Stanley Brook: Reserves and Fly Fishing

Stanley Brook brings together two distinct travel-planning highlights: Stanley Brook Memorial Recreation Reserve and the guided fly fishing offered by Stonefly Fly Fishing Lodge. The reserve focuses on remembrance, protected trees and community-use buildings; the lodge offers organised fishing packages with different durations and inclusions.

Stanley Brook Memorial Recreation Reserve

Stanley Brook Memorial Recreation Reserve is a 2.53-hectare recreation area at the corner of Sunday Creek Road and Motueka Valley Highway in Stanley Brook. Its management prioritises passive recreation.

The site has a large concrete war memorial with a flagpole commemorating those who died in the First World War. There are also three protected trees: one giant sequoia and two coast redwoods. Thus, remembrance of the war dead and protected trees are distinct features of the same reserve.

The reserve includes a public hall in a former school building. A smaller library building beside Sunday Creek Road also contains books and furniture and is occasionally used for social events and meetings. The reserve therefore brings together a former schoolhouse and another community-use venue, where events are held only occasionally.

Guided fly fishing in Stanley Brook

Stonefly Fly Fishing Lodge offers fully organised, guided fly-fishing packages in Stanley Brook lasting from one to seven days. Beginners can also receive fly-fishing instruction there. The day package includes lunch, waders, boots and all fishing equipment. Multi-day tours include all meals and accommodation at a lodge on the banks of the Motueka River.

The Motueka River, on whose banks the lodge is located, has large populations of wild brown trout. The offering also includes helicopter fishing trips to remote wilderness streams. These details show the different forms of fishing available: guided tours of set durations, a day package with equipment and meals, and the option of helicopter fishing.

Operating details, instruction, package inclusions, accommodation arrangements and the availability of helicopter fishing may change. Confirm these details with the lodge before travelling.

Cycling in the surrounding area and the Tasman District

In the wider Stanley Brook area, the cycling route from Tapawera to Woodstock goes over Stanley Brook Hill and then along Motueka River West Bank Road. A route description dated 21 January 2022 gives this route. Check the current route and road conditions before riding.

In the Tasman District, the Great Taste Trail is part of Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail. The coastal route runs from Nelson to Richmond, from Richmond to Māpua, from Māpua to Motueka, and onward to Kaiteriteri. The railway trail route runs from Richmond to Brightwater, from Brightwater to Wakefield, and onward to Tapawera. The two routes described differ in their route types and the towns named for each stage.

More things to do in the Tasman District

The Abel Tasman Coast Track can be walked year-round; it is busiest from October to April. There are four huts and 18 campsites along the track, all of which must be booked in advance year-round. If you plan to stay overnight there, include advance bookings in your plans. Also check track conditions and any closures before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Kaiteriteri, Hope, Tasman, Onekaka, Appleby, Pohara.

Return to the main travel overview: Tasman.