This table
details Fish & Game access points to the Waiau River. These
will soon be shown on the Waiau River access map.
| 1 |
The Hope River
The Hope can be accessed from the SH7 Bridge.
Access above this point is by foot or by negotiation with
the Poplars Station. |
| 2 |
The Boyle
Access is directly off SH7 anywhere the
road and river converge. |
| 3 |
Waiau Ferry Bridge
There is no access off the Waiau Ferry
Bridge. Continue towards Hanmer and take the track on the
left just after crossing the Hanmer River Bridge. This 4WD
track leads down to the Waiau River. |
| 4 |
Leslie Hills Bridge
Turn off SH7 onto Leslie Hills Road.
Access to the river is via a track between the two bridges.
Access is also available directly off SH7 a short distance
above the Leslie Hills turn-off. |
| 5 |
Mouse Point
Travel west out of Culverden on SH7 and
take the second road on the right after crossing the main
Waiau irrigation race. This leads out to the Waiau riverbed. |
| 6 |
Waiau Township
A track off SH70 leads to the river on
the south side of the Waiau township bridge. Access on the
north side of the bridge is available by taking the first
right-hand turn over the bridge. |
| 7 |
Leamington Road
Turn west over the railway line in
Spotswood, travel 200 metres south and turn onto the West
Waiau Road. Turn right into Leamington Road which leads out
to the riverbed. |
| 8 |
SH1
A track leads off SH1 seventy-five metres
south of the Waiau Bridge and out onto the riverbed. Foot
access and boat launching (4WD) are available here. Another
track leads out to the river on the north side of the bridge. |
| 9 |
Connemara Road
Take the first turn east of the SH1
bridge and onto Connemara Road. Travel down Connemara Road
for about 10 minutes to the end at the Leader River. A ten
minute walk down the Leader River is required to reach the
confluence with the Waiau. |
| 10 |
Spotswood
Turn onto the East Waiau Road in Spotswood
and drive a few kilometres east until a disused lime quarry
can be seen on the right-hand side of the road. Turn left
through an old iron gate opposite the quarry onto a track
which leads out onto the riverbed. Boat launching here is
suitable for 4WD vehicles only and is dependant on favourable
river conditions. From here it is a very pleasant ten minute
boat trip down to the mouth. |
| 11 |
Mouth
The Waiau is the only major river in
the region without good access to the river mouth. Access
involves either a long walk or a ten minute jet boat ride. |
