New River Estuary Fishing: Stead Street Wharf and the Flats

Last updated October 2026

The New River Estuary is the big tidal estuary on Invercargill’s western edge, where the Ōreti and Waihōpai rivers meet the sea. At its head, the old Stead Street wharf sits beside the Stead Street bridge, a few minutes from the city centre, and wide mudflats and tidal channels run south toward the sea.

People fish it from the shore and from small boats, but the estuary is in poor health, so take care with the water and with anything you gather.

New River Estuary at a Glance

Location

Western edge of Invercargill; Stead Street wharf at the head, Sandy Point on the Ōreti arm

Type

Large tidal estuary with mudflats, channels and an old wharf

Water

Estuary (sea fish under MPI rules; trout under Fish & Game rules)

Main species

Flounder and kahawai on the tide; brown trout in the tidal river channels

Getting there

Stead Street, Invercargill, on the Invercargill to Bluff Trail; Sandy Point via Dunns Road

Boat ramps

Several on the lower Ōreti at Sandy Point

Tide port

Waihopai River Entrance (LINZ standard port)

Rules

MPI Southland for sea fish; Fish & Game Southland licence for trout

Water quality

Poor: check before gathering shellfish or swimming

What Makes It Worth the Trip

The New River Estuary is fed by two rivers. The Waihōpai comes in at its head, under the Stead Street bridge on the city’s western edge, and the Ōreti comes down past Sandy Point on the western side. The estuary drains to Foveaux Strait at the south-eastern end of Oreti Beach.

At low tide most of the estuary is mudflat, cut by tidal channels. The Waihōpai channel runs south along the eastern shore below the Stead Street wharf, a small old wharf on the east bank just below the bridge.

The Invercargill to Bluff Trail and an estuary walkway follow that shore south, and the shared path from Otatara runs along Stead Street.

Environment Southland and LAWA rate the estuary in very poor condition, yet it is still a popular place for swimming, boating, shellfish gathering and fishing. Science reports describe excess nutrients, heavy weed growth and declining sediment quality in the upper estuary.

Outside the estuary, the coast along Oreti Beach is the Oreti Mātaitai Reserve, where commercial fishing is banned.

How to Fish the New River Estuary

Where and when

The Stead Street wharf is the easiest place to fish from the city side: it sits right where the Waihōpai channel enters the estuary, so you are fishing moving water without walking onto the mud.

On the Ōreti arm, Sandy Point gives shore and boat access to the lower river and the channels. Estuary fish such as flounder and kahawai move in and out with the tide to feed on the flats, so the moving water either side of the tide change is usually the time to fish.

What to catch and what to use

• Flounder: estuary flounder move onto the flats with the tide to feed. Fish the channel edges as the water comes in.
• Kahawai: follow the tide into estuaries to feed, so look for them in the channels when the tide is running.
• Brown trout: the tidal lower Ōreti holds medium trout with the occasional big one, and Fish & Game recommends it for bait fishing. The Waihōpai below Queens Drive, which runs into the estuary at Stead Street, is open for trout all year. Both need a Fish & Game licence (see Rules and Safety).

For the river itself above the estuary, see our Ōreti River fishing guide. Ask at a tackle shop in Invercargill what is being caught in the estuary at the time.

Getting There and Facilities

• Stead Street wharf: on Stead Street at the western edge of the city, just below the Stead Street bridge. West Bank Reserve is on the other side of the bridge.
• Walking and cycling: the Invercargill to Bluff Trail and the estuary walkway run south along the eastern shore from the wharf, and the Otatara shared path runs along Stead Street.
• Sandy Point: take Dunns Road through Otatara to Sandy Point Road. Environment Southland lists several boat ramps on the lower Ōreti here, including the Southland Power and Lower Oreti ramps.
• Boats: most of the estuary dries to mud at low tide, so plan trips around the tide so you are not left on the flats.

Rules and Safety

• Sea fish such as flounder and kahawai fall under MPI’s Southland rules. No licence is needed for them.
• Under the Fish & Game regulations, estuaries count as freshwater for sports fish, so you need a Fish & Game licence to fish for trout or salmon anywhere in the estuary.
• Current seasons: the Ōreti from the Riverton to Invercargill Highway to the sea, and the Waihōpai downstream of Queens Drive, are both open all year for fly, spin and bait.
• Water quality in the estuary is poor. Check Environment Southland and LAWA before swimming, and think carefully before eating shellfish from the upper estuary, especially after rain.
• Keep off the mudflats. The mud is soft, and the tide fills the channels behind you as it comes in.
• Outside the estuary, along Oreti Beach, the Oreti Mātaitai Reserve bans commercial fishing; recreational rules are unchanged.

Tackle and Bait Nearby

• Hunting & Fishing Invercargill: fishing tackle and outdoor gear in the city.

Ask in store what is being caught in the estuary and which baits are working.

Find Out More

Common Questions

Where can I fish the New River Estuary?
The Stead Street wharf at the head of the estuary is the easiest spot on the city side. On the Ōreti arm, Sandy Point has shore access and boat ramps.

What can you catch in the New River Estuary?
Flounder and kahawai come in with the tide to feed, and brown trout use the tidal channels of the Ōreti and Waihōpai. Ask a local tackle shop what is being caught at the time.

Do I need a licence to fish the estuary?
Not for sea fish. Estuaries count as freshwater for sports fish, so you need a Fish & Game licence for trout or salmon.

Is the estuary open for trout all year?
Under the current regulations, the Ōreti below the Riverton to Invercargill Highway and the Waihōpai below Queens Drive are open all year.

Can I gather shellfish in the New River Estuary?
MPI’s Southland rules apply, but the estuary is in very poor condition. Check Environment Southland and LAWA first, and avoid gathering after heavy rain.

Can I walk out on the mudflats?
It is best not to. The mud is soft, and the incoming tide fills the channels quickly.

Which tide port should I use?
Waihopai River Entrance, a LINZ standard port right at the head of the estuary.

Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.

Sources and data notes 1

• Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ).