Waingongoro River Fishing Access Points

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Austin Road

Turn off SH3, 2km north of Normanby. Obtain permission by approaching the road-end landholder in person.

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.

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.

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.

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.