Last updated October 2026
The Awahou Stream is a cold, spring-fed stream that enters Lake Rotorua on its north-western shore, just north of Ngongotahā. In the hottest months trout leave the warm lake and gather in the cold water off its mouth, making it one of the busiest summer spots on Lake Rotorua.
The stream itself and its tributaries are closed to all fishing, so you fish the lake off the mouth, lakeward of the marker pole. Access is over private Māori land by courtesy, so follow the path and respect the owners.
Awahou Stream at a Glance
- Location
- Awahou, north-western shore of Lake Rotorua, off Gloucester Road
- Type
- Shallow lake edge off a cold spring-fed stream mouth
- Water
- Lake Rotorua (freshwater); the Awahou Stream itself is closed
- Main species
- Rainbow and brown trout
- Season
- Lake open all year; best in the hottest months
- Methods
- Fly and spin in the lake; no bait
- Access
- From Gloucester Road or by boat; car park on private Māori land
- Suits
- Fly anglers with floating or intermediate lines
- Rules
- Fish & Game Eastern Region; licence required
- Cost
- Free access by courtesy; Fish & Game licence needed
No tides here. The cold stream water draws trout to the mouth when Lake Rotorua warms in summer.
Getting to Know Awahou Stream
nzfishing.com describes the Awahou as a cold, spring-fed stream that acts as a summer refuge for trout and an important winter spawning water for fish from the Rotorua and Rotoiti lakes. That is why it is protected: the stream and its tributaries became closed water in October 2016, after a submission from Ngāti Rangiwewehi members living beside the stream, who were concerned about theft, conflict and poaching and about stressed trout seeking cold water.
Anglers can still fish Lake Rotorua off the mouth, downstream of the landmark pole, and Fish & Game notes there is plenty of room in the lake itself. In hot summers, when the lake surface reaches the mid-20s, it reported anglers standing shoulder to shoulder at the Rotorua stream mouths.
The car park near the mouth is on private Māori land, and anglers are asked to stay on the path to the lake. A person drowned at the mouth in January 2017, which led to a short rāhui over the mouth. Treat the place with care so access stays open.
How to Fish the Awahou Mouth
Where and when
Stand in the lake off the mouth, lakeward of the marker pole, and fish the cold-water plume. The water is shallow, so floating or intermediate lines work best. The mouth fishes best in the hottest months, when trout crowd into the cold water. Fish & Game’s January 2026 report said the Awahou was fishing consistently to nymphs and wet flies.
What to use
- Nymphs: small unweighted Hare and Copper, Halfback and dark mayfly nymphs.
- Wet flies: Green Woolly Bugger, Mrs Simpson and Hamill’s Killer; small smelt flies also take fish.
- Summer: cicada and beetle patterns.
- Spin: spinning is allowed on the whole of Lake Rotorua, including off the mouth.
Getting There and Facilities
- Access: Fish & Game says the mouth is reached from Gloucester Road or by boat.
- Parking: the car park near the mouth is on private Māori land. Park considerately, stay on the path to the lake and take your rubbish home. Access has been closed by the owners before, for example during the 2020 Covid outbreak.
- Facilities: there are no public facilities at the mouth. The nearest public toilets are at the council lakeside reserve on Hamurana Road.
- Licences and tackle: Rotorua Family Holiday Park in Ngongotahā has a tackle shop and sells licences.
Rules and Safety
- The Awahou Stream and its tributaries are closed to all fishing under the Fish & Game Eastern Region rules. Fish only in the lake, lakeward of the marker pole.
- Lake Rotorua is open all year, fly and spin. Bait is banned. Fish & Game rangers regularly check licences at the Awahou and Waiteti mouths.
- Lake Rotorua and its streams have their own minimum size and a separate limit on brown trout. Check the current regulations.
- No fishing for sports fish between midnight and 5am.
- No trout fishing from an unanchored boat within 200 metres of a landmark (a black, yellow and white ringed post or buoy).
- Take care wading off the mouth, especially at night and when the lake is rough.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Rotorua Family Holiday Park, 22 Beaumont Road, Ngongotahā: tackle shop, with licences at reception.
- Hunting & Fishing Rotorua, 360 Te Ngae Road, Lynmore: flies, lures and licences.
- Eastern Fish & Game office, 1130 Paradise Valley Road, Ngongotahā: licences and regulation brochures.
Useful Links
Fish & Game Eastern Region regulations: closed streams, lake rules and limits for Lake Rotorua.
nzfishing.com: Awahou Stream: access etiquette, lines and flies for the mouth.
Fish & Game Eastern: Reel Life: recent reports from the Lake Rotorua stream mouths.
Common Questions
Can I fish the Awahou Stream?
No. The stream and its tributaries have been closed to fishing since 2016. You can fish Lake Rotorua off the mouth, lakeward of the marker pole.
Where is the Awahou Stream mouth?
On the north-western shore of Lake Rotorua, just north of Ngongotahā. It is reached from Gloucester Road or by boat.
Is the Awahou car park public?
No. It is on private Māori land, and anglers use it by courtesy. Stay on the path and leave nothing behind.
When is the best time to fish the Awahou mouth?
In the hottest months, when trout gather in the cold water off the mouth.
What flies work at the Awahou?
Small unweighted nymphs such as Hare and Copper, wet flies like Green Woolly Bugger and Mrs Simpson, and small smelt flies.
Can I spin off the Awahou mouth?
Yes. Fly and spin are both allowed on Lake Rotorua, but bait is banned.
Do I need a licence?
Yes, a Fish & Game licence. Rangers regularly check licences here.
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