Makarora · New Zealand

Cedar Lodge

New Zealand Photo: JIM KLUG/ FLYFISHINGCasting on New Zealand’s South Island. Tucked into a valley in the Southern Alps of New Zealand’s South Island, Cedar Lodge offers perhaps the apex experience for the serious trout angler. Each morning, after a hearty breakfast, anglers board helicopters to the pristine wilderness of nearby Mount Aspiring National Park and are led by a guide to rivers with air-clear pools to sight, stalk, and cast to wary trout (of three to six pounds), testing every bit of fishing skill. Wash, rinse, and repeat this (literal) breathtaking experience all day, until helicoptered back to the deluxe lodge—which has four guest suites—where you’re greeted with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. The dinners alone are almost worth the trip, featuring items like New Zealand lamb and king prawns, all complemented by the country’s finest wines—a Villa Maria pinot noir, f