About NZ Backcountry Guides

Guided Fishing and Hunting in New Zealand

Our aim at nzbackcountryguides.com is to provide a top quality Fishing and Hunting Guide service throughout some of the best of New Zealand’s amazing and breathtaking scenery.

We specialise in clear water sight fishing for both brown and rainbow trout and free range fair chase hunting for most of New Zealand’s big game animals.

NZ Backcountry Guides is strategically based in Methven, close to the Canterbury backcountry and the majestic Southern Alps, but operates throughout the greater South Island to provide Guided Fishing, Guided Hunting and Personalised Guiding Adventures amongst the natural beauty and diverse environment that the South Island of New Zealand is so renowned for.

Owner and Senior Guide - Allan Kircher

I have been fishing and hunting throughout the South Island backcountry since the early 70's. I am passionate about clear water sight fishing, free range fair chase hunting, and goose and duck hunting. The alpine backcountry regions of the South Is land of NZ have been my playground for most of my life.

When I'm not fishing, I'm hunting, and when I'm not doing either I can usually be found somewhere up in the backcountry working on one of the High Country Stations (ranches) with my friends and colleagues. From a long association of playing and working in the South Island backcountry I have been able to establish many long term relationships with station owners and farm managers that ensures I have a variety of private properties that I am able to access as a Fishing and Hunting Guide.

I am a qualified Mountain Safety Council Outdoor Leader and a member of both the New Zealand Professional Fishing Guides Association and New Zealand Professional Hunting Guides Association. Combine that with over 35 years of experience and knowledge and you can rest assured that your fishing or hunting trip to New Zealand will be a successful and memorable one.

Please browse through the photos and packages we have on offer for Guided Hunting or Guided Fishing Trips here in New Zealand and then contact me so that we can tailor something special to meet your needs.

I look forward to helping you experience some of the amazing scenery on my doorstep and making sure you have a memorable fishing or hunting adventure in the South Island of New Zealand.

Al Kircher Signature

Guide - Courtney Wiedel

I can't remember catching my first fish but it must have been a momentous event, because running around trout streams with a fly rod in my hand has been a passion of mine for as long as I can recall. I taught myself to fly cast at age 11 (still perfecting), and the art of tying soon after (still inventing). I grew up on the water and was in constant pursuit of trout. When I finally realized that I could actually fly fish for a living, well…….as they say……"teach a man to fish and get him out of the house for a lifetime". Guide - Courtney Wiedel

During University I spent the summers guiding in Alaska with Talarik Creek Lodge in Iliamna. Chasing giant rainbows and salmon while protecting clients from brown bears was an extremely rewarding challenge. My guiding career then shifted to Colorado where I spent 6 perfect years working out of Cutthroat Anglers, smaller fish in Colorado but fewer bears. My wife and I immigrated to New Zealand in 2007 and have been blessed with our first child, Charlie. I can't wait to explore more of this wonderful country with him, and yes he does have his first fly rod. I keep telling my wife that 7 months old is NOT too early for this, we'll just switch the reel around once he figures out which hand he is going to use.

Now that I am living in New Zealand (where no animals are a threat) I can fully focus on getting clients into the fish of a lifetime. New Zealand is truly the Mecca of brown trout fishing. Nowhere else in the world can you pursue such large fish in such clear water in this type of scenery. I love the challenge of finding and fooling fish and gain great pleasure in helping others delve into this addictive passion.