Last updated October 2026
Colac Bay / Ōraka is a wide, open bay on Foveaux Strait between Riverton and Orepuki, in western Southland. A small beach ramp off Colac Foreshore Road lets small boats out into the strait, and the bay’s south end has low rock reef and kelp along a gravel and cobble shore.
The sandy beach curves north towards the settlement. It is an open-coast spot, so the weather and swell decide whether you can fish it.
Colac Bay / Ōraka at a Glance
- Location
- Colac Foreshore Road, Colac Bay / Ōraka, between Riverton and Orepuki
- Type
- Open bay: sandy beach to the north, gravel and cobble shore with low reef and kelp to the south
- Water
- Foveaux Strait (sea)
- Boat ramp
- Short concrete and gravel ramp onto the beach towards the south end of the bay
- Boat fishing
- Blue cod in Foveaux Strait, under MPI’s Southland rules
- Conditions
- Exposed to swell from the strait; check the MetService marine forecast
- Tide port
- Riverton / Aparima (LINZ standard port), about 10 km east
- Rules
- MPI Southland; no licence needed for sea fishing
- Cost
- Free
- Low 2:34 am 1.0 m
- High 8:54 am 2.7 m
- Low 3:08 pm 1.2 m
- High 9:22 pm 2.7 m
Best times today: around 2:34 am, 8:54 am, 3:08 pm and 9:22 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.
Setting and Background
Colac Bay / Ōraka is a small coastal settlement on the shore of Foveaux Strait, west of Riverton on the road to Orepuki. The bay opens straight onto the strait, so swell reaches the shore.
The shore changes along the bay. The north part is a long, curving sandy beach in front of the settlement. Towards the south end the sand gives way to gravel and cobbles, with low rock reef and kelp along the edge. Colac Foreshore Road follows the shore and ends at a camping area at the south end.
The bay is best known for surfing, so expect surfers in the water when the waves are good, especially around the western point. Fish away from them.
For surfing, walks and the beach itself, see our Colac Bay / Ōraka guide.
How to Fish Colac Bay
From the shore
The low reef and kelp at the south end give the bay most of its structure, and the gravel shore there lets you get close to it. The sandy beach to the north is open surfcasting water. Ask at a tackle shop in Riverton or Invercargill for what is being caught off the beach and the reef this season.
By boat
The ramp puts small boats straight into Foveaux Strait, the area Southland’s recreational fishers target most for blue cod. Blue cod in the strait are under pressure: a Fisheries New Zealand survey found numbers had fallen sharply since 2018 and the stock was being overfished. Keep only what you need and check the current Southland rules before each trip, as they may change.
Launching
The ramp runs onto an open beach, not into a sheltered harbour. Launch and return only in settled conditions, and keep an eye on the swell building while you are out.
Getting There and Facilities
- Road: Colac Bay / Ōraka is west of Riverton on the road to Orepuki.
- Boat ramp: off Colac Foreshore Road, towards the south end of the bay.
- Camping: Colac Foreshore Road ends at a camping area at the south end.
- Nearby: the estuary and rocks at Riverton are covered in our Riverton / Aparima fishing guide.
Rules and Safety
- Sea fishing here follows MPI’s Southland rules, including the Foveaux Strait blue cod rules. No licence is needed. Check the rules or the NZ Fishing Rules app before each trip.
- No mātaitai, taiāpure or marine reserve covered Colac Bay when we checked in October 2026. The nearest mātaitai is the Oreti Mātaitai Reserve along Oreti Beach, east of Riverton.
- The bay is open to Foveaux Strait. Check the MetService marine forecast before you fish or launch, and stay off the reef when swell is washing over it.
- Kelp-covered rock is slippery. Wear grippy footwear on the reef.
- Wear a lifejacket in the boat and carry a way to call for help. In an emergency call 111 or use VHF channel 16.
- Before eating shellfish, check MPI’s shellfish biotoxin alerts.
Useful Links
MPI Southland fishing rules: current limits and closures, including blue cod in Foveaux Strait.
MetService marine forecasts: wind and swell for Foveaux Strait before you fish or launch.
Southland NZ: Colac Bay: the settlement, the bay and what else to do there.
Colac Bay / Ōraka: Common Questions
Where is Colac Bay?
On Foveaux Strait in western Southland, west of Riverton on the road to Orepuki. Its te reo Māori name is Ōraka.
Is there a boat ramp at Colac Bay?
Yes. A short concrete and gravel ramp runs onto the beach off Colac Foreshore Road, towards the south end of the bay.
Can you catch blue cod from Colac Bay?
Blue cod are a boat fishery in Foveaux Strait, which the ramp gives access to. The stock is overfished, so check MPI’s Southland rules before every trip.
Do I need a fishing licence?
No. Sea fishing needs no licence, but MPI’s Southland rules apply.
What can I catch from the beach?
Ask at a tackle shop in Riverton or Invercargill for what is being caught off the beach and the reef this season.
Is Colac Bay sheltered?
No. It is open to Foveaux Strait. Check the MetService marine forecast and fish or launch only in settled conditions.
Which tide port should I use?
Riverton / Aparima, the nearest LINZ standard port, about 10 km east.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ).