This is not really an update as TRM have previously ignored the Waiotaka. Why? It was deliberately avoided in fishing reports and regarded as a local secret. It was needed for locals’ enjoyment, as a secluded easily accessible river bank where they could go and relax without any of competing angler pressure. There are plenty of other rivers for tourists.

However, after receiving continued reports during the last few weeks there have been 7-10 cars parked at the ford crossing, the charms of this smaller river are obviously no longer a secret.

The flow is natural and subject to the whims of the weather patterns. There are no dams and it has a large catchment in a no-go rural area behind the Tongariro Prison farm. It floods often spreading through the swamp and across the SH1 towards Lake Taupo. The anglers pressure is on after any flooding has receded. It is an excellent river for learning how to spot and stalk trout with a dry fly in Summer months.

The main access and large parking area is adjcent to the crossing. As indicated in the photo below, this is used as a short cut to Korohe village which is located further north on the Waimarino River. Waiotaka Road leads east of SH1 opposite Grace Road intersection about 1 km noth of the Tongariro RIver bridge.

The only other side road is into the prison. One night a few years ago a prison guard escorted two elderly English ladies into TRM after they drove in there by mistake and demanded they had made a booking – following their never-fail iPhone directions. I think it was the most memorable moment of their visit.

Also, please note the clear blue sky in warm spring temperatures today. This is mentioned after TRM received more cancellations due to the threatening wet and windy weather forecast on TV news. Turangi is a little slice of Paradise.

There is another entrance to the Waiotaka River directly off SH1 further north which provides rough 4WD vehicle access to the middle reaches. Look out for the giant pot-hole at the entrance off SH1. The river mouth can also be accessed via the Turangi Yacht Club and Waiotaka Scenic Reserve, but this also can produce some surprises. The lower river banks are very overgrown to make it more challenging for anglers.

My more memorable moment there was back in 2021 when I was collecting pumice for our fireproof wall and managed to get stuck. I was walking back to the Yacht Club carpark for assistance and came across the young French lady enjoying her private shower in the wilderness. I needed to ask her how my iPhone worked to order a tow from SWMBO at the motel. The problem was she was bathing topless and had not noticed me approaching. Naturally, I was more concerned she might mistake me for a grubby old pervert. Despite her limited English and my limited schoolboy French, we managed to communicate and had a good giggle about it, so she allowed me to take her photo. Never a dull moment in Turangi…