Waitahanui River

The Waitahanui is the closest Taupō river to Taupō town, a small spring-fed stream that runs into the eastern side of the lake at Waitahanui. Being spring-fed, its flow is steady and its water clear, so it often stays fishable after heavy rain when the other rivers are too coloured. It fishes well for spawning rainbows in winter, and it is known for the very big lake-run brown trout that come in every autumn. It is fly fishing only, under DOC's Taupō licence.

The pools are small and discreet, the water is clear, and the current is swift. Presentation matters more than on the bigger rivers: light gear, gentle wading and accurate casts. DOC suggests a good 5 weight for most days and something stronger for the autumn browns and the early-winter rainbows. Nymphing is the usual method. A carefully swung wet fly can be deadly, and the river fishes well on a dry in summer. The pools are deeper than they look, so wade with care.

Public access is limited in places, so use the marked entry points and keep to the tracks. The lower river and the mouth are right off State Highway 1 in Waitahanui. The middle river is reached by walking upstream from the highway, or from the car park at the end of Blake Road, where a track with footbridges follows the river. Above the Te Arero Stream confluence the river opens only from 1 December to 31 May. At the mouth, the rip where the river runs into the lake is a separate fishery, fly only within 200 m of the landmark post, and covered on the Lake Taupō page.