Omarama is a small town in the central South Island of New Zealand where the Waitaki Valley meets the Mackenzie Country.    It's about 4 hours by road from Christchurch International Airport and has a permanent population of around 300 people.

Omarama is not only the focal point of trout fishing for the area, but also for gliding because of the amazing thermal activity to be found along the edge of the mountains. The World Soaring Champs were held in Omarama in 1995. 

One of the reasons it's a great place to fish is because there is almost always a river or lake in perfect condition somewhere in the district whatever the weather may be.   So there are very few days each year you can't go fishing!

Not that the weather during the fishing season is ever much of a problem!  The climate tends to be hot and very dry throughout the summer and cold and dry during the winter months.   Rainfall in the nearby Southern Alps keeps the rivers and lakes supplied all year round.

                       Omarama - courtesy of Allied Press Ltd

The town has three hotels and two motel complexes offering a range of accommodation from the very best down to more modest.  My pick would be Sierra Motels because they would be the best value for money in the town, allow you the option to either cook for yourself or dine out, and only a short walk to the centre of town.  They also happen to have the only fishing shop for miles! 

There are four main restaurants in the town, and you can choose from a $18- $25 pub meal through to $40 - $50 restaurant meal at the top end.   Wherever you choose to go, meals are usually generous and well prepared. 

A personal favourite is the Clay Cliffs Winery.  It's not cheap but their food is pretty good - a reminder of the difference between a cook and a chef.     They're well worth a visit to sample the wines, enjoy a meal and see their amazing trout ponds  (ask if you can feed the trout!)   The Heritage Gateway Hotel also offers excellent dining. 

There are two service (petrol) stations and a small but new supermarket offering a good range of food for those who want to cook for themselves.  Prices are only slightly above city prices. 

The town enjoys consistently great weather - only 18" (500mm) of rain annually - with summer temperatures reaching 25-30 degrees Celcius almost every day, dropping to 10-15 degrees at night. During spring and autumn the daytime temperatures will invariably top 20 degrees, falling to 8-10 degrees at night.  Winter temperatures have to be experienced to be believed.  Severe frosts can often drop nighttime temperatures to -12 degrees.  At that time of year the mountain passes are often blocked by snow.