Tasmanian Fly Fishing guides - locally owned and operated
RiverFly 1864 has been operating since 2004, when it was originally founded as a river-based guiding business.
RiverFly 1864 a family owned and operated business by Daniel and Simone Hackett, which has grown to become one of Tasmania’s most respected guided fly fishing operations. Supported by an impressive rate of repeat customers and word-of-mouth recommendations, the business has grown to include Tasmania's only multi-day wilderness fly fishing offerings.
RiverFly was a Tasmanian Tourism Award Finalist (2013, 2014), a Silver Medalist in 2015, and the Gold Medal Winner for 2016 & 2017, in a first for the Australian fly fishing industry. In February 2017 RiverFly 1864 was awarded the industry's top accolade, The 2016 Qantas Australian Tourism Award, along with the Silver Australian Tourism Award in 2017.
Daniel and Simone are proud to have developed a brilliant team of skilled and enthusiastic fly fishing guides, with fly fishing experience from across the globe, and excellent teaching and guiding skills. Our guides are equals, with each offering consistent guiding and teachings, but all from their own backgrounds and with their own individual personalities. No single guide is the best guide, a strong bank of knowledge is better than one.
Book your RiverFly trip with confidence as this team is Tasmania’s finest and each member makes great company on the water.
RiverFly 1864 gives generous support to the Tasmanian community, the environment, and individuals in need. Organisation's we support include the the Just Like Jack Foundation, and we have proudly generated more than $200,000 cash and in-kind contributions towards the conservation and management of Tasmania's famed UNESCO World heritage Area since 2010
Daniel Hackett
Operations Manager, Head Guide & Instructor
Daniel has been a full time professional fly fishing guide since 2002, after leaving his profession in aquaculture. This choice of career was no surprise – his first job was as a gamekeeper’s assistant on the West Coast of Ireland, where he spent his teenage years cheekily poaching trout in the Bishop’s Estate in between the odd appearance at secondary school.
It’s an over-used term, but Daniel knows Tasmania’s famed meadow streams like the back of his hand. He’s drifted customers along Brumbys Creek, South Esk and the Macquarie River on more than 1000 trips, not to mention the similar numbers of days he’s spent on the smaller wading and walking rivers of Tasmania. He’s also the most experienced wilderness Western Lakes guide in Tasmania, spending much of each summer deep within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area since 2010. Experience in the USA, Ireland, England, Kiribati, the Australian Alps and Hinchinbrook add to Daniel’s broad knowledge.
Outside of guiding Daniel is a Fulbright alumni, and a PhD candidate focussing on the managment of wild places and soundscapes as wilderness, with projects in Tasmania and Alaska. He has been a regular contributor to FlyLife Magazine, and has appeared in Trout Magazine, Fisk and Fri, Australian Traveller, Catch Magazine, Mens Journal, GQ and many more. His book ‘In Season Tasmania: A Year Of Fly Fishing Highlights (2007)’ won the Tasmanian Print Industry Craftsmanship Award.
Simone Hackett
Co-Owner and FFFI Accredited fly casting instructor
Simone is not only the silent engine behind RiverFly 1864, she’s also a leading industry professional. A keen fly fisher and the southern hemisphere's third ever female accredited fly casting instructor, Sim’s bubbly personality and enthusiasm to help anyone and everyone has made her the go-to person for beginners. Simone's experience includes a month spent travelling and fishing across Montana (USA), as on a Rotary International Professional Development exchange.
Simone supports her community in the following ways –
Tasmanian Inland Fisheries Advisory Council board member (tourism) 2018-2022
Visit Northern Tasmania - Director 2020-2022
Co-Founder Just Like Jack children's charity
Andy Collings
River Guide
Andy has guided with RiverFly since 2021, and spends his summers alternating between guiding, saltwater fishing the east coast, and mountain biking (he's also an accredited mountain biking instructor!). With recreational and commercial fishing experience from around the globe, Andy can hold a single conversation for more than 24 hours, informed by his eclectic collection of hobbies ranging from brewing to stand-up comedy, through to his ever growing collection of bolt-on 4wd accessories. Just don't ask English born Andy about the Premier League...
Andy and family recently completed the 660km Gibb Cycling Challenge in Northern Australia, raising more than $8,000 for charity.
James 'Jimmy' Newstead
River Guide
An experienced oarsman, Tasmanian born James has spent many summers in British Columbia, fishing to salmon and steelhead on the famed coast. Closer to home, and James is often found on the South Esk and Brumbys Creek when he's not building driftboats or fishing with his kids for fun.