Last updated October 2026
The Waiwhakaiho River runs off Taranaki Maunga straight through New Plymouth to the sea, and it is brown trout water you can reach from city streets. Fish & Game Taranaki lists access from Merrilands Domain and Rimu Street in town up to the bridges near Egmont Village, with some large fish in the upper river and the powerhouse pool.
The lower river is open all year to fly, spin and bait. Watch the water: it rises fast after rain on the mountain, and the Mangorei power station can lift the lower river quickly.
At a Glance
- Location
- New Plymouth, from the coast up to Egmont Village on SH3
- Type
- Ringplain river: bouldery runs, pocket water and pools
- Water
- Freshwater river (Fish & Game Taranaki)
- Main species
- Brown trout; rainbows also listed in the lower reach
- Season
- All year below the Rimu Street extension track landmark; 1 Oct to 30 Apr above it
- Methods
- Fly, spin and bait (the Waiwhakaiho Inlet at Lake Mangamahoe is fly only)
- Access
- Merrilands Domain, Rimu Street, Constance Street, William Street, Burgess Park, Peters Road and SH3 bridges
- Facilities
- Parking and toilets at Merrilands Domain; picnic area at the powerhouse pool
- Licence
- Fish & Game licence required
- Flow
- TRC: Waiwhakaiho at Rimu Street
No tides. Flow decides the fishing: rain on the maunga raises the river fast, and power station generation can lift the lower river.
The Background
The river comes off Taranaki Maunga through farmland and into the city. Part of its water is taken at an intake weir, piped through Lake Mangamahoe to the Mangorei Power Station on Hydro Road, and returned at the Meeting of the Waters about 6 km downstream. That 6 km stretch between the weir and the powerhouse runs on a reduced flow and holds only the occasional fish, so most anglers fish above it, near Egmont Village, or below the powerhouse.
At Merrilands Domain the river runs over a bouldery bed with a gravel bar beside the grassed reserve, a short walk from the car park. Fish & Game says the domain has parking and toilets and that its gate is locked in the evenings.
The scheme also feeds the city’s water supply. Its fish pass carried a record number of young eels, about 49,000, past the dam in 2024-25, according to the regional council’s monitoring report.
How to Fish the Waiwhakaiho River
Where and when
In the upper river, around the Peters Road and SH3 bridges, the water is clearer and you can often spot fish. The lower river below the powerhouse has deeper pools that hold good trout but need prospecting.
In midsummer the reach below the weir gets warm, so the upper river and early mornings are the better bet. Early in the season, bait and spinners work in the lower river.
What to catch and what to use
- Nymphs: stonefly, coloburiscus, hare and copper and pheasant tail, often under a bushy dry fly as an indicator.
- Dry flies: for the evening rise, with caddis pupae swung through the tail of the pool. Cicada patterns work in January and February.
- Spinners: a Veltic or a black and gold Toby.
- Bait: a creeper or worm under a bubble float, best early in the season.
What to bring
Wading boots with good grip, polarised glasses and a way to clean and dry your gear before you fish any other water.
Getting There and Facilities
- Lower river: Constance Street off Devon Road, Rimu Street, Merrilands Domain, William Street off Mangorei Road, and Burgess Park on Junction Road.
- Powerhouse pool: from Waiwhakaiho Road off SH3, with a picnic area next to the car park.
- Upper river: the Peters Road and SH3 bridges at Egmont Village. Farmland off Alfred or Egmont Roads needs the landowner’s permission; there is walking access via Plantation Road and Mangapouri Cemetery.
- Merrilands Domain: parking and toilets. The gate is locked in the evenings, so park outside if you plan to fish late.
- Dogs: the Waiwhakaiho River mouth car park is a dogs-on-leash area, and the Fitzroy dunes and wetland to the groyne are dog-free at all times.
Rules and Safety
- Fish & Game Taranaki rules apply and you need a licence. Below the landmark at the end of the Rimu Street extension walking track the river is open all year to fly, spin and bait. Above it the standard 1 October to 30 April season applies.
- The Waiwhakaiho Inlet at Lake Mangamahoe is fly only, 1 October to 30 April, and you may not fish from boats in the lake or the inlet.
- Check the current Taranaki regulations for limits before you keep a fish.
- The river rises very fast after heavy rain on the maunga, and power station generation can raise the lower river quickly. Check TRC flows before you go and stay off crossings when the water is rising.
- Gold clam, a pest, has been found in Lake Rotomanu beside the lower river. Clean, dry and freeze your gear overnight before fishing anywhere else.
- The regional council advises against swimming for at least three days after heavy rain; check LAWA for water quality at Merrilands Domain.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Taranaki Valley, 2/20 Rifle Range Road, Waiwhakaiho, close to the lower river.
- Hunting & Fishing Taranaki, Ocean View Parade, Port Taranaki.
- Licences are also sold online through Fish & Game.
Official Sources for Waiwhakaiho River
Fish & Game: Taranaki ringplain rivers: Waiwhakaiho access points, flies and flow advice.
Taranaki sports fishing regulations: seasons, methods and limits.
LAWA: Waiwhakaiho River at Merrilands Domain: water quality and swim advice.
Common Questions
Is the Waiwhakaiho River open all year?
The lower river is, below the landmark at the end of the Rimu Street extension track. Above it the season runs from 1 October to 30 April.
Can I use bait on the Waiwhakaiho?
Yes, on the river itself. Only the Waiwhakaiho Inlet at Lake Mangamahoe is fly only.
What fish are in the river?
Brown trout, with some large fish in the upper river and the powerhouse pool. Rainbows are also listed for the lower reach.
Where can I fish in town?
Merrilands Domain, Rimu Street, Constance Street, William Street and Burgess Park all reach the lower river.
Why does the river rise suddenly?
Heavy rain on Taranaki Maunga, and generation at the Mangorei power station, which can lift the lower river quickly.
Is the stretch below the intake weir worth fishing?
Not usually. The 6 km between the weir and the powerhouse runs on a reduced flow and holds only the odd fish.
Do I need a licence?
Yes. You need a Fish & Game licence, and Taranaki rules apply.
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