Stanley Brook: Memorials, Redwoods and Fly Fishing

Discover Stanley Brook from two different perspectives: the Stanley Brook Memorial Recreation Reserve, a place of remembrance, and the guided fly-fishing experiences offered by Stonefly Fly Fishing Lodge. The reserve covers 2.53 hectares at the corner of Sunday Creek Road and Motueka Valley Highway. Whether you’re interested in the area’s history, protected trees or a multi-day fishing package, you’ll find different ways to plan your trip here.

Memorial Reserve: remembrance and community spaces

The reserve features a large concrete war memorial with a flagpole. It commemorates those who fell in the First World War. The reserve also has three protected trees: one giant sequoia and two coastal redwoods. Together with the memorial, they define the distinctive character of this recreational area.

There is also a public hall on the grounds, housed in a former school building. Beside Sunday Creek Road stands a smaller library building with books and furniture; it is occasionally used for social events and meetings. The reserve is managed primarily for passive recreation. This quiet, locally focused side of Stanley Brook is quite different from the active fly-fishing experiences on offer.

Guided fly fishing in Stanley Brook

Stonefly Fly Fishing Lodge offers fully organised, guided fly-fishing packages lasting from one to seven days. Instruction is also available for beginners to fly fishing; the details of the guidance may change. Multi-day trips include all meals and accommodation in a luxury lodge on the banks of the Motueka River. The day package includes lunch, waders, boots and all fishing equipment.

Other activities include helicopter fishing at remote streams in the backcountry. The Motueka River, on whose banks the lodge stands, has large populations of wild brown trout. Fishing trips vary in length and type of experience: a day package bundles equipment and lunch, while multi-day trips also include accommodation and all meals. Check operational details, guiding arrangements, package inclusions and the availability of helicopter fishing before travelling, as these may change.

Cycling route in the wider area

A cycling route is also described as an option in the wider area around Stanley Brook. A route description dated 21 January 2022 takes the route from Tapawera to Woodstock via Stanley Brook Hill, then along Motueka River West Bank Road. It describes a route in the surrounding area, not a trail through Stanley Brook. Check the current route and road conditions before setting out.

The wider Tasman District

Across the wider Tasman District destination, the landscape ranges from more than 700 kilometres of open coastline and estuary shores to an extensive network of waterways. The district includes more than 14,300 kilometres of rivers and streams, as well as a total of 81 lakes, alpine lakes, wetlands, aquifers and springs. These figures give an impression of the Tasman District’s diverse landscapes without suggesting that the individual destinations are one and the same.

The Te Waikoropupū Springs are in the wider Tasman District destination; they are New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs and the largest cold-water springs in the Southern Hemisphere. For local Māori, these springs are a taonga and a wāhi tapu, a place of great cultural and spiritual significance. The Pupu Hydro Scheme is also in the Tasman District: today it is a working museum and the earliest known hydroelectric power scheme to supply public electricity in Nelson and Marlborough. A Department of Conservation track provides access to the penstock, water race and headpond.

For families, the Lake Rotoiti Circuit in the Tasman District offers another walking option: the loop track is suitable for families with children. You can take a water taxi for part of the route or stay overnight in a hut; check water taxi availability in advance. Another option is the Abel Tasman Coast Track, which can be walked year-round and is busiest from October to April. The four huts and 18 campsites along the track must be booked in advance year-round. Visitors can walk the entire track or use a water taxi or kayak between different locations. Check the latest advice on tides, weather and track conditions before your trip.

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

Back to the wider travel overview: Tasman.