past six years, I thought it was time to tell you what a great service you offer. The Prado is a great car and each one we've rented was in perfect condition. I really like the turbo diesel performance and diesel costs so much less to fill it up!
 
We really like being able to drive it off road to get to fishing spots that most other anglers can't manage to reach.
 
Keep up the great work and I recommend your firm to everyone.
 
Attached are some pictures from summer 2009.
 
Tight lines,
 
Robert and Linda Kahn
Ketchum, Idaho
U.S."

Joel and Debbie Thompson

Joel and Debbie Thompson arrived to fish the South in late season, aided by internet buddy Simon Chu. Joel is a fishing guide and Outfitter at Rock Creek Cattle Ranch in Montana. Here's a section of his story…

"Tony had been recommended to me by some friends and I have to say it was the best rental experience I have ever had in my life. He helped us to the SUV we were renting and drove us to his home. I was very happy for this personally as it gave us a chance to see how people drive in New Zealand before jumping behind the wheel and finding out the hard way. We arrived at Tony's house and it was like we were going to the home of long time friends. We met his wife Helen, his twin new born boys Thomas and Lachlan and were quickly offered something warm to drink. Tony got us all set up with EVERYTHING we needed and got us pointed in the right direction and we were off to Lake Tekapo which would be our first stop in our journey."

Brad Harris goes off the road in New Zealand
(www.flylife.com.au)

I selected low range for the last part of the climb up the rutted track, and crawled over the crest to be met by one of those ‘only in New Zealand’ river scenes. Descending the few hundred metres to the grassy valley we took our time to soak in the views and found a flat spot just metres from the river bank.

Our 7-month old was still asleep in the car seat, so we quietly emptied the back of the Prado and set up our tent, sleeping mats, some folding chairs and a table, and got the cooker going for a cuppa. Well, Lilly did… I was rigging a rod.

So, what’s remarkable about all this? Only the fact that we had flown into Christchurch just hours before, and this was a hire car. We were met at the airport by Tony, the owner of Overland 4WD Rentals, and dropped him off at his home on the outskirts of Christchurch, conveniently just a short detour from the main route south. Conversation for the whole journey was about fishing. Tony had just spent a week fly fishing around Queenstown. He’s as obsessed as you and I are.

The diesel Prado had been supplied with everything you could need for a camping holiday. All we had to bring was our sleeping bags. There was also the option of getting a Tramping kit, including packs, but with a baby in tow, we figured we would take the softer car-based option this time. We also could have hired a cell phone, GPS or 2-way radios. A didymo cleaning kit is standard.

There are no restrictions as to which roads you can take the vehicle on (as there are with the mainstream hire companies) and Overland follow the guide that ‘if it can be polished out, it’s not considered damage.’

The vehicles aren’t new—ours had done 220,000 km—but they run really well, and are obviously well-kept. If a Prado seems like overkill for your trip there are RAV4s, Mazda Tributes and Subaru-style AWD vehicles too.

The freedom to drive down farm tracks, fire-trails and back roads was a god-send on a family fishing trip. Obviously these vehicles cost a bit more than a Corolla from Hertz, but when you’re fishing the backcountry hours after getting off the plane, you’ll realise it’s worth every cent.