Waitahanui River
Encyclopedia
The Waitahanui River is a river
in the North Island
of New Zealand
.
(the others being the Tongariro River
and the Taupo-Tauranga River). The Waitahanui flows out of the foothills of the Kaimanawa Ranges and is crossed by State Highway 1
as the river passes through the township of Waitahanui, before entering Lake Taupo
.
and Brown Trout
run up the river to spawn. The Waitahanui Rivermouth is also the location of the 'Picket Fence', which often sees anglers standing shoulder to shoulder up to their chest across the rivermouth, trying to catch trout as they move out of the lake.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Location
The Waitahanui River is one of the three main rivers that flow into Lake TaupoLake Taupo
Lake Taupo is a lake situated in the North Island of New Zealand. With a surface area of , it is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, and the second largest freshwater lake by surface area in geopolitical Oceania after Lake Murray ....
(the others being the Tongariro River
Tongariro River
The Tongariro River is a river in the North Island of New Zealand. It originates in the Central Plateau of the North Island where it is fed by numerous Tributaries that flow off the surrounding hill ranges and mountains such as Mount Ruapehu...
and the Taupo-Tauranga River). The Waitahanui flows out of the foothills of the Kaimanawa Ranges and is crossed by State Highway 1
State Highway 1 (New Zealand)
State Highway 1 is the longest and most significant road in the New Zealand roading network, running the length of both main islands. It appears on road maps as SH 1 and on road signs as a white number 1 on a red shield, but it has the official designations SH 1N in the North Island, SH 1S in the...
as the river passes through the township of Waitahanui, before entering Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo is a lake situated in the North Island of New Zealand. With a surface area of , it is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, and the second largest freshwater lake by surface area in geopolitical Oceania after Lake Murray ....
.
Fishing
The Waitahanui is a popular fishing stream, and during the winter months Rainbow TroutRainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
and Brown Trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
run up the river to spawn. The Waitahanui Rivermouth is also the location of the 'Picket Fence', which often sees anglers standing shoulder to shoulder up to their chest across the rivermouth, trying to catch trout as they move out of the lake.