The Lagoon Fishing Centre is a fishing camp on the Hokowhitu Lagoon in Palmerston North, rated 4.5 by four reviewers who describe it as a pleasant spot for a dog walk, a picnic lunch, or simply watching the ducks and birdlife with the kids. Fishing camps live or die on their setting as much as the catch: sheltered water, safe banks and a little shade make the slow stretches pleasant even when nothing is biting. Regulars tend to arrive early or late, when the water is coolest and fish feed near the edges, and it pays to come prepared — freshwater angling in New Zealand generally calls for a current licence, so check before you cast. Waters like these also double as walking and picnic ground, which is why they suit families where only one person fishes. On the lagoon at Hokowhitu, this is exactly the kind of spot locals can wander down to on a quiet afternoon.