We would like to wish all our previous guests a very happy New Year and all the best for 2011. We may see some of you back again during the year.

With only a week to go the roads around Lake Wanaka and Maungawera are full of cyclists as they prepare for Challenge Wanaka 2011; the main event on January 15^th. This is quite an event even for those who are just watching from the sideline.

Many people have been keeping an eye on the level of Lake Wanaka after several days of heavy rain. The lake is brimful but looks as though it will recede.

Maunagwera Lodge has been a busy place over the last couple of weeks with family friends and guests arriving and departing. Lots of fun.

For those of you wanting to fly fish while you are staying with us, we can offer you a very good package in conjunction with Southern Rivers Fly Fishing. Memorable days will be assured.

Have a great 2011 from all of us at Maungawera Lodge.

Southern Rivers Fly Fishing and Maunagwera Lodge now offer fly-fishing and accommodation packages with very attractive prices for the upcoming fishing season.

Jake and Paul, two very experienced fishing guides are available to guide you and meet all your fly fishing needs with a variety of rivers and favourite spots to choose from. Our fully inclusive packages include guided fishing, transport, a full breakfast, lunch, pre dinner nibbles, dinner, refreshments and accommodation.

We are able to cater for groups who wish to travel together or individuals. Our last group from Canada/USA had great time and we had a great time hosting them for the week they were here.

For those bringing a non fishing partner we have half and full day options to keep them fully entertained and suited to individual interests.

Less than an hour from Queenstown Airport makes Maungawera Lodge an ideal place to fish and explore the beautiful Lake Wanaka area with its pristine rivers and lakes and majestic mountains.

For more information see our “Fishing” page on our website. We look forward to hearing from you.

Winter came early this year but after arriving home from three weeks in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth winter now seems much shorter. Treble Cone, Cardrona and the Snow Farm all have good coverage of snow so by the time the Winter Games begin next month the snow should be fantastic.

Our current guests have been amazed by the fantastic views when up skiing this week and quite rightly so as it is spectacular!

A glorious frosty morning beckons today so it will be a day to soak up the sun!

When we flew into Queenstown 10 days ago Wanaka was covered in low lying fog but above that was brilliant blue sky and sunshine. Have a look at these photos and you’ll see what I mean.

We have just had some wonderful groups staying with us for a week or more and it has been so much fun. It certainly keeps me busy but so worth it meeting so many new faces.

Wanaka really turned on the weather and there were many trout caught on the Nevis, Hunter, Clutha and Ahururi Rivers. The fishing guides were here early in the morning not returning until the early evening and always with stories to tell as we all sat around the dinner table. For many of the fishermen they have fished all over the world and Wanaka was another destination to add to their list and I’m sure did not disappoint. For the non fishing people of the group they had wonderful days on the Siberian Experience, wine tasting, shopping in Wanaka and Old Cromwell Town, lunching at Mt Difficulty at Bannockburn, walking and having some R&R around the pool.

For the hunters, red stag, fallow deer, tahr and chamois were among some of the trophies caught. Most days the hunt was by helicopter which returned to the lodge just on dark each night. Southern Alps Safaris were the outfitters in action and had very successful hunts.

The success of the lodge is being able to cater for large groups and with 20 people for dinner for a week when the fishermen were here was no problem. It was wonderful to have the fishing guides here on the last night for a BBQ too taking our numbers to over 30 for dinner.

Today and tomorrow we welcome groups of 4 wheel drive people who have completed a 4WD trip down through the high country stations of the south Island. A fabulous day here again today so a BBQ seems to be what’s needed.

As I viewed the television coverage of this today I couldn’t help but think of all our American guests arriving on our doorstep over the next few months. I’m sure they will all have stories to tell.

We have a large group of keen fishermen and women who will be trying their luck on our local rivers early in March. After talking with the Queenstown based organisers of this group this week it sounds as though everything is going according to plan and we look forward to meeting all these new visitors in just a few weeks. We have been tol they are a ‘fun’ group so look out!

We have a large number of American hunters keen to get their hands on a trophy, whether it be a red stag, tahr, chamois or fallow deer coming in February through to May. Looks like we will be very busy but what a lot of fun it should be! J

It seems such along time ago when Peter and I visited The States (hate to say it was back in the early 1980’s) and I remember being there on another visit one January when I was only 19 and there was an inauguration of the newly elected president too. Just can’t remember which one it was though!

With each country facing their own economic woes our eyes will be on Americas new President as he faces tough times ahead. In the meantime here at the lodge we continue to host travellers from all over and look forward to hosting our larger groups when they arrive. Let’s hope we have a wonderful late summer and autumn as it usually is.