Eastern Region

The Rotorua Lakes provide fishing choices galore – 13 lakes offer a wide range of fishing opportunities – whether you’re a seasoned fly fisher or a complete novice.

Many of the lakes have a world-class reputation and most are easily accessed, under an hour’s drive from downtown Rotorua.  The so-called trophy lakes – Tarawera, Okataina and Rotoiti – can all produce fish of prize-winning size.  

The biggest, Lake Rotorua, has one of the best catch rates in the district due to high natural spawning and it’s open year round. But some of the smaller lakes with their own, more secluded charm include Rotoma, Rotomahana and Rerewhakaaitu.

Rainbow trout are most common in Rotorua’s lakes, but there are also brown trout, tiger trout (lake Rotoma only), and brook trout.

The Eastern region - which runs out to and includes East Cape - has lots to offfer the keen game bird hunter as well, with an abundance of lakes, estuaries, rivers, and wetlands - providing habitat for mallard, Paradise shelduck and other species. The season for upland game birds including pheasants and quail, runs right through until almost the end of August.

To learn more about what our great region has to offer anglers and hunters, continue to scroll through the links to the right and you’ll find plenty of information to help you. See the menu to the right for navigation options.