NZ: Central North Island Rivers
More info than you'll ever find in a guide book or the fishing apps.
There’s been a lot written about named New Zealand’s fly fishing rivers. Articles I’ve read in FlyLife, Fly Fisherman and other magazines blatantly name the access roads and other locational markers, thereby destroying any chance for the named river to avoid the immediate increased pressure that comes directly from public exposure.
As damaging, perhaps more so given the reach and longevity of Internet content, are the YouTube videos, Instagram reels and Facebook videos that unashamedly expose the hut names, track signage or obvious location marks such as photographing a named swing bridge with hut in the background. Exasperating.
Even our local Fish and Game NZ website and licence regulations provide lists of our top rivers, tributaries and lake names. Naming some of our most fragile under the Backcountry, Designated Water, or Controlled Fisheries licensing and ballot systems already exposes a large number of streams to increased attention. At least some of these operate under regulations that limit angler pressure, particularly those in the South Island.
Before I’m accused of hypocrisy, the information listed within the group of articles I’m publishing on backcountry Central North Island river systems is already easily accessible in other publications. Yup, freely available on the Internet if you search. I’m merely providing a repository and an updated data source to my subscribers.
By providing an extensive list of angling options, this widens the choice available to visiting and local anglers to the central North Island of New Zealand and reduces pressure on the easily accessible stretches of the historically more well known ‘name’ river systems.
I hope all of this information proves to be useful to prospective visitors to New Zealand in 2024 and beyond. It updates some of the guide books that were written back in the 1990s and don’t reflect the changes to access, river quality and angler pressure that has occured over the past thirty years.
Poronui Lodge offers relaxed lodge accommodation with access to many Central North Island waterways, including the Taharua River named after the valley in which the lodge is sited.
Central Rivers by Region
For a traveller to New Zealand, it’s simple to consider the rivers in four groups.
Rivers in the Lake Taupo/Turangi region
Rivers to the West of Lake Taupo over to Mt Taranaki
Rivers to the East of Lake Taupo to the Hawkes Bay
Rivers to the South of Lake Taupo
I will progressively release four separate posts for each of these areas with detailed information.
Taupo/Turangi
I’ll cover off the Taupo and Turangi-centred rivers such as the Tongariro, Taurangi-Taupo, Hinemaiaia, Waitahanui, and a bunch of smaller streams in a separate article. Whilst this area is celebrated for its winter spawning runs and fit, fighting rainbows, the summer dry fly action is very special. This area deserves a full and detailed post.
Rivers to the West of Lake Taupo
This includes the rivers around Ohakune and over to New Plymouth, plus some of the stunning high country lakes in the Central North Island.
Rivers to the East of Lake Taupo to the Hawkes Bay
Covered in this district is the mighty Mohaka River and some top tributaries, the Ngaruroro River and it’s largest tributary, the Taruarau River – a major waterway in its own right. The rivers from Taupo to Napier are some of the best fishing in the North Island.
Rivers to the South of Lake Taupo
Whilst the Rangitikei River and its headwaters above Ecology Stream and technically East of Lake Taupo, I’ve covered it in the South section as the majority of access is well south of New Zealand’s largest lake.
I’ll discuss the upper Whanganui River and its tributaries, plus further South, the Otaki that you may choose to fish if driving towards the capital city of Wellington.
Future North Island Articles
Some of the fishing above Rotorua is spectacular and deserves its own article, as do the Wairarapa river systems below Hastings down to the Remutaka Range above Wellington.
I will occasionally update the articles to reflect new information, my most recent fishing experiences and any constructive comments provided by readers.