Last updated October 2026
The Makarewa River is a slow, winding lowland river that runs about 60 km from the Hokonui Hills to join the Ōreti just north of Invercargill.
Fish & Game Southland rates it as a good river for beginners: it has a good population of small and medium trout that are not too hard to catch, plus the odd large fish. The lower river around Wallacetown is open all year and only a few minutes from the city.
Makarewa River at a Glance
- Location
- Hokonui Hills to the Ōreti River, north of Invercargill; lower river at Wallacetown
- Type
- Slow, meandering lowland river with willow-lined banks
- Water
- Fresh
- Main species
- Brown trout, mostly small and medium with the odd large fish; redfin perch in the slow lower reaches
- Season
- Upstream of the Riverton to Invercargill Highway: 1 October to 30 April. Downstream: all year
- Methods
- Fly, spin and bait
- Suits
- Beginners and families
- Access
- Fish & Game access points, including Collean Street behind Wallacetown
- Licence
- Fish & Game licence needed
- Rules
- Fish & Game Southland sports fishing regulations
No tides here: rain in the Hokonui Hills lifts and colours this slow lowland river.
Setting and Background
The Makarewa is a tributary of the Ōreti. It gathers water from the Hokonui Hills and winds south across flat farmland before joining the bigger river just north of Invercargill, about 60 km from its source.
East of Wallacetown the river runs in tight meanders through paddocks, with willows along the banks and slow, dark water. State Highway 99 crosses it on the north-east side of the town. The Makarewa Wildlife Lagoon Wildlife Management Reserve sits on the east bank opposite Wallacetown.
It is not a river for trophy hunters. The appeal is that the trout are plentiful and fairly willing, so it suits someone learning to spin or bait fish, and children who want to catch something. Every so often a much bigger fish turns up.
The Ōreti River has its own guide. The Makarewa is a separate, smaller water with its own access points.
How to Fish Makarewa River
Where and when
The lower river is open all year, and Fish & Game has pointed anglers to the stretch below the Wallacetown bridge. Above the Riverton to Invercargill Highway the season is 1 October to 30 April. Slow, deep pools are the places to fish bait, and the willow-lined bends east of Wallacetown give plenty of water to work with a spinner.
What to use
- Spinners and spoons: bladed spinners, Tobys of 7 to 10 g and small spoons all work here, according to Fish & Game.
- Soft baits: small soft baits are another option Fish & Game names for the Makarewa.
- Natural bait: bait is allowed. Fish it in a deep, slow pool and let it sit.
- Fly: fly fishing is allowed too, but spin and bait are the easiest way in for a beginner.
Redfin perch
The Southland regulations note that redfin perch live in the slow lower reaches of the region’s lowland rivers, so you may hook one while trout fishing. Coarse fishing is prohibited in Southland. Check the regulations for the perch rules.
Getting There and Facilities
- Wallacetown: Collean Street, behind Wallacetown, is a Fish & Game named access point. Collean Street East ends close to a bend in the river.
- Other access points: Fish & Game has also named upstream of the Branxholm to Makarewa Road bridge, the end of Settlers Road, the North Makarewa Grove Bush Road bridge, the Tussock Creek Grove Bush Road bridge and Channel Road. These come from a 2021 list and signs may have changed, so check the Fish & Game access map before you go.
- Private land: the river runs through farmland. Use the signed access points and ask permission before crossing paddocks.
- Supplies: buy tackle, bait and food in Invercargill, a short drive south.
Rules and Safety
- You need a Fish & Game licence. The Southland Sports Fishing Regulations set the season, methods and limits for the Makarewa and its tributaries.
- Current seasons: upstream of the Riverton to Invercargill Highway, 1 October to 30 April; downstream of the highway, all year. Fly, spin and bait are allowed.
- Coarse fishing is prohibited in Southland. Check the regulations for redfin perch.
- Salmon may not be taken from any Southland river in April or May.
- The water is slow and deep in places. Keep children close to you on the bank.
- Some Southland rivers carry didymo. Check, clean and dry your gear between rivers.
Where to Learn More
Fish & Game Southland Reel Life, February 2021: the ranger’s notes on the Makarewa, its trout, lures and access points.
Fish & Game Southland regulations: current seasons, methods, limits and the perch rules.
Environment Southland water levels: live river levels and rainfall before you go.
Common Questions
Is the Makarewa River good for beginners?
Yes. Fish & Game Southland calls it a good beginner river, with a good population of small and medium trout that are not too hard to catch.
What lures work on the Makarewa?
Fish & Game names soft baits, bladed spinners, Tobys of 7 to 10 g and small spoons. Natural bait also works in deep, slow pools.
When can I fish the Makarewa?
Under the current regulations, the river downstream of the Riverton to Invercargill Highway is open all year. Upstream of the highway the season is 1 October to 30 April.
Where can I get onto the river near Wallacetown?
Collean Street, behind Wallacetown, is a Fish & Game named access point. Check the Fish & Game access map for others.
Do I need a fishing licence?
Yes. You need a Fish & Game licence to fish for trout in the Makarewa.
Are there perch in the Makarewa?
The Southland regulations note redfin perch in the slow lower reaches of lowland rivers. Coarse fishing is prohibited in Southland, so check the regulations for the perch rules.
Is the Makarewa part of the Ōreti?
It is a tributary. It joins the Ōreti just north of Invercargill, but it is a separate river with its own seasons and access.
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