Chasing trout around Taumarunui, New Zealand

[redsetta]

Hi all,
Just returned from a few days in Taumarunui (in the centre of New Zealand's North Island) and thought I'd share a few pics.
Mum grew up here, though most of the family have now either passed on or moved away.
My great-grandad built this house around a century ago and Mum lived there till she was 14.



We're well represented in the Returned Services (Vets in the US) section of the local cemetery (WWI and II), so we spent a while cleaning grave stones and 'sayin hi'.
Then we headed for Kakahi, where Mum spent much of her childhood.
Urban drift seems to make small towns smaller every year...



From the hills above Kakahi, you can see the snow-capped and cloud-clad mountains of our central plateau.
The massive Tongariro to the left/centre and Ngauruhoe behind the trees to the right.
The latter was Mt Doom in The Lord of the Rings movies.



This is the Whakapapa River, which flows down from its namesake mountain (to the right of Ngauruhoe).



This is the Whanganui River just in front of my Nana's old house. Used to play down here a lot as a kid.
Plenty of browns and rainbows to be had in here.



Whanganui River again. The kids were having a great time catching (and releasing) smelt or whitebait.



While I did a bit of nymphing...



My daughter's a bit of an artist  



Mum grew up on the rivers and loved being back.



Needless to say, I was in my element - love chasing trout!



Next day, and back upriver on the Whanganui - success!
A beautiful 5lb rainbow, taken on an olive 'Wooly Bugger' wet fly.
It took me down to the backing three times with long, blistering runs, and put in a fantastic aerial display for my Mum and daughter.



And one more for good measure



Righto, hope ye're all well and getting out on the water.
Cheers, Justin

[Shark Hunter]

Very Nice Rainbow's Justin! Good Job ole Boy!
Nice pictures too!

[BMITCH]

Justin absolutely BEAUTIFUL country, trout and family. Thanks for bringing that to us.

Bob

[redsetta]

Cheers Daron - they may be lightweights, but they put up a great fight
Thanks Bob - the area's known as the 'King Country' and really is spectacular.
A long way from the ocean though!

[Alto Mare]

Beautiful place Justin, thanks for taking us along. Also, not a bad looking trout .
Sal

[redsetta]

Thanks Sal - yeah, it was a really healthy fish and a terrific fight.
I was amazed the 6lb tippet held fast!

[whalebreath]

Fabulous report-Thanks for sharing! 

[the rockfish ninja]

Beautiful scenery

[MFB]

Nice, Justin if you ever venture further south I can take you to a spot on the Rangitikei I know.

Rgds

Mark

[Zimbass]

Great people, greatest rugby team, but does it ever stop raining there 

Thanks for sharing. Reading and seeing photos on this forum makes me feel that I know some of you, even though we never met.

[redsetta]

Cheers lads.

Reading and seeing photos on this forum makes me feel that I know some of you, even though we never met.

x2 mate.
Mark, be great to look ya up one day - heard great things about the Rangitikei!

[wallacewt]

you should get into tourism justin
you make that place look better than a shrimp on

[HOLEINTHEWATER]

GREAT REPORT AND BEAUTIFUL PICTURES.

[Bryan Young]

That a dream come true...  Thank you for sharing.

[Aiala]

Spectacular! Both the scenery and the trout...

My days of world travel are in the past, but if I have one long trip left in me, New Zealand would be the destination of choice. Looks like the Garden of Eden! 

~A~