Ruamahanga River Fishing Access Points

SH2 Mount Bruce Bridge (Gateway to the Wilderness Zone)

Just over 20km north of Masterton on SH2, turn left onto an unnamed gravel road 100m before the bridge over the Ruamahanga River. Drive 700m up this gravel road to the Department of Conservation (DOC) signage, and park. Walking access is through private land upstream to the Tararua Conservation Park. Stay on the track and follow the markers.

Double Bridges - Mel Parkinson Reserve

About 7km north of Masterton, turn off SH2 onto the Opaki-Kaiparoro Road. Drive just over 1km, cross the bridge over the Ruamahanga River and turn left onto Bluff Rangitumau Road. Just a few metres down this road is the entrance to the Mel Parkinson Reserve. Drive down the gravel track and park. The river is 50m away.

Henley Lake

Henley Lake is adjacent to the Ruamahanga River on the eastern side of Masterton. It provides excellent parking and easy walking access to the river. A large public reserve runs from the Te Ore Ore Bridge downstream to the Waipoua confluence. This provides comfortable walking access to a lot of excellent fishing water.

You have a choice of two car parks. The first is on Masterton-Castlepoint Road, 400m before the Te Ore Ore Bridge. The second is the Columbo Road entrance to the lake, which is the first road on the right after the hospital when travelling out of Masterton on Masterton-Castlepoint Road. From both car parks, the river is a 400m walk away on the eastern side of the lake.

Te Ore Ore Bridge - Percy Reserve

This reserve provides excellent access directly to the river, with lots of parking. Travelling out of Masterton, turn left off Masterton-Castlepoint Road 50m before the Te Ore Ore Bridge.

Wardells Bridge

When travelling south through Masterton along SH2, turn left at the Caltex Service Station onto South Belt Road just before you reach the Copthorne Hotel. Continue on into Manaia Road and then onto Martinborough-Masterton Road. Wardells Bridge is 6.5km from the SH2 turnoff. Park at the roadside on the eastern side of the bridge. Walking access is over the stile in the fence and down to the river. This is private land so stay on the track once over the stile, and walk directly to the river.

The Cliffs

Travelling south from Masterton on SH2, turn left onto East Taratahi Road 2.6km past the Waingawa River Bridge. If you are travelling north, East Taratahi Road lies 5.5km from the Taratahi Hotel on the northern side of Carterton. Drive along East Taratahi Road and then onto Dakins Road. At the road end you will find ample parking among the totara trees. In summer the area is very popular with campers.

Be aware that just upstream from the car park, workers from Mebus Estate may be shooting birds in the scrub alongside the river. You must call the vineyard on 06 377 3696 before venturing upstream. Downstream of the car park is a good half day's fishing to the Gladstone Bridge (access point no. 7). Excellent evening rises occur in the summer.

Gladstone Bridge

When travelling north through Carterton, turn right into Park Road approximately 500m north of the Post Office. At the end of Park Road turn left onto Carter's Line then right onto Gladstone Road. The Bridge is 12.5km from the SH2 turnoff in Carterton.

Before the bridge on the left is a public reserve which provides excellent parking. From the parking area you can travel upstream on foot. Please note that for a distance of 1.1km downstream from the Gladstone Bridge, the riverbed is in private ownership and you cannot fish through this reach without the owner's permission.

Kokotau Bridge

When travelling north through Carterton, turn right into Park Road approximately 500m north of the Post Office. At the end of Park Road turn right onto Carter's Line then left onto Nix Road. Travel past Parkvale Mushrooms Ltd onto Kokotau Road and follow this road to the bridge. On the left before going over the bridge is a gravel road that leads down to the river. There is plenty of parking.

Forman Jury Road

Forman Jury Road is just 3km south of the Kokotau Bridge on Ponatahi Road. Continue travelling south from the Kokotau Bridge and turn right into Forman Jury Road (gravel) and drive for 2.5km to the river. There is ample parking, with the road meandering next to the river for about 2km.

Gliding Wairarapa

Turn off State Highway 2 onto Papawai Road when you reach the Challenge Service Station in Greytown. Travel 3km along Papawai Road then turn right onto Pah Road. At the end of Pah Road you will see a sign that reads "Access to the River, Gliding Wairarapa & The Jury Hill Gliding Club". Read this sign and then continue along a farm track past the airfield and down to the edge of the river. At the river's edge, stop and read the Fish & Game information panel that shows you the location of parking areas and farm tracks along which you can drive to reach them. 3.5km downstream from the information panel you should keep to the beach on the eastern (true left) side of the riverbed for the next 150m.

From the information panel there is easy walking access downstream or you can drive north along the farm track to a parking area on the banks of the Waiohine River just above its confluence with the Ruamahanga. Park only at the designated parking areas and walk down to the river. DO NOT under any circumstances drive off the track, over the adjacent farmland or onto the airfields. The confluence of the Waiohine and Ruamahanga rivers is an excellent place to fish. If you want to try a glider flight, contact Jim Bicknell of Gliding Wairarapa on 025 445 701.

Morrison's Bush

At the southern end of Greytown, turn off SH2 onto Moroa-Plain Road. Travel for 6km and turn left into Glenmorvan Road. This is a gravel road that you can follow (3.5km) directly to the river. The Morrison's Bush Picnic and Camping area is on private property. Permission to camp must be obtained first. Mr Bryan Tucker is the landowner and can be contacted on 025 570 616, or drop into his home which is the first house on the left, 400m down Glenmorvan Road.

Morrison's Bush is very popular in the summer months with campers and family picnickers. This should be considered when looking for peace and tranquility! Excellent fly and spin fishing is available both upstream and downstream.

Martinborough Bridge

The Martinborough Bridge is the last bridge you go over when travelling along SH53 to Martinborough from Featherston. It is 15km from Featherston, or just 2kms out of Martinborough. This access point provides excellent parking on the gravel beach next to the river. 5.25km downstream from the Martinborough Bridge you require landowner permission to fish the next 250m of river on the western (true right) side of the riverbed.

The river down here is difficult to cross in winter. During summer, expect to get wet when crossing. Summer evening rises are well worth travelling for. 7km downstream from the Martinborough Bridge you require landowner permission to fish the next 1km of river on the true right side of the riverbed.

Pahautea Road Access

When travelling south along Kahutara Road, turn left onto Pahuatea Road (this is signposted as "Kahutara Canoes"). Follow Pahuatea Road for 3.3km until you see a Fish & Game 'Angler Access' sign on your left. This sign marks the turnoff onto a track that runs about 300m along the top of a stop bank and then down to the river. Good parking can be found on the gravel beach.

From the point marked by the 'Angler Access' sign, the river can also be accessed by driving south along Pahautea Road. From a point 200m past the 'Angler Access' sign the road follows the river for about 4km. All that is required is to park on the roadside and walk over the stopbank to the river at any particular point. Care should be taken when parking as the road is very narrow.

Diversion Stopbank Access / Tuhitarata Bridge

When travelling along Kahutara Road south to Lake Ferry, 500m before the Tuhitarata Bridge on the right is the East West Access Road. Immediately on the left you will see the E C Holmes memorial scenic reserve. From here south, the road follows the stopbank and river on the left for 4km. There is a gravel track on the top of the stopbank, which looks down onto the river. Please leave the gates closed and do not disturb the stock.

Ruamahanga River Boat Club / Barrage Gates

When travelling south along Kahutara Road, 500m before the Tuhitarata Bridge on the right is the East West Access Road. Follow this road for 7.6km. Turn left into the reserve and drive 200m to the car park. Here you will find a toilet block, running water, and ample room for camping. This site has the best boat launching facilities for those wishing to try their luck at trolling.

400m past the boat club are the Geoffrey Blundell barrage gates. From the barrage gates you can walk downstream on the eastern side of the channel to reach the Ruamahanga River.