Last updated October 2026
The Kaituna River at Ōkere Falls is the short, fast reach where the river leaves Lake Rotoiti and drops through a bush gorge in Ōkere Falls Scenic Reserve, about 21 km from Rotorua.
A well-formed DOC track runs from the car park on Trout Pool Road down past Tutea Falls to the Trout Pool, which DOC, LAWA and Tourism New Zealand all describe as a popular fishing spot.
Trout can often be seen holding near the tail of the pool. The reach is open all year to fly and spin fishing under Eastern Fish & Game rules, and you share the river with commercial rafts.
At a Glance
- Location
- Ōkere Falls Scenic Reserve, Trout Pool Road off SH33, about 21 km north-east of Rotorua
- Type
- Fast, bush-lined river gorge below the Lake Rotoiti control gates, with falls and pools
- Water
- Kaituna River (freshwater), fed by Lake Rotoiti
- Main species
- Trout
- Methods
- Fly and spin only (soft baits allowed); no bait
- Season
- Open all year
- Access
- Ōkere Falls Track, about 30 minutes one way from the car park to the Trout Pool
- Toilets
- At the Trout Pool Road car park
- Rules
- Fish & Game Eastern Region; licence required
- Cost
- Free entry; Fish & Game licence needed
No tides here. The flow is set by the Lake Rotoiti control gates, and algae from the lake can reach the river in warm weather.
Getting to Know Kaituna River at Ōkere Falls
The Kaituna drains Lake Rotoiti at Ōkere, and its flow through the reserve is set by the Lake Rotoiti control gates beside SH33. Below the gates the river runs north in a narrow, bush-filled gorge.
From above, the reserve is a narrow strip of dense native forest beside the river, with the road on higher ground to the west and the white water of the falls showing through the canopy.
Ngāti Pikiao call this section the Okere River. DOC explains that Tutea Falls and the cave beside them guard the burial place of the Ngāti Pikiao chief Tutea, and that the cave sheltered the vulnerable during conflicts over the river’s food sources.
Hinemoa’s Steps, cut into the rock in 1907, lead down to the cave, and the ruins of the Ōkere Falls Power Station, New Zealand’s first government-built hydro station, sit beside the track.
This is also one of the country’s best-known rafting rivers. Tutea Falls, about 7 metres high, is promoted as the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world, so expect rafts and kayaks through the day. The Trout Pool at the bottom of the track is quieter water and the place most anglers head for.
How to Fish the Kaituna at Ōkere Falls
Where to fish
Walk the Ōkere Falls Track from the car park to the Trout Pool at its northern end. DOC notes that trout are often seen holding gently against the current there, so polarised glasses and a slow approach help you spot fish at the tail of the pool before you cast.
Above the pool the river runs through falls and fast chutes in a steep gorge: keep to the track and fish only where you can stand on firm ground.
What to catch and what to use
- Trout: the main quarry. Only fly and spin methods are allowed on this reach, and soft baits (scented or unscented) count as spinning gear here. Bait fishing is not allowed.
- Fly or spin? Small lures and flies suit the pool. Ask at a Rotorua tackle shop or the Eastern Fish & Game office for what is working, as this short reach changes with the gate flows.
Timing
The reach is open all year. Rafting trips run through the day, so early mornings and evenings are usually the quietest times to have the Trout Pool to yourself. Fishing for sports fish is not allowed between midnight and 5am.
Getting There and Facilities
- Driving: from Rotorua take SH30 towards Whakatāne or the airport, then SH33 towards Tauranga. Trout Pool Road is on the left after about 8 km. It is about 20 minutes from the city centre.
- Parking: the main car park is a sealed loop at the southern end of the reserve. There is also a small gravel parking area beside the road above the Trout Pool at the northern end.
- Track: the Ōkere Falls Track is graded Easiest, about 30 minutes one way, with information panels and lookouts along the way. The Tutea Falls viewing platform is closed; you can still see the falls from parts of the track.
- Toilets: by the car park, next to a grassy picnic area.
- More to do: for the walk, the falls and the reserve’s history, see our Ōkere Falls Scenic Reserve guide.
Rules and Safety
- This reach follows the Fish & Game Eastern Region rules for the Kaituna River downstream of the control gates: open all year, fly and spin only. A Fish & Game licence is needed. Check the current Eastern regulations for limits.
- The lower Kaituna below the SH2 bridge near Te Puke has different rules, including bait fishing, so do not mix the two up.
- Streams flowing into or out of Lake Rotoiti are closed to fishing, but the Kaituna is an exception. The Ōkere Arm of Rotoiti, above the gates, has its own lake rules.
- DOC warns of dangerously strong currents and waterfalls. Keep to the track, never wade above the falls and stay well clear of rafts and kayaks.
- Blue-green algae from Lake Rotoiti can reach the river: Toi Te Ora issued a health warning for the upper Kaituna in February 2023. Check Toi Te Ora’s current warnings before you go, and keep children and dogs away from algal scums.
- DOC asks anglers to report any koi carp or catfish seen in the river.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Rotorua, 360 Te Ngae Road, Lynmore: trout tackle and Fish & Game licences.
- Eastern Fish & Game office, 1130 Paradise Valley Road, Rotorua: licences and local advice.
Useful Links
Fish & Game Eastern Region regulations: seasons, methods and limits for the Kaituna and the Rotorua lakes.
DOC: Ōkere Falls Track: track details, closures and safety notes for the reserve.
LAWA: Kaituna at Trout Pool: water quality and algae alerts for the Trout Pool.
Kaituna River at Ōkere Falls: Common Questions
Where is the Trout Pool at Ōkere Falls?
At the northern end of the Ōkere Falls Track in Ōkere Falls Scenic Reserve, off Trout Pool Road and SH33, about 21 km from Rotorua. It is about 30 minutes’ walk from the main car park.
What can you catch in the Kaituna at Ōkere Falls?
Trout. They can often be seen holding near the tail of the Trout Pool.
Can I use bait on the Kaituna at Ōkere Falls?
No. This reach is fly and spin only, although soft baits are allowed. Bait is only allowed on the lower river below the SH2 bridge.
Do I need a fishing licence?
Yes. You need a Fish & Game licence to fish for trout in the Eastern Region.
Is the river open all year?
Yes. The Kaituna downstream of the Rotoiti control gates is open all year. Night fishing between midnight and 5am is not allowed.
Will rafts get in the way?
Commercial rafts and kayaks run through the gorge during the day. Fish early or late, keep out of the main channel and give them room.
Are there toilets?
Yes, by the main car park on Trout Pool Road, with a picnic area.
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