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Owen River Lodge is New Zealand's finest 5 star rated fly fishing lodge. Luxurious, warm and inviting ambiance. Stylish, understated accommodation located right on the Owen River in the South Island of New Zealand. Come and enjoy the stunning food, superb service and outstanding fishing.
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This is a five star fishing lodge providing everything you need for a day on the river. Brown trout fishing was slow, the nature of the fish. Accommodations are first class with lovely appointed rooms, lovely gardens and a view of the river. Excellently prepared meals.
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Date of stay: April 2023
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Felix Borenstein, Owner at Owen River Lodge
Responded 7 May 2023
Thank you for choosing to stay @ my wee lodge Darlene and of course for taking the time to write a review. It was wonderful to meet you & Phillip, Hope to see you here again next season.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The best of the best in fly fishing lodges. Beautiful property, spacious and lush rooms, amazing dining. This is a lodge I highly recommend for a spectacular fly fishing adventure. Top notch guides. Amazing variety of rivers. Trophy brown trout. Felix, Kiley and their staff see to every detail. You are pampered and the interaction with other guests is so enjoyable. Don't miss staying here.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Felix Borenstein, Owner at Owen River Lodge
Responded 16 Apr 2023
Thank you Michelle for choosing to stay at my lodge and thank you for such a lovely review. It was wonderful to have you & Jill stay and fish with us. I really appreciate you taking the time to post a review
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is an outstanding full-service fly fishing lodge that will not disappoint on any front. The accommodations are first rate. You’ll have all the amenities you could ask for with an amazing attention to detail. From the wireless charger to the heated towel rack to the in room fresh-ground coffee, your room is an oasis after an exhausting day on the water. The food is also equally amazing. You will be dining on exquisite meals and each one is more impressive than the next. As if all this isn’t enough, the guides are also outstanding in every way. They know these waters and will put you on fish, now the fish cooperating is another story, but welcome to New Zealand. To save you on your packing, Felix has the lodge outfitted with Simms waders and boots as well as Sage rods and reels to meet your angling needs. Felix and Kylie will make your visit a memorable one without a doubt.…
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:If you get a chance to take the helicopter, do it without hesitation.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Felix Borenstein, Owner at Owen River Lodge
Responded 11 Apr 2023
Thank you Greg - I am blushing ! It was a delight to meet you, I'm sorry the weather wasn't ideal and am glad you made the most of it and managed to land a few memorable wild brown trout !
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
If you love fly fishing and you’ve dreamed of site fishing for Brown Trout in New Zealand this is the place to stay. Not the only great lodge in NZ but if you like a small intimate place to stay with impeccable accommodations and exquisite food I can’t think of a better place to stay. Such a unique experience sitting around the breakfast or dinner table with 8 or 10 of your fellow guests, who are usually all fly fishermen and women, talking about their experiences of the day or places they’ve traveled to around the world you just can’t beat it. Felix and his wife, along with their entire staff treat you more like valued old friends than clients. All their guides are top notch and you’ll enjoy going to a different river in a different direction every day, or better yet, I’d highly recommend a helicopter flight into the national park. Worth every penny. If you’re a spouse of a fly fishermen you’ll still love the peaceful setting and grounds of this great lodge.…
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Be prepared for the sand flies. Cover your legs and arms and make sure you have high...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Felix Borenstein, Owner at Owen River Lodge
Responded 11 Apr 2023
WoW, what can I say apart from thank you James ! I'm delighted you enjoyed yourself at my wee lodge, thank you for your very kind review ! Hope to see you here again next season
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We really enjoyed our time at the fabulous Owen River Lodge. Felix & Kylie have created an incredible lodge experience. The people, the place and the service were all magic. As novices we were given an introduction to fly fishing by the very patient Kylie. Then our local fishing guide Gavin took us to some stunning rivers to learn the tips & tricks for catching trout. By our second day of fishing we managed to catch some trout which was a real highlight. Nothing was ever a problem and it felt like a true VIP experience. The lodge experience was incredible with first class accomodation including awesome beds and everything was meticulously clean. , thanks to the dedicated staff. The lodge dining was next level with delicious fine dining. We enjoyed dinners sharing stories with other lodge guests. We are very keen to make a return visit.…
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Felix Borenstein, Owner at Owen River Lodge
Responded 5 Feb 2023
Thank you Sharon - I'm delighted you both enjoyed yourselves at my lodge. Hope to see you here again soon
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is an awesome lodge , probably the best I have ever stayed and I have traveled the world. We loved the food, which is amazing, the setting, our accommodation, and the fishing guides excellent.! Our room had an excellent view, beautiful flowers and amenities! They provided drinks and snacks in the room, loved the cookies, and chocolates at bedtime. The owner's attention to details unparalleled and staff available for any questions or suggestions. Fishing guides very patient and helpful. The gear excellent and we had an amazing time! Thank you Felix and staff!
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Do a helicopter fly out fishing
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Felix Borenstein, Owner at Owen River Lodge
Responded 8 Dec 2022
Thank you for your wonderful review Evelyn. It was a delight to have you & Vicki stay & fish with us recently. We all hope to see you @ our Luxury Women's only fly fishing retreat next season
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I've fished for trout for years and decided I wanted to give fly fishing a go. Searched for the most well renowned lodge on the south island and struck gold! The entire team at ORL make you feel so welcome. Their attention to detail is unrivalled. What owners Felix and Kylie have created is absolutely magical. All meals and beverages were of the highest class, and the team's ability to bring everyone together at the end of the day to share a meal and stories of the day gave it a very family feeling atmosphere. The fishing somehow managed to exceed expectations. The rivers, fish and guides are first class. A special thank you to my guide Adam. HIs patience, knowledge and ability to draw the best out of a complete novice was incredible. A genuinely top bloke to spend 3 days fishing with. Thanks to everyone at ORL for making a simple tradesman from Melbourne feel very special during his stay. Look no further than ORL for your next fly fishing adventure.…
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Date of stay: December 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Felix Borenstein, Owner at Owen River Lodge
Responded 5 Dec 2022
Thank you Joel - I am a lucky lodge owner to have assembled a wonderful team of fishing guides, chefs, wait staff and housekeepers who love what they do. Thank you for your glowing review - I am almost blushing !!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I can’t add anything to the many glowing comments about staying at Owen River Lodge and fishing the local streams. I endorse them all. But the dining experience deserves special mention. What a pleasure it is to sit at Felix and Kylie’s table. Glassware, cutlery, crockery and linens are all excellent without being flamboyant. The place settings are stylish and uncluttered. The diner is immediately in a good frame of mind and ready for lively and intelligent conversation. Almost unnoticed is the careful attention to spacing between guests, the comfortable chairs, lighting, views, table decor and many other small but significant details. Then there is the food and wine. Almost all of it seems to be locally sourced and it’s as fresh and tasty as anything you’d find anywhere on the planet. Beautifully cooked and presented by very experienced chefs, not too much or too little, not tricky or flashy, just the epitome of satisfying fine dining - such a rare thing. Service and clearing is swift and discreet and the whole experience is orchestrated with lively good humour by our hosts Kylie and Felix. Thank you both for a truly memorable dining experience. And everything else. …
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Date of stay: November 2022
Value
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Felix Borenstein, Owner at Owen River Lodge
Responded 5 Dec 2022
WoW - what can I say - but thank you Marshall !! Hope to see you here again next season
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
After a two year holiday hiatus, escaping to Owen River Lodge was simply brilliant! Felix, Kylie, Ryan and Jo looked after us so well and treated us like friends rather than guests. The food was exquisite and beautifully presented - barista coffee in the morning was a god send and dining each night with Felix and Kylie was a delight and a laugh. I am a reasonably proficient fly fisher and my wife a novice and Chris our guide was able to meet both our needs and we both caught fish. I was also lucky enough to have a real back country fishing experience with Chris and it was simply brilliant. We can highly recommend a stay and fish at Owen River Lodge to relax, enjoy great food and wine, and get out on a river fishing for big brown trout! We hope to get back soon.
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Date of stay: March 2022
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Felix Borenstein, Owner at Owen River Lodge
Responded 18 May 2022
Hi Wayne, I realise how busy you are and am very thankful you took the time to write such a glowing review . We all look forward to you & Cheryl's return
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A truly fantastic getaway for those who love anything about fly fishing, great value and totally worth the cost, the guides are very skilled and able to put you on the fish, right through to landing them, there's activities for non fishing folk too
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Felix Borenstein, Owner at Owen River Lodge
Responded 18 May 2022
Thank you for coming along to our Luxury women's fly fishing retreat Sheryl. It was wonderful to meet you and see a group of women having so much fun !
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.