Waiau River
Waiau River
- Boat Ramps
- 2
- Access Points
- 0
- Species
- 6
The Waiau River is the largest river in Southland, New Zealand, renowned for its majestic scenery and excellent fishing opportunities. It drains the Fiordland Lakes and offers diverse angling experiences across its length, from the upper sections near Te Anau down to the lower stretches flowing into Te Waewae Bay. The river holds healthy populations of both brown and rainbow trout, providing fantastic options for shore and boat anglers alike.
Species & education
Learn what type of fish are at Waiau River and what's needed to catch them.
Find which waters have the species you want to catch
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
Common Smelt
Retropinna retropinna
European Perch
Perca fluviatilis
New Zealand Longfin Eel
Anguilla dieffenbachii
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Short-finned Eel
Anguilla australis
Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities
Learn how to get on Waiau River. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.
Know where you can legally fish on Waiau River
See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.
Southland licenses and regulations
No licenses or regulations available for Southland.
Take Waiau River with you
The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.
Use the map without signal
Download the map around Waiau River to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Waiau River to find where and when fish are biting for you.
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Water and weather conditions (10 day forecast)
See the best times to fish Waiau River and check the forecast before you go.
Upper Waiau River At Queens Reach
All Flow Stations
Fishing near Waiau River
Lake Te Anau
West Arm
Whitestone River
Lake Manapouri
Doubtful Sound / Patea
Mararoa River
Forest Burn
Dinghy Cove
Aparima River
Explore Southland waters
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