Whanganui River Trout Fishing: Lower Reaches

The large 220km Whanganui River runs from rugged bush country west of Lake Otamangakau towards Taumaranui. Downstream from Taumaranui and the Ongarue River confluence, the Whanganui River runs in a southerly direction through the Whanganui National Park to the mouth at Wanganui.

The section of the river within the Taranaki Fish & Game region is described here. The headwater, upper and middle reaches lie within the Auckland/Waikato region - see Whanganui River upper reaches.

Lower mid Whanganui River maps

Access map
Access map with topography

Lower Whanganui River maps

Access map
Access map with topography

LINZ topographic map: (260 Map Series, 1:50,000)
S18 Taumarunui (headwaters and upper reaches)

S19 Raurimu

R19 Whangamomona

R20 Matemateaonga

R21 Ngamatapouri

S21 Kakatahi

S22 Whangaehu

R22 Whanganui (mouth)

River flow, level and rainfall

View graphs at the Horizons Regional Council website.

Weather forecast

View the MetService weather forecast for Wanganui.

The water in the lower reaches of the Whanganui River is brownish and is often silt-laden, but offers spin fishing for a reasonable stock of trout. The river is popular for kayaking, rafting and canoeing.

Some sea run brown trout have been caught where the river runs through Wanganui. The occasional salmon has been caught near the mouth, but the mouth is not very interesting to fish.

Roads follow both banks of the river for 15 km from Taumaranui. The river then enters inaccessible bush country in the Whanganui National Park.

Further downstream there is road access at Whakahoro, Pipiriki, Jerusalem and the mouth in Wanganui.