Fishing for new angle on travel

For most travellers a journey is only the beginning of an adventure. Some may like to just ride the rails but most people travel to do some activity in a fresh environment.

Travel and leisure are inextricably linked. Sure, travellers shop, imbibe indulgently and blob out on beaches. But they also ride horses, paddle canoes, go on cycle tours, ski, tramp and fish.

Our travel pages reflect that with many stories about the leisure activities available at the end of a journey or along the way. We intend to feature more, starting today with a fortnightly column by the doyen of New Zealand fishing writers, Geoff Thomas.

Thomas, whose fishing column Gone fishing previously appeared in the Herald sports section, is an inveterate traveller. He casts for fish from the Three Kings to Stewart Island, in mountain streams and on windswept beaches. Where he fishes is as important as the catch and his tales will be of interest to readers whether they bait a hook or not.

He has worked as a journalist, author, broadcaster, fishing guide and film producer.

Outdoors, my own column devoted to outdoor recreation, that has appeared in the Herald since February, 1987, will feature in Travel more frequently.

Wonky joints willing, I'll take readers along some of this country's great trails in the bush and mountains, on our delightful waterways, and venture overseas too.