Last updated October 2026
The Waihōpai River is Invercargill’s own river. It runs across the north of the city past Thomsons Bush, then swings south-west down the western side of town to meet the New River Estuary at the Stead Street bridge.
Fish & Game manages it as trout water with its own seasons either side of Queens Drive, and a walkway follows the stopbanks, so you can fish it without leaving the city. Water quality is poor, so treat it as a place to fish, not to swim.
At a Glance
- Location
- North and west Invercargill, from Thomsons Bush to the Stead Street bridge
- Type
- Small lowland river in a straightened channel between grassy stopbanks; tidal at the bottom
- Water
- Freshwater (Fish & Game Southland)
- Main species
- Trout; the river also holds eels, bullies, flounder and whitebait
- Season
- Upstream of Queens Drive 1 October to 30 April; downstream of Queens Drive all year
- Methods
- Fly, spin and bait
- Access
- Walkway along the stopbanks through the city; Queens Drive crossing by Thomsons Bush
- Licence
- Fish & Game licence required
- Water quality
- Poor: do not swim, and wash your hands after fishing
No tides above the city; the bottom of the river is tidal at the estuary, and rain and stormwater lift and colour it.
What You'll Find Here
The Waihōpai runs east to west across the north of Invercargill beside Thomsons Bush, where Queens Drive crosses it just east of the bush. From there it swings south-west past Bay Road and State Highway 6 and runs down the western side of the city to the New River Estuary at the Stead Street bridge.
Through the city the river is a straightened channel between grassy stopbanks built for flood control, with a walkway along it. The lower river is affected by stormwater and by the tide coming up from the estuary.
Environment Southland says the Waihōpai holds eels, bullies, flounder and whitebait, and Fish & Game Southland sets separate trout seasons for the river above and below Queens Drive. The river won the most improved river award at the 2019 New Zealand River Awards, but LAWA still places it in the worst quarter of monitored sites for E. coli and nitrogen.
This is a different river from the better-known Waihopai in Marlborough. If you read about the Waihopai elsewhere, check which one is meant.
How to Fish the Waihōpai River
Where to fish
The stopbank walkway gives easy access along the channel through the city, so you can walk the bank and fish wherever the water looks deeper or slower.
Queens Drive, beside Thomsons Bush, is the dividing line in the regulations: below it the river is open all year, above it only from 1 October to 30 April. The lowest reach, toward Stead Street, is tidal and joins the New River Estuary, which has its own fishing.
What to catch and what to use
- Trout: fly, spin and bait are all allowed. Bait or a small spinner is the simplest way to fish a channel like this.
- Flounder: Environment Southland lists flounder in the river; the tidal lower reach near the estuary is where to look for them.
- Whitebait: Environment Southland lists whitebait in the river. Whitebaiting follows the Department of Conservation’s whitebait rules, not the trout regulations.
Ask at a tackle shop in Invercargill whether trout are being caught in the river and where.
Getting There and Facilities
- Walkway: a walkway runs along the river through the city, so you can reach the water on foot from the city.
- Queens Drive: the crossing just east of Thomsons Bush marks the regulation boundary.
- Stead Street: the river meets the New River Estuary at the Stead Street bridge on the western edge of the city.
Rules and Safety
- You need a Fish & Game licence. The Waihōpai is covered by the Fish & Game Southland regulations: the current seasons are 1 October to 30 April upstream of Queens Drive, and all year downstream of Queens Drive, with fly, spin and bait allowed.
- Water quality is poor, with high E. coli and nitrogen. Do not swim, keep cuts covered, and wash your hands before eating.
- Think twice before eating fish from the lower river after heavy rain, when stormwater runs in.
- The grassy banks can be slippery after rain. Keep children back from the edge.
- Check, clean and dry your gear before moving to another river.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Invercargill: fishing tackle and outdoor gear in the city.
Fish & Game licences can also be bought online.
From locals
Where on the Waihōpai should I look for flounder?
Is there anywhere to launch a small boat or kayak on the Waihōpai?
No answers yet. If you know, a local would love to hear it.
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Waihōpai River: Common Questions
Can you fish the Waihōpai River in Invercargill?
Yes. It is Fish & Game Southland water, with fly, spin and bait allowed, and a walkway along the stopbanks gives easy access through the city.
When is the Waihōpai River open?
Under the current regulations it is open all year downstream of Queens Drive, and from 1 October to 30 April upstream of Queens Drive.
What fish live in the Waihōpai River?
Trout, plus eels, bullies, flounder and whitebait, according to Environment Southland.
Do I need a licence?
Yes, a Fish & Game licence for trout. Whitebaiting follows DOC’s whitebait rules instead.
Is the Waihōpai River clean?
No. It is among the worst quarter of monitored sites for E. coli and nitrogen, so do not swim and wash your hands after fishing.
Where does the Waihōpai River meet the sea?
It runs into the New River Estuary at the Stead Street bridge, on the western edge of Invercargill.
Is this the same Waihopai River as in Marlborough?
No. This Waihōpai is the river through Invercargill. The Marlborough Waihopai is a different river at the top of the South Island.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Related links 3
- Fish & Game Southland regulations: the current seasons and methods for the Waihōpai above and below Queens Drive.
- LAWA: Waihōpai river quality: water quality results for the river.
- Fish & Game: Southland licence agents: where to buy a fishing licence in Southland.