Waingongoro River Fishing Access Points

This table details Fish & Game fishing access points to the Waingongoro River.

1	Ohawe Reserve The Waingongoro River mouth and lower pools can be reached via Ohawe Beach Reserve, which is at the end of Rangatapu Street in Ohawe township. Turn off Surf Highway 45 into Ohawe Road, about 4km west of Hawera. Once in Ohawe, keep heading left until you see Rangatapu Street. Park near the boat club and walk in to the river through the reserve. River crossing is required to fish on upstream to SH45.
2	Surf Highway 45 Bridge There is major quarrying activity on the western side of the river above and below the Surf Highway and for health and safety reasons, there is no vehicle access to these areas. The quarry operator may let you walk down through the quarry processing area below SH45 to reach fishing areas in farmland below. Park on the easter (Hawera) side of the SH45 Bridge, clear of the quarry access route over the old river bridge. Walk over the old bridge and ask the quarry operator for access to a pipe gate located in the fence at the back (downstream end) of the quarry. Go through the gate and walk downstream through pasture to the pine trees and farm bridge. Anglers can either fish back up to the quarry or cross the bridge and go further downstream, which gives access to a large river loop. This is relatively big water with deep pools and runs that are ideal for spin and bait fishing. Short bouldery riffles provide areas of interest for the flyfisher.
3	Scott Road About 200m west of the SH45 Bridge, turn right into Scott Road and park clear of the wooden gate which is located on the right-hand side by the intersection. Head through the gate and walk 150m downstream along the scarp to the end of the 1-wire fence, then down the hill to the river. Crossing the river at the run-tail gives access to an extensive area of fishable water.
4	Paora Road Obtain permission from the landholder by phoning 06 278 4313. About 3.5km west of Hawera on SH45, turn into Ketemarae Road and take the first left into Paora Road. Drive to the end and park away from the gates (parking 25m back on the left). Walk down the track past the old cowshed and through paddocks to the river. Once across the river, you will be on a different property and should let the owner know you wish to fish along his river boundary by phoning 06 272 6669.
5	McLean Road Obtain permission from the landholder by phoning 06 272 6349. Turn right into McLean Road, 2km along Scott Road from SH45. Park on the verge at the road end, away from gates and driveways.
6	Wirihana Road About 3.5km west of Hawera on SH45, turn into Ketemarae Road and take the second left into Wirihana Road. At the road-end, there is an access way through two farm paddocks down to the river. Anglers may drive down if there are no cows present and it is not too wet. Please shut the gates.
7	Burgon Road Burgon Road can be reached from Division Road, off Ahipaipa Road or from Normanby Road. Obtain permission from the landholder by phoning 06 272 6752. Please shut the gates.
8	Whenuku Road Whenuku Road can be reached from Katene or Ketemarae Roads on the Normanby side of the river. Obtain permission to fish the river downstream of the road-end by phoning 06 278 4865. To fish the river upstream of Whenuku Road, obtain permission from the last landholder on the right-hand side before the road-end.
9	Normanby Road Bridge The 1.5km reach upstream of Normanby Road Bridge to the Normanby weir is one of the most popular on the river, but anglers must get permission from the landholder by phoning 025 482 333. Let him know the colour and type of vehicle you will be driving. Turn off SH3 into Mawhitiwhiti Road at the Normanby service station and turn left into Normanby Road after 2.5km. Park on the eastern (Normanby) side of the bridge on the right-hand side away from the gate. Don't take vehicles through the gate, keep to the river margin and avoid disturbing stock. Despite receiving frequent use by anglers and "dam droppers", this section holds plenty of trout and its configuration means anglers end up within 150m of their start point. Anglers can also fish the river downstream of Normanby Road Bridge by going through the gate located 150m east of the bridge on the left-hand side and making their way down to the old powerhouse and fishing back up to the bridge (best during low flow periods). Obtain permission from the landholder by phoning 06 278 5598. Alternatively, anglers may get permission to go down through the trucking yard and farm on the western side of the bridge, by phoning 06 272 6665 or asking at the house. Don't park by the bridge or driveway as this can cause problems for turning trucks.
10	Mawhitiwhiti Road Bridge Turn off SH3 into Mawhitiwhiti Road at the Normanby service station and drive 3km to the Waingongoro River Bridge. Park on the western side in the grassy area by the power pole adjacent to the road. Go through the pipe gate above the bridge and fish upstream. This popular section has some excellent pool, riffle and run sequences but watch out for the bulls! Cross over before the deep corner pool about 1km above the bridge for access to an extensive area of fishable water upstream. Obtain permission to fish along the true right bank around the tight meander loop by phoning 06 272 6756. After obtaining permission from the landholder by phoning 06 272 8027 (preferably the night before), anglers can also fish the kilometre of river downstream of Mawhitiwhiti Bridge to the Normanby weir, which is relatively deep and slow flowing. Easiest access is through the pines on the true left bank by the bridge, or down the fence line at the end of the pine block on the true right bank. There can be a good evening rise in this section, which also lends itself to daytime spin and bait fishing.
11	Austin Road Turn off SH3, 2km north of Normanby. Obtain permission by approaching the road-end landholder in person.
12	Onewhaia Road Turn off SH3, 3km north of Normanby. Obtain permission from the road-end landholder by phoning 06 272 8250. Access can be quite difficult in this section, owing to steep banks and relatively deep crossings, and it is best fished during the summer low flow. Avoid the quarry.
13	Omahuru Road Turn off Hastings Road, 2.5km downstream from the Skeet Road intersection on the western side of the river. To access the river downstream of the road end, obtain permission by phoning the landholder on 06 272 6716. Avoid the quarry. To fish the river upstream of the road end, obtain permission from the landholder beyond the end of the road.
14	Umutahi Road Umutahi Road can be reached by turning off Skeet Road, 3.5km along from SH3 on the western side of the river. Obtain permission from the landholder by phoning 0274 838 711. Anglers crossing to the eastern side of the river from Umutahi Road should obtain permission from the landholder by phoning 06 272 8188.
15	Skeet Road Bridge Turn off SH3 into Skeet Road, 7km south of Eltham and drive 2km along to the Waingongoro Bridge. To fish from the true left bank above and below the bridge (eastern side) or the true right bank one farm upstream of the bridge, anglers must obtain permission from the landholder by phoning 06 764 8504. Permission is not required to fish from the true right bank (western side) immediately above and below the bridge, but please keep to the river and leave all gates as you find them. Please park on the road verge away from gates. Anglers wishing to go further downstream on the true left bank other than the large corner pool should obtain permission from the landholder by phoning 06 272 8188.
16	Rogers Road off Dalziell Road Turn off SH3 into Dalziell Road, 6km south of Eltham. Turn into Rogers Road, drive over the railway line and obtain permission by asking at the house. Park by the cattle yards, but away from the access track. Walk down to the end of the track and fish back upstream. Some fairly deep wading is required toward the top of this relatively short section
17	Stuart Road off Dalziell Road Turn off SH3 into Dalziell Road, 3km south of Eltham and after 1.7km turn right into Stuart Road. Permission to access the river must be obtained from the road-end landholder
18	Lower Stuart Road off Eltham Road In the centre of Eltham, turn off SH3 into Bridge Street, head west for 2.5km and turn left into lower Stuart Road. Permission to access the river must be obtained from the landholder at 205 lower Stuart Road, which is on the left near the road end. This section currently receives effluent from the Eltham oxidation ponds, via Mangawhero Stream, but this will cease by late 2005 when a pipeline will convey effluent to the Hawera wastewater treatment plant. The reach also receives treated effluent from Riverlands abattoir, though this is mostly irrigated to land during the angling season.
19	Graves Street in Eltham The landholders will allow access if asked, but anglers must approach them in person. At Eltham, turn west off SH3 into Conway Road by the school and dairy. Drive past the park and head left into Glentworth Street immediately over the railway line. Turn into Graves Street at the end of the road. There is limited parking on verge at the end of Graves Street. This reach receives treated effluent from Riverlands abattoir, though this is mostly irrigated to land during the angling season.
20	Pinney Drive off Eltham Road In the centre of Eltham, turn off SH3 into Bridge Street (which becomes Eltham Road) and head west over the railway line. Before reaching the Eltham Road Bridge over the Waingongoro, turn right into Pinney Drive. Head left over the bridge and park on the grassy area next to the corrugated iron building. Walk back over the Pinney Road Bridge. The narrow paddocks next to Eltham Road are road reserve and provide access for upstream wading, or downstream to the Eltham Road Bridge pool. Please take care to shut the gates securely, avoid disturbing stock and keep to the river channel.
21	Taumata Park in Eltham In the centre of Eltham, turn off SH3 into Bridge Street and head west over the railway line. Turn right into Preston Street and park in the designated area outside the Park entrance. Go in through the gate, turn left and head down past the cricket nets to a dirt track, which leads to the river. Anglers can either wade upstream from here, or follow a rough track up the riverbank, which ends at the water’s edge about 1km upstream. If fishing on upstream from here, please note that there is no access along the true left bank adjacent to the Presbyterian Camp and please keep to the river channel in the area immediately above and below the concrete farm access bridge. To fish on upstream past the farm bridge, please obtain permission from the true left bank landholder by phoning 06 764 8318.
22	Cornwall Road Obtain permission from the upstream landholders by phoning 06 764 5364 and 06 764 8045. Turn off SH3 into Cornwall Road, 1.7km north of Eltham and drive to the end of the road. Don’t drive down the track at the road end, but park on the flat away from gates. Walk down the track to the concrete ford and fish upstream. If you wish to fish on upstream to Finnerty Road, permission should be obtained from the true left bank landholder by phoning 06 764 8503. This access point can also be approached from Cornwall Road west off Stuart Road, but when obtaining permission (06 764 8045) ask the landholder where to park, as there is little room at the road end. The Climie Stream tributary enters the Waingongoro at this point and often carries quite a bit of turbidity. To fish downstream of Cornwall Road, obtain permission from the true left bank landholder on 06 764 8318.
23	Finnerty Road Bridge Obtain permission from the upstream landholders by phoning 06 764 5150 and 06 764 8503. Let them know the type and colour of vehicle you will be driving. Turn off SH3 into Finnerty Road just north of Ngaere School. Drive 2.5km along to the bridge, park in the left-hand grassy area on the western side and fish upstream. Anglers can obtain permission to fish the river loop immediately downstream of the bridge by phoning 06 764 7028.
24	Opunake Road Bridge In Stratford, turn west off SH3 into Celia Street, which becomes Opunake Road and drive 5km to the Waingongoro Bridge. Anglers can also reach this access point by turning off SH3 into Climie Road, 3km south of Stratford. Park on the western side of the bridge near the Cardiff walkway sign and take the picnic area track down to the river. Fish 600m upstream to the concrete hydro weirs (built in 1918 and 1933) and walk back downstream via the Cardiff walkway, which winds through riparian bush and farmland up to a lookout. To fish the river downstream of the bridge, anglers must obtain permission from the landholder at 608 Climie Road. The Waingongoro is quite small in this area and while trout numbers are low, the wily browns present in the larger pools provide a real challenge for the angler.

Top of page