The Tongariro River is all about tranquility, beauty, isolation and trout fishing. With two friends and local guide, Andrew Christmas we had great day on one of New Zealand’s most  picturesque rivers.

We tried to talk quietly and enjoy the serenity but it was all too exciting when we got our first strike. I played a good sized brown trout for 10 minutes but it got away.

But it didn’t take long – this time a rainbow trout.

An then the big one !

Beautifully smoked, we prepared it three different ways and had a “fish party”with friends.