Last updated November 2026
The Hangatahua (Stony) River runs off Taranaki Maunga to the coast just south of Ōkato, about 25 minutes’ drive from New Plymouth.
Fish & Game Taranaki says it often has the best water quality of any ringplain river, and it was the first river in New Zealand given a Local Water Conservation Notice. It is a fast, stony river with clear pocket water, wild and stocked rainbows and the odd brown trout. It is open all year to fly and spin fishing, but erosion on the mountain can fill it with sand and ash at short notice, so check before you go.
At a Glance
- Location
- South of Ōkato on SH45, about 25 minutes from New Plymouth
- Type
- Fast, medium-sized ringplain river over a stony bed
- Water
- Freshwater river (Fish & Game Taranaki)
- Main species
- Rainbow trout (wild and stocked); occasional brown trout
- Season
- Open all year
- Methods
- Fly and spin only; no bait
- Keep
- No brown trout may be kept; check the regulations for rainbows
- Access
- SH45 bridge, upper Kaihihi Road walkway, Mangatete Road bridge, Wiremu Road bridge
- Licence
- Fish & Game licence required
- Flow
- Hangatāhua (Stony) at Mangatētē Bridge (LAWA)
Where to find it
Get directions · -39.19153, 173.86426
No tides. Flow and clarity decide the fishing: the river floods fast after rain on the mountain, and erosion can colour it for weeks.
Flow now: 2.838 m³/s, falling (Taranaki Regional Council gauge, Stony at Mangatete Bridge, 9:30 am)
About Hangatahua (Stony) River
The river rises in the Ahukawakawa swamp inside Te Papakura o Taranaki and has a short, narrow catchment. Its protections are now carried in the Regional Freshwater Plan for Taranaki, and LAWA notes the river has special value for Taranaki Iwi.
Below the mountain it runs through farmland in a bush and willow-lined channel. From above, the Wiremu Road bridge crosses a wide bed of grey stones with the river braiding through it and paddocks on both sides. Most of the bank is private farmland, so use the public crossings or ask the landowner first.
The fishery has been knocked back several times by sand and ash washed down from erosion on Taranaki Maunga. Fish & Game describes it as “here today, gone tomorrow”: a 2023 event left only a few rainbows, and in 2024 the river ran milky with sand in every fresh. That is why it is now open all year and stocked with about 200 two-year-old rainbows each year.
In April 2026 Fish & Game reported it had fished well over summer and stayed clear of headwater erosion so far.
Most anglers here release their fish by choice, which helps a small river recover between events.
How to Fish the Hangatahua (Stony) River
Where and when
The water is usually clear enough to spot fish, so walk slowly and look into the pockets behind boulders and the heads of runs before you cast.
The middle and upper reaches are mostly pocket water; the lower river near SH45 has longer runs. The river rises fast after heavy rain on the mountain and is unfishable in flood, so give it time to drop and clear.
What to catch and what to use
- Rainbow trout: the main fish, both wild and stocked. Mayfly nymphs are the most common food, so a dry fly, or a weighted nymph drifted through the deeper pools, is the usual approach.
- Brown trout: occasional. All browns must be released.
- Spinning: small spinners such as a 7 g toby or veltec, or a paddle-tail soft bait fished as a lure. Fish & Game Taranaki suggested these, and tungsten-bead hare and copper, halfback and caddis nymphs in sizes 12 to 16, for the start of the season.
What to bring
A light rod, polarised glasses for spotting fish, good wading boots for the slippery stones, and a way to clean your gear between rivers (Check, Clean, Dry).
Getting There and Facilities
- Lower river: the SH45 bridge south of Ōkato. Farmland off lower Kaihihi Road and at the end of Brophy Road needs the landowner’s permission.
- Middle river: the Stony River walkway off upper Kaihihi Road, and the Mangatete Road bridge.
- Upper river: the Wiremu Road bridge off Saunders Road, or the top of Saunders or Puniho Roads.
- Walkway: DOC’s Stony River (Hangatahua) Walkway starts at the William Corbett Scenic Reserve car park at the end of Old South Road in Ōkato. It crosses private farmland on stiles, and the loop needs a wade across the Kaihihi Stream, which is impassable after heavy rain. See our Stony River walkway guide for the walk.
- Toilets: none at the walkway car park, which has a picnic table. Ōkato is the nearest town.
- Map: Fish & Game’s online access map shows the public access points.
Rules and Safety
- Fish & Game Taranaki rules apply and you need a licence. The Hangatahua is open all year, fly and spin only. Bait is banned, and so are chemically treated lures, apart from fly floatant. Scented soft baits are allowed only when fished actively as a lure.
- No brown trout may be kept. Check the current Taranaki regulations for the rainbow limit.
- Erosion on Taranaki Maunga can turn the river grey with sand and ash with little warning. Check the latest Fish & Game Taranaki report before a trip.
- The river has a steep, short course and floods quickly after rain on the mountain. Stay out when it is rising or discoloured, and check the flow at Mangatētē Bridge.
- Most of the riverbank is private farmland. Use the bridges and the walkway, or ask permission, and leave gates as you find them.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Taranaki, Ocean View Parade, New Plymouth.
- Hunting & Fishing Taranaki Valley, 2/20 Rifle Range Road, Waiwhakaiho, New Plymouth.
- Licences are also sold online through Fish & Game.
Trusted Sources
Fish & Game: Taranaki ringplain rivers: access points, stocking and erosion notes for the Hangatahua.
Taranaki sports fishing regulations: the current season, method and limit rules.
LAWA: Stony at Mangatētē Bridge: river flow before you go.
Common Questions
Where is the Hangatahua (Stony) River?
It reaches the coast just south of Ōkato, about 25 minutes from New Plymouth. SH45 crosses it south of the town.
Is the Stony River open all year?
Yes. It is open all year to fly and spin fishing under the Taranaki regulations.
Can I use bait on the Stony River?
No. Bait is banned. Fly and spin only, and scented soft baits only when fished as a lure.
Can I keep brown trout?
No. All brown trout must be released. Check the regulations for the rainbow limit.
What fish are in the river?
Mainly rainbow trout, both wild and stocked, with the odd brown trout.
Why is the river sometimes not worth fishing?
Erosion on Taranaki Maunga can fill it with sand and ash, and it floods quickly after rain. Check Fish & Game’s latest Taranaki report and the flow first.
Where can I get onto the river?
The SH45 bridge, the Stony River walkway off upper Kaihihi Road, and the Mangatete Road and Wiremu Road bridges. Other bank access is over private farmland and needs permission.
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