Trout Fishing. New Zealand's innumerable lakes and streams foster outsize rainbow and brown trout. Seasons vary according to districts, but it is possible to fish somewhere most of the year. Licence fees are low compared with those of most overseas countries and there are no special privileges or formalities, such as sale of fishing rights. The most popular lakes are Taupo and those at Rotorua.

Big-game Fishing. There are plenty of big-game fish, such as black marlin and striped marlin, along 300 miles of coastline from the Bay of Islands to Tauranga. Several world records are held in New Zealand. The season is from mid-December to the end of April, and sometimes into June. There are no licence fees and launch hire is about £16 a day.

Ski-ing. Ski-ing is becoming increasingly popular and modern facilities have been installed on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu in the North Island and at Coronet Peak, near Queenstown. Mount Cook offers expansive snow fields for ski touring.

Hunting. Seven species of deer have been declared officially pests, so deer hunting is free and the rewards are great. But one must be very fit and be willing to rough it to gain these rewards, as the animals live in remote precipitous country. Chamois and thar can be hunted in the Mount Cook region, and wapiti and moose in Fiordland. One can get wild pigs in most bush regions of both islands. In season there are plenty of ducks and swans and some pheasant and quail shooting.

by J.P.C.