Introduction The Hurunui and Waiau Rivers offer a more relaxed fishing experience than the bigger braided rivers further south. They are home to North Canterbury’s best populations of brown trout in addition to seasonal populations of sea run salmon. The Hurunui and Waiau Rivers flow through hills for most of their length and are Canterbury’s most scenic braided rivers. In places, the presence of hills on the riverbanks make access challenging but anglers who put in the effort should be well rewarded.
Getting There The Waiau River The Hurunui and Waiau Rivers lie around 90 and 130 kilometres north clears after a fresh. The section of river on either side of the State The Waiau River runs through a series of gorges from the Alps to the of Christchurch City respectively. The lower reaches are accessed from Highway 7 (Balmoral) Bridge is the easiest to access. Mid January until sea. Access can be difficult in places but is more than made up for by roads leading off State Highway 1. Both rivers benefit from a number mid March is the best time to fish for salmon in the Hurunui River. the stunning scenery on offer. The Waiau Mouth is a popular spot for of bridges which are the principle access points for anglers wishing to salmon fishing but can only be accessed by launching a jet boat at fish the middle reaches. In the upper reaches of the Hurunui, access is Populations of brown trout can be found anywhere from the mouth up Spotswood and boating downstream for ten minutes. directly off the Lake Sumner Road. The upper reaches of the Waiauare to the start of the gorge above the Mandamus confluence. Look for accessed off State Highway 7 (the Lewis Pass Highway). pools with large rocks which provide cover for feeding trout. The trout The Waiau Mouth fishes best during the middle stages of the are present year round. The Hurunui is difficult to access in the Gorge incoming tide. The Waiau surf is generally too shallow and too rough section and few angling opportunities exist. However the river opens to fish. The middle reaches of the Waiau offer good salmon and trout The Hurunui River up above Maori Gully, near the place where the Lake Sumner Road first fishing at any point where anglers can get at the water. The bridges comes close to the river. The section of river from the top of the Gorge at State Highway 1, Waiau township, Leslie Hills and the Hanmer River The Hurunui Rivermouth is a popular spot for salmon anglers from to Lake Sumner is one of the most productive reaches of trout fishing are the best access points in the middle reaches. The headwaters of the North Canterbury and Marlborough regions. The best fishing water in New Zealand. The presence of a lake in the upper catchment the Waiau offer excellent brown trout fishing, especially above the tends to be in the surf, especially when the river is low and salmon are means that this section of the river is often clear when the lower river is Hope River confluence where the river splits into a number of small congregating outside the mouth waiting for a flood before running the dirty. The Lake Sumner Road runs close to the river for some distance tributaries. The Hope, Boyle, Doubtful and Lewis Rivers can all be river. The south side of the surf usually fishes better than the north before moving away at the Sisters Stream Footbridge. From here up to accessed off State Highway 7 but the angler will have to be prepared side, but this can change very quickly in response to wind and tide. the lake outlet access is by foot only. to walk to find the fish. Low tide and the early stages of the incoming tide are generally the best times to fish the surf, although the first hour of daylight is worth fishing at any tide. The North Branch of the Hurunui above Lake Sumner is also a popular spot for the fit angler. Unrestricted 4WD road access is available Methods to Loch Katrine. From there access is by foot only to the head of The rivermouth gut is also a popular place to fish when the salmon are Lake Sumner. The South Branch of the Hurunui offers good fishing Salmon running into the river, which tends to happen immediately after a fresh. upstream of the confluence with the North Branch but access through Spin fishing is the most effective salmon fishing technique for fishing The top half of the incoming tide is the best time to fish the gut. The and above the gorge reaches are difficult. The upper Hurunui River the Hurunui and Waiau Rivers. River mouth anglers should use lower and middle reaches of the Hurunui are also productive places and tributaries fish best when the river is low. a medium-fast action rod of 2-2.5 metres in length coupled with a to fish for salmon, once again the best time being as soon as the river fixed or free spool reel capable of holding 200 metres of 8-10kg line.
Upriver anglers should use lighter tackle as the Hurunui and Waiau
www.fishandgame.org.nz
(03) 366 9191 366 (03)
North Canterbury Region Canterbury North
Regulation Guide before you commence fishing. commence you before Guide Regulation
flow into the sea. Please consult a current South Island Sportsfishing Sportsfishing Island South current a consult Please sea. the into flow
1 and April 30. April and 1
in the Hurunui and Waiau Rivers, and within 500 metres of where they they where of metres 500 within and Rivers, Waiau and Hurunui the in
These are recorded each day the office is open between October October between open is office the day each recorded are These
A current sports fishing licence is required for trout and salmon fishing fishing salmon and trout for required is licence fishing sports current A
Reports on river fishing conditions are available on 03 366 2986. 2986. 366 03 on available are conditions fishing river on Reports Regulations
F&G Telephone River Reports River Telephone F&G
F&G office to register for this service. this for register to office F&G
the Hurunui River below Lake Sumner. Lake below River Hurunui the
predictions of likely fishing conditions in coming days. Contact the the Contact days. coming in conditions fishing likely of predictions
be effective in the big pocket water, particularly in the North Branch of of Branch North the in particularly water, pocket big the in effective be
summer season which advise on recent catches and make make and catches recent on advise which season summer
like tungsten beadheads are the most popular. Blind fishing can also also can fishing Blind popular. most the are beadheads tungsten like
Free weekly email fishing reports are available throughout the the throughout available are reports fishing email weekly Free
and spot the fish before casting to them. Small fast sinking nymphs nymphs sinking fast Small them. to casting before fish the spot and
Email Fishing Reports Fishing Email
should respond to a careful approach. Stand well back from the bank bank the from back well Stand approach. careful a to respond should
in the headwater reaches or tributaries will find the fish wary but they they but wary fish the find will tributaries or reaches headwater the in
floating line is the most popular technique. Anglers fishing for trout trout for fishing Anglers technique. popular most the is line floating likely to mean that the surf will be too dirty to fish. to dirty too be will surf the that mean to likely
is low and clear. Weighted nymphs or dry flies fished upstream on a a on upstream fished flies dry or nymphs Weighted clear. and low is roughness of the sea. A swell of greater than one metre in height is is height in metre one than greater of swell A sea. the of roughness
should be able to sight their fish before casting to them when the river river the when them to casting before fish their sight to able be should following day. The marine forecast is also useful for predicting the the predicting for useful also is forecast marine The day. following
good choice if cast into the calm water at the top of pools. Fly anglers anglers Fly pools. of top the at water calm the into cast if choice good -heavy north west rain in the Alps is likely to cause a flood the the flood a cause to likely is Alps the in rain west north -heavy
Spinners such as the Tasmanian Devil or Toby which sink well are a a are well sink which Toby or Devil Tasmanian the as such Spinners forecasts to predict when the river is likely to come down in flood; flood; in down come to likely is river the when predict to forecasts
discoloured while flyfishing comes into its own when the river is clear. clear. is river the when own its into comes flyfishing while discoloured This site is great for weather forecasts. Anglers use the high country country high the use Anglers forecasts. weather for great is site This
in the Hurunui and Waiau Rivers. Spinning is favoured when the river is is river the when favoured is Spinning Rivers. Waiau and Hurunui the in
www.metservice.co.nz
Traditional fly and spin/soft bait fishing techniques work well for trout trout for well work techniques fishing bait spin/soft and fly Traditional
Metservice
Trout
60 cumecs. 60
confluence, so check the regulations before heading out. heading before regulations the check so confluence,
banks. The Waiau generally becomes fishable once it drops below below drops it once fishable becomes generally Waiau The banks.
may be closed for some or all of the season above the South Branch Branch South the above season the of all or some for closed be may
like to see it at 25 cumecs or less to allow better access along the the along access better allow to less or cumecs 25 at it see to like
flowing reaches should be effective. Please note that salmon fishing fishing salmon that note Please effective. be should reaches flowing
35 cumecs, although trout anglers fishing in the upper reaches reaches upper the in fishing anglers trout although cumecs, 35
flies fished on sinking lines through the tails of pools or through slow slow through or pools of tails the through lines sinking on fished flies
gorge. The Hurunui generally becomes fishable once it drops below below drops it once fishable becomes generally Hurunui The gorge.
rivers easier to manage than the bigger rivers further south. Streamer Streamer south. further rivers bigger the than manage to easier rivers
This website service is very useful for showing the river flow at the the at flow river the showing for useful very is service website This
Anglers who wish to catch a salmon on a fly will find the flows of these these of flows the find will fly a on salmon a catch to wish who Anglers
http://www.ecan.govt.nz
ECan River Flow Service Flow River ECan
bottom in order to get a bite. bite. a get to order in bottom
the Hurunui and Waiau Rivers. These must be fished right on the the on right fished be must These Rivers. Waiau and Hurunui the
between 10 and 22 grams are the most popular lures for salmon fishing fishing salmon for lures popular most the are grams 22 and 10 between leaving home. The following information sources should be of help: of be should sources information following The home. leaving
the river flows into rocky outcrops or bluffs. Zed spinners weighing weighing spinners Zed bluffs. or outcrops rocky into flows river the danger, anglers are strongly advised to check conditions before before conditions check to advised strongly are anglers danger,
current is slow and the water is deep. These are often found where where found often are These deep. is water the and slow is current the fishing season. In order to avoid disappointment and possible possible and disappointment avoid to order In season. fishing the
6-7kg line is ideal. Upriver anglers should look for places where the the where places for look should anglers Upriver ideal. is line 6-7kg variable with floods taking place at regular intervals throughout throughout intervals regular at place taking floods with variable
Rivers are prone to becoming low and clear. A rod and reel rigged with with rigged reel and rod A clear. and low becoming to prone are Rivers Fishing conditions in the Hurunui and Waiau Rivers are highly highly are Rivers Waiau and Hurunui the in conditions Fishing Further Information Further HURUNUI and WAIAU RIVERS
THE WAIAU RIVER 1 St James Conservation Area
The upper Waiau can be accessed by 4WD vehicle either by R E Maling Pass or Edwards Valley. Both these access points are V 1 I off the Clarence Valley and are managed by the Department of R S Conservation. Access can be arranged during the fishing season I W by contacting the Waimakariri Area DOC Office at Rangiora. E
R L
R E D VE HANMER OU RI V 2 BTFU E I The Hope River L RI YL SPRINGS VE BO R The Hope can be accessed from the SH7 Bridge. R U A Access above this point is by foot or by negotiation I A MAP REGION B with the Poplars Station. W R O ER 71 VE Y IV NMER RI L 3 AIAU R HA E W North Canterbury 3 The Boyle R HO I P V HOPE Region Access is directly off SH7 anywhere the road and E E RIVER R R river converge. IV 7 4 E R 4 Waiau Ferry Bridge 2
There is no access off the Waiau Ferry L E
bridge. Continue towards Hanmer and A
take the track on the left just after crossing D SH1 E the Hanmer River bridge. This 4WD track R 1 TO WAIAU R KAIKOURA
leads down to the Waiau River. 5 I
R W V M
VE 7 E I A R 5 Leslie Hills Bridge A R I
N AU A I U Turn off SH7 onto Leslie Hills Road. D WA KE SUM LA N A R Access to the river is via a track between ER I M V E
the two bridges. Access is also available U R INVERNESS
S G 6 70 PARNASSUS
H directly off SH7 a short distance above L
U R
J E I 10
( R O
N the Leslie Hills turn-off. N V
o U L E LOCH R
r N L 8
t I R 9 U A KATRINE h E 6 I Mouse Point E B B
LAKE R 12 r R R P SPOTSWOOD Travel west out of Culverden on SH7 and MASON a I A
LAKE n V O I H E O V A
take the second road on the right after SHEPPARD c R U h K ) E R 11 crossing the main Waiau irrigation race. R I H V E This leads out to the Waiau riverbed. U LAKE R CULVERDEN R SISTE U TAYLOR R 14 STRE ’S 7 Waiau Township N AM U 14 I A track off SH70 leads to the river on the R 13 IV HURUN CHEVIOT south side of the Waiau township bridge. ER UI ( R So IV Access on the north side of the bridge uth ER Bra is available by taking the first right hand nch) W H turn over the bridge. AIT U OH R I 15 UN 14 RI BALMORAL U DOMETT 8 Leamington Road VER I RIVER 14 BRIDGE Turn west over the railway line in Spotswood, travel 200 16 metres south and turn onto the West Waiau Road. Turn HURUNUI 18 right into Leamington Road which leads out to the riverbed. THE HURUNUI RIVER 13 7 9 SH1 The South Branch 17 A track leads off SH1 75 metres south of the Waiau Bridge The South Branch can be accessed by foot from the HURUNUI SCARGILL MOUTH and out onto the riverbed. Foot access and boat launching confluence with the North branch. All other access is through IVER (4WD) are available here. Another track leads out to the either Esk Head Station or Lake Taylor Station and requires the SH1 BLYTHE R river on the north side of the bridge. permission of the landowner. NAPENAPE 10 Connemara Road 14 Upper Reaches WAIKARI GRETA Take the first turn east of the SH1 bridge and onto Connemara The Hurunui can be accessed above the gorge from the VALLEY Road. Travel down Connemara Road for about ten minutes Lake Sumner Road. To reach this road turn west at Waikari 16 SH1 to the end at the Leader River. A ten minute walk down the (signposted), travel through Harwarden and over a small The reaches above the mouth are easily accessed where SH1 crosses the river. Tracks lead Leader River is required to reach the confluence with the Waiau. pass. The road comes down right next to the river in a off the road on both sides of the bridge. number of places before leaving the river at the Sister’s 11 Spotswood Stream. The river splits into a north and south branch part 17 Mouth - South Side Turn onto the East Waiau Road in Spotswood and drive a few way up this road. The north branch is fed from Lake Sumner The south side of the rivermouth is accessed via the road to Nape Nape. Turn right (signposted) kilometres east until a disused lime quarry can be seen on the and tends to be more stable and clear most of the time. WAIPARA off SH1 a few kilometres north of Greta Valley. Follow this road for about fifteen minutes and right hand side of the road. Turn left through an old iron gate The Lake Sumner Road follows the north branch as far as then turn hard right onto the road leading down the Blythe River. A map will assist in finding opposite the quarry onto a track which leads out onto the the Sister’s Stream. this corner. Follow this road until it reaches the coast. A walk of twenty to ninety minutes riverbed. Boat launching here is suitable for 4WD vehicles only is required depending on the position of the rivermouth. A fat wheeled motorbike makes this and is dependant on favourable river conditions. From here it 15 Balmoral Bridge trip a lot easier. is a very pleasant ten minute boat trip down to the mouth. Again the river can be accessed from SH7 on both sides of the bridge. On the south side a track leads off the main road 18 Mouth - North Side 12 Mouth on the downstream side and out to the river. Access on the SH1 Take the first road to the right while heading north out of the small town of Domett on SH1 The Waiau is the only major river in the region without good north side is had by taking the first right hand turn past the TO and follow the road signs to the mouth. A well defined track at the road end leads down a access to the river mouth. Access involves either a long walk bridge, and turning back toward the river (signposted) a few CHRISTCHURCH steep hill to the north side of the mouth. To reach the riverbed by vehicle, turn right at the or a ten minute jet boat ride. hundred metres up the road. end of the road and drive through the camping area and out onto the river.