Lake Waikaremoana

 
This isolated lake is generally regarded as the most picturesque of all the North Island lakes. It was formed 2200 years when a complete mountain crashed into the ravine of what was the Waikareteheke River. This created a huge dam behind which the lake formed, cradled by 1100 metre high ranges on all sides.

The unspoilt native bush that clads these mountains descends to the water’s edge and is what gives this large lake such an intimate character. The only problem is getting to this remote region. Access from the North needs a two hour drive from Murupara over a narrow, twisting gravel road. From Te Waiiti over Taupeupe Saddle, the road is really only a single lane, yet logging trucks can be encountered. The road around the lake is not much better and accidents are common, especially during the busy holiday times.Drivers that have little experience handling the unrelenting heavy gravel cause most of the problems.

The road east to Wairoa is slightly better and at least some of it is sealed. It is a much shorter journey and so is the more accepted access route to the lake. But if you are driving to the lake from the North, it means a long journey via Napier or Opotiki.

The famous Lake Waikaremoana Track starts near where the Rotorua road reaches the lake and finishes at the towering Karangahape Cliffs. It takes three days to walk the track. Take plenty of warm and waterproof clothing as snow and rain are likely at any time.

The road east to Wairoa is slightly better and at least some of it is sealed. It is a much shorter journey and so is the more accepted access route to the lake. But if you are driving to the lake from the North, it means a long journey via Napier or Opotiki.

The famous Lake Waikaremoana Track starts near where the Rotorua road reaches the lake and finishes at the towering Karangahape Cliffs. It takes three days to walk the track. Take plenty of warm and waterproof clothing as snow and rain are likely at any time.

From a fishing point of view, road access is restricted to perhaps one third of the lakeshore. Fortunately there is access to the three main streams that flow into the lake. These only provide limited angling opportunities as they all have a major waterfall not far up from the lake.

Mokau Falls

 
This does mean some heavy concentrations of spawning trout being found in relatively short stretches of a stream but it also means heavy angling pressure during the autumn runs. But when 99% of anglers in Fish & Game surveys express high levels of satisfaction with their Lake Waikaremoana fishing, the angling pressure cannot be too bad. The main inlet streams are the Hoparuhine, Mokau and Aniwaniwa Streams.

Hoparuhine Stream 

The Hoparuhine and the Mokau are the most favoured streams, fishing well on both nymph and streamer as one would for Taupo spawning trout. The fish are mainly rainbows and average 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) with fish up to 3.75 kg (8.25 lb) being regularly taken.
Fishing the rest of the lake requires a boat or similar maritime transport as access to the lake is restricted to only the occasional side road. There is a well-defined walking track around the back of the lake and it is a three day tramp around the section without road access. The track provides angling opportunities for the tramping angler to push through the bush and fish for cruising trout. These are mainly brown trout and average 1.8 kg (4 lb). 

Several hundred feet above the main lake, there is a much smaller lake which was also formed by a major landslide. Lake Waikareiti offers good fishing for smallish rainbows for those prepared to hike an hour up the trail.

A dinghy can be hired at the lake from the Department of Conservation (DOC) and this is a sensible option considering shoreline access is limited. The fish are mainly rainbow and are smaller than in the main lake, averaging around 1.2 kg (2.6 lb).

One intriguing quirk is the small lake on the main island of Lake Waikareiti - I just had to have a go at fishing in it - even if there were no fish!