Oreti Beach Fishing: Surfcasting near Invercargill

Last updated October 2026

Oreti Beach is a long, flat surf beach on Foveaux Strait, running about 26 km from the New River Estuary to the Aparima mouth at Riverton. The main way on is the Dunns Road entrance, just over the Ōreti River bridge from Otatara, where you can park or drive onto the hard sand.

Surfcasters fish it for elephant fish and whatever is running in the surf, and the stretch from the Waimatuku River to the New River Estuary is the Oreti Mātaitai Reserve, where commercial fishing is banned.

At a Glance

Location

Foveaux Strait coast west of Invercargill; main entrance at the end of Dunns Road, past Otatara

Type

Very long, flat, hard sand surf beach with several sandbars

Water

Open coast (sea)

Main species

Elephant fish when they come into the surf; ask locally for what else is running

Getting there

Dunns Road from Otatara, over the Ōreti River bridge, to the car park at the road end

Vehicles

Allowed on the hard lower sand; follow the signs at the entrance

Tide port

Bluff, with New River Entrance offsets (LINZ)

Rules

MPI Southland; Oreti Mātaitai Reserve (commercial ban); no licence needed for sea fish

Toheroa

No take

Setting and Background

Oreti Beach is the long, straight beach that faces Foveaux Strait west of Invercargill. It runs from the mouth of the New River Estuary in the south-east to the Aparima mouth at Riverton in the west.

How to Fish Oreti Beach

Read the beach

Ōreti is a flat beach with a wide surf zone, so the water stays shallow a long way out. Look along the beach for the darker, deeper water between the bars before you set up, and fish into those channels.

Getting There and Facilities

• Road: from Invercargill head west to Otatara, then follow Dunns Road over the Ōreti River bridge to the road end at the beach.
• Parking: the car park and turning area sit in the dunes at the end of Dunns Road.
• Vehicles: vehicles can drive the hard-packed lower sand. High tides and surging tides can make it hard to get along the beach, so avoid driving around high tide and keep clear of soft sand.
• Walking and cycling: the Dunns Road walkway and cycleway links the beach with Otatara, and the Te Araroa Trail runs along the sand.
• More about the beach: for swimming, walks and day trips, see our Oreti Beach guide.

Rules and Safety

• Sea fishing here follows MPI’s Southland rules. No licence is needed for sea fish.
• The beach between the Waimatuku River and the New River Estuary is the Oreti Mātaitai Reserve. Commercial fishing is banned; recreational fishing continues under the normal MPI rules.
• Toheroa are protected: none may be taken.
• Near the river mouths the freshwater rules apply. Within 500 m of the New River Estuary entrance (the Ōreti mouth) or the Waimatuku mouth, trout and salmon are sports fish under the Fish & Game Southland regulations, so you need a Fish & Game licence to fish for them.
• Follow the signed rules and speed limit for vehicles at the Dunns Road entrance, and watch for walkers and children on the sand.
• This is an open surf beach with several sandbars. Channels between the bars can pull water back out to sea. Do not wade out past knee depth to cast, and keep an eye on the incoming tide if you have driven along the beach.

Tackle and Bait Nearby

• Hunting & Fishing Invercargill: fishing tackle and outdoor gear in the city, on the way to the beach.

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

Common Questions

What can you catch at Oreti Beach?
The Southland fishing press reports elephant fish coming into the surf here. Ask at a tackle shop in Invercargill for what else is being caught at the time.

Where is the best place to get onto Oreti Beach?
The Dunns Road entrance, at the end of Dunns Road past Otatara and over the Ōreti River bridge. It has a car park and a vehicle ramp onto the sand.

Can I drive on Oreti Beach?
Yes, on the hard-packed lower sand. Follow the signed rules at the entrance and watch the tide, as high and surging tides make the beach hard to drive.

Do I need a licence to fish at Oreti Beach?
Not for sea fish. Within 500 m of the New River Estuary and Waimatuku mouths, trout and salmon need a Fish & Game licence.

What is the Oreti Mātaitai Reserve?
A customary fishing reserve along the beach between the Waimatuku River and the New River Estuary, in place since 2010. Commercial fishing is banned; recreational fishing follows the normal MPI rules.

Can I take toheroa at Oreti Beach?
No. Toheroa are protected, so none may be taken.

Is Oreti Beach good for beginners?
It is easy to reach and the sand is flat, but it is an open surf beach facing Foveaux Strait. Stay in shallow water, dress warmly and go with someone who knows the beach.

Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.