Last updated October 2026
The Tauranga-Taupō River mouth is at Te Rangiita on the south-eastern shore of Lake Taupō, on State Highway 1 about 12 km north-east of Tūrangi.
A spit and a steep drop-off sit at the mouth, and rainbows concentrate there before their spawning runs. Within 200 m of the landmark post it is fly fishing only, open all year. You need a Taupō fishing licence from DOC.
At a Glance
- Location
- Te Rangiita, south-eastern shore of Lake Taupō, off State Highway 1
- Type
- Lake mouth, spit and drop-off
- Method
- Fly fishing only within 200 m of the landmark post
- Season
- Open all year
- Licence
- Taupō fishing licence from DOC (online)
- Hours
- No fishing between midnight and 5am
- Access
- Signposted DOC car park on State Highway 1 just south of Te Rangiita; Heuheu Parade also gives access
- Services
- No facilities listed at the mouth; shops in Tūrangi
- Tides
- None
- Suits
- Fly anglers who can cast a sinking line and wade with care
Where to find it
Get directions · -38.90805, 175.90148
No tides. The lake level is published by Mercury, and the river is prone to flash flooding after heavy rain.
The Background
The Tauranga-Taupō River is about 27 km long and enters Lake Taupō on the eastern shore near Te Rangiita. The lower river, from the lake up to Rangers’ Pool, is fly only and open all year. The upper river has its own season, covered in our Tauranga-Taupō River guide.
The mouth has a spit with a steep, very deep drop-off beyond it. DOC lists a steep pumice drop-off at the mouth. Anglers cast from the spit, particularly at night, or fish the deep lip from an anchored boat with a fast-sinking line.
The Tauranga-Taupō mouth is one of two places on the lake where a boat may fish inside the 200 m zone, as long as it is securely anchored. Rainbow and brown trout are both caught here.
How to Fish the Tauranga-Taupō River Mouth
Where and when
The mouth fishes all year. A local fishing site says late autumn through winter is best, when rainbows gather at the mouth before running upriver. In summer, trout follow smelt into the shallows.
Rainbows feed through the day, but bigger fish and more of them are reported at night, with browns usually late at night. Remember the midnight to 5am ban.
Lines and flies
- Floating line: a leader of 4 m or longer with one or two smelt flies.
- Sinking line: a fast or intermediate line with a 1 to 2 m leader for the deeper water.
- Shooting head: a fast-sinking head with a Booby over the drop-off.
- By day: Rabbits, Matukas, Green Orbits, Red Setters, Silicone Smelts and Woolly Buggers.
- After dark: luminous-core Silicone Smelts, or a luminous fly behind a black marabou or rabbit fly.
- Rod: an 8 or 9 weight.
Rules and Safety
- Licence: a Taupō fishing licence from DOC is required, bought online.
- Rule set: the Anglers Notice for Taupō District 2026. DOC sets the daily and size limits, so check the current notice and the DOC rules page.
- Methods: within 200 m of the landmark post at the mouth, fly fishing only. Do not troll or jig there. Bait is not allowed anywhere in the Taupō district.
- Hours: no fishing between midnight and 5am. Dusk and dark fishing is fine before midnight.
- Boats: no boat fishing within 200 m of the landmark post, except at this mouth and the Tongariro mouth, where a boat may fish only if securely anchored parallel to the flow with no more than two anchors. An electric motor holding the boat in place does not count as anchored.
- Wading: river mouths have steep pumice drop-offs. DOC says to treat them with extreme caution, and to wear a lifejacket if you are not sure of the bottom.
- Footwear: felt-soled boots are not permitted.
- Sand: local advice calls wading to the edge here extremely dangerous because the sand can slip away.
- Floods: DOC says the river is prone to flash flooding.
Getting There and Facilities
- Parking: DOC lists a signposted car park on State Highway 1 just south of Te Rangiita. Heuheu Parade, just south of the main road bridge, also gives access.
- Track: a DOC track follows the southern bank upriver.
- Facilities: DOC lists none at the mouth.
- Tackle: buy flies and tackle in Tūrangi or Taupō before you arrive.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Sporting Life Turangi, 60 Turangi Town Centre, Tūrangi, posts regular fishing reports and stocks flies and tackle.
Official Sources for The Tauranga-Taupō River mouth
DOC Tauranga-Taupō River: access, hazards and river details.
DOC Taupō fishery rules: hours, methods, licence and boat rules.
Anglers Notice for Taupō District 2026: the official fly-only mouth zones, seasons and closures.
Common Questions
Do I need a licence?
Yes. A Taupō fishing licence from DOC, bought online.
Is the mouth fly fishing only?
Yes, within 200 m of the landmark post.
Can I fish from a boat?
Only if the boat is securely anchored parallel to the flow with no more than two anchors. This mouth and the Tongariro mouth are the exceptions to the 200 m boat rule.
When is it open?
The lake mouth is open all year, but fishing is not allowed between midnight and 5am.
When is the best time?
Late autumn through winter is reported as best, with night fishing before midnight in summer.
Is wading safe?
Take great care. There is a steep drop-off and the sand can slip away.
Is the upper river open all year?
No. The upper river has its own season. See the river guide.
Where do I buy tackle?
In Tūrangi or Taupō.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.