Last updated October 2026
Awarua Bay is the wide, shallow eastern arm of Bluff Harbour, between Tiwai Point and the Awarua Wetland south-east of Invercargill. It has its own road and boat ramp, away from the town and port on the Bluff side of the harbour: you turn off Tiwai Road just before the bridge to the smelter.
A deep channel runs along the north shore by the ramp, with weedy banks and tidal flats beyond it. Getting onto the flats means wading in mud, so this is water for anglers who come prepared.
At a Glance
- Location
- Eastern arm of Bluff Harbour; Awarua Bay Road, off Tiwai Road before the Tiwai bridge
- Type
- Shallow tidal bay with a channel, weedy banks and estuarine mud flats
- Water
- Bluff Harbour (sea)
- Boat ramp
- Small ramp and hardstand on the north shore beside Awarua Bay Road
- Parking
- DOC parking at Muddy Creek, further along Awarua Bay Road
- Getting in
- Knee-deep wading and estuarine mud to reach the flats
- Tide port
- Bluff (LINZ standard port)
- Rules
- MPI Southland; Fish & Game rules for trout; no licence needed for sea fishing
- Cost
- Free
- Low 3:27 am 0.8 m
- High 9:48 am 2.6 m
- Low 3:59 pm 0.9 m
- High 10:17 pm 2.6 m
Best times today: around 3:27 am, 9:48 am, 3:59 pm and 10:17 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 8:39 am and 9:03 pm (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best. Full 7-day Invercargill tides ›
Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
About Awarua Bay
Awarua Bay is the low, wide eastern arm of Bluff Harbour. Tiwai Point, the spit that carries the aluminium smelter, separates it from Foveaux Strait to the south. The Bluff side of the harbour, with the port, the town and the main boat ramp, is a different trip with its own guide.
The north shore by the ramp is sand and shell with a low, peaty edge, and farmland runs behind the road. Just offshore a deep channel runs east to west. On its south side are weedy banks and flats, with a side channel running south.
The bay borders the Awarua Wetland, part of the Awarua and Waituna wetlands that DOC manages and that are listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Treat the wetland edges with care.
How to Fish Awarua Bay
Where to stand
The ramp on the north shore is the easiest starting point: the deep channel runs close in front of it, so you can fish the edge of the channel without wading far.
The flats on the far side of the channel are reached by knee-deep wading through estuarine mud. The tide floods and drains the flats, so plan your time out there around the tide and know your way back to the shore.
By boat or kayak
The ramp suits small boats and kayaks. The channel is the deep water; the banks and flats either side dry or run shallow, so watch the depth as the tide drops.
What to catch
Ask at a tackle shop in Invercargill or Bluff for what is being caught in the bay and on which tide. If you are after trout, read the licence rule below first.
Getting There and Facilities
- Road: from Invercargill head towards the Tiwai Point smelter. Turn left onto Awarua Bay Road before the bridge over Awarua Bay.
- Boat ramp: a small ramp and hardstand with a shed sit on the north shore beside Awarua Bay Road.
- Parking: DOC directs visitors to park at Muddy Creek, further along Awarua Bay Road.
- Tiwai Point: the smelter and Tiwai Wharf are an industrial port facility under maritime security, not public fishing spots.
- Bluff side: for the Bluff Boat Ramp and the harbour entrance, see our Bluff Harbour fishing guide.
Rules and Safety
- Sea fishing in the bay follows MPI’s Southland rules. No licence is needed for sea fish.
- Trout and salmon in estuaries and within 500 m of a river or stream mouth come under the Fish & Game Southland regulations, so a Fish & Game licence is needed if you fish for them.
- The Motupōhue Mātaitai Reserve (around Bluff Hill) and the Ōmāui Mātaitai Reserve (west of Bluff) are on the other side of the harbour, not in Awarua Bay. Check MPI for any new closures before you fish or gather.
- Estuarine mud can be soft and deep. Wade with a partner, test each step and head back before the tide covers the flats behind you.
- Before eating shellfish, check MPI’s shellfish biotoxin alerts.
- Respect the Awarua Wetland and its birds: keep to the shore and follow DOC’s guidance for the wetland.
Find Out More
DOC: Awarua and Waituna Wetlands: directions, parking at Muddy Creek and what to expect on the flats.
MPI Southland fishing rules: current limits and closures for Bluff Harbour and Foveaux Strait.
Fish & Game Southland regulations: the licence and rules for trout in estuaries and near river mouths.
Common Questions
Where is Awarua Bay?
It is the eastern arm of Bluff Harbour, between Tiwai Point and the Awarua Wetland. Turn off Tiwai Road onto Awarua Bay Road just before the bridge to the smelter.
Is there a boat ramp at Awarua Bay?
Yes. A small ramp and hardstand sit on the north shore beside Awarua Bay Road.
Can I fish from the Tiwai Point wharf?
No. Tiwai Wharf serves the smelter and is an industrial port facility under maritime security.
Do I need a licence to fish Awarua Bay?
Not for sea fish. If you fish for trout in the estuary or within 500 m of a stream mouth, you need a Fish & Game licence.
What can I catch in Awarua Bay?
Ask at a tackle shop in Invercargill or Bluff for what is being caught in the bay and on which tide.
Can I walk out onto the flats?
Yes, but DOC warns it means knee-deep wading and estuarine mud. Go with a partner and keep an eye on the incoming tide.
Which tide port should I use?
Bluff, the LINZ standard port in the same harbour.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ).