Matukituki River

The quieter branch, often clear enough to sight fish. To reach it you ford the river near Cameron Flat, or, when the river is high, walk 2 km upstream to the Otago Boys High swing bridge. The track crosses the grassy flats to the Glacier Burn and then follows the true right of the branch through beech forest to Junction Flat, 9.5 km and 3 to 4 hours from Cameron Flat. Below the Glacier Burn the branch braids over open gravel, and above it the river runs through rapids in the forest. As on the West Branch, it holds the most fish early in the season, and many go back to the lake after Christmas. Treat every crossing with care and wait if the river is up. Open 1 November to 31 May, fly and spinner only, with no fishing from boats.

Best for: Sight fishing for rainbow trout and brown trout with nymphs and dries early in the season.

The valley most trampers know, from Aspiring Hut down past Raspberry Flat to the forks at Cameron Flat. The road ends at the Raspberry Creek car park, and the West Matukituki Track follows the river 9 km up grassy farm flats to Aspiring Hut, 2 to 2.5 hours on foot. A swing bridge 15 minutes from the car park crosses the branch below the Rob Roy Stream. The national park boundary runs just beyond Aspiring Hut and along the bush edge on the true left, and the flats below it are private farmland, so stay on the track and leave gates as you find them. Both branches hold a fair stock of fish early in the season, but many drop back to Lake Wānaka after Christmas, and the West Branch keeps only a small stock of resident trout. On hot days melt from the Rob Roy Glacier colours the water, so fish it early, after a cool night. Open 1 November to 31 May, fly and spinner only, with no fishing from boats.

Best for: Sight fishing for rainbow trout and brown trout in November and December, on a day walk from Raspberry Flat.

About 22 km of the main river from the forks at Cameron Flat down the wide glacial valley to the Motatapu confluence. The Wanaka-Mount Aspiring Road follows the true right, and the river flats are private farmland, so ask before you cross and leave stock alone. The first 4 to 5 km below the forks has the most stable pools and holds good rainbows. Lower down the river braids over shifting gravel and carries glacial colour, and the fishing gets thinner. Glenfinnan Stream, which comes in about 2 km below Cameron Flat, marks a change in the rules: above Glenfinnan Stream no fishing from boats is allowed, and below it you may fish from a boat that no motor drives. The whole reach is open 1 November to 31 May, fly and spinner only.

Best for: Nymphs and dries for rainbow trout in the stable pools below the forks when the river runs low and clear.

About 9 km from the Motatapu confluence, past the West Wanaka Road bridge, to the mouth on Lake Wānaka, north of Glendhu Bay. ORC's Matukituki at West Wanaka site reads the whole river here. The river is large, braided and often cloudy with glacial flour over a bed of shifting gravel, and it can fish poorly. On a fine, calm day with the river low and clear it is worth the effort, and the fish rise to dries and take nymphs readily. Spinners do best when the water is cloudy. The mouth gives fair fishing with smelt flies. Reach it by walking down from the bridge, or from the road toward Paddock Bay. Open all year below the Motatapu, fly and spinner only, and you may fish from a boat that no motor drives.

Best for: Smelt flies for rainbow trout and brown trout at the mouth, and dries and nymphs in the braids on calm, clear days.