Last updated October 2026
Lake Tūtira is a 178 hectare lake beside State Highway 2, about 40 minutes north of Napier and an hour from Hastings. Fish & Game stocks it with trout from Lake Tarawera, and they grow quickly over summer.
You can fish from the shore at the northern end and the southern causeway, or troll from a kayak or rowboat. It is open all year, fly and spinner only, and only boats with sails, oars or paddles may be used for fishing. There is free camping at the lake and walking tracks in Tūtira Regional Park.
Lake Tūtira at a Glance
- Location
- Beside SH2, 41 km north of Napier (3488 State Highway 2, Tūtira)
- Water
- Freshwater lake (Fish & Game Hawke’s Bay)
- Main species
- Stocked trout (Lake Tarawera fish)
- Season
- Open all year
- Methods
- Fly and spinner only; no bait
- Boats
- Only boats propelled by sails, oars or paddles; no motors
- Shore access
- Northern end track and the southern causeway, both with parking
- Camping
- Free DOC campsite at the park gateway; HBRC paid campground (closed 1 Jul to 30 Sep)
- Dogs
- Not allowed (wildlife reserve)
- Licence
- Fish & Game licence required
No tides. Season, wind and weed decide where the trout are: edges in spring, autumn and after southerlies, deeper water in summer.
The Background
Lake Tūtira sits in a basin of steep farmed hills, with SH2 along its western shore. The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council runs Tūtira Regional Park around it, and DOC runs the free campsite and the Lake Tūtira Recreation Reserve.
You drive in through the gates and the wildlife reserve, then across a causeway between Lake Tūtira and the smaller Lake Waikōpirō.
The lake is the heart of the Maungaharuru-Tangitū hapū’s rohe. Their saying calls it “ko te waiū o ō tātau tīpuna”, the milk of our ancestors, for the food it gave. The Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi project and HBRC’s Te Waiū o Tūtira project work with landowners to cut the nutrients reaching the lake and plant its edges.
Fish & Game stocks the lake with fish from Lake Tarawera. Some are tagged: report a tagged fish to Fish & Game and you go into a draw for a free licence.
A monitoring buoy is moored over a 42 metre hole. It measures the water for the hydrilla eradication programme and sends near real-time algae data, so keep anchor lines well clear of it.
How to Fish Lake Tūtira
Where and when
From the shore, fish the access track at the northern end or the causeway at the southern end, where there is parking. There are more signposted access points along the western shore. Shore fishing is best early in the season and in spring and autumn.
In summer the trout go deeper and a boat usually does better, and weed growth can make the edges hard work. From about July the fish move inshore to spawn, and after strong southerlies they often come to the edges.
What to catch and what to use
- Trolling: Fish & Game suggests trolling Toby and Z spinners in copper, silver, or yellow and green from a rowboat or kayak.
- Wet flies: Hamill’s Killer, Red Setter, Mrs Simpson and Parson’s Glory.
- Nymphs: Pheasant Tail, Hare and Copper and Glo Bug.
- Shore fly fishing: a slow-sinking line with a dragonfly pattern worked along the weed beds.
- Trout: anglers report mostly rainbows of around a kilo. Tūtira and Waikōpirō have their own minimum length rule, so check the regulations before you keep one.
What to bring
Your licence, a kayak or rowboat if you have one, drinking water (the taps are for handwashing only) and toilet paper. Cellphone coverage is patchy.
Getting There and Facilities
- Driving: from Bay View, drive 31 km north on SH2 and turn right into the park. Keep left and wait for a clear gap; the entrance roads are narrow with limited sight lines.
- Causeway: it can flood and become impassable after heavy rain.
- Camping: the DOC Lake Tūtira Campsite at the park gateway is free, open all year and first come, first served, with a picnic shelter. The HBRC campground about 950 m further in costs $15 per vehicle per night, paid online before you arrive, and closes from 1 July to 30 September for lambing.
- Toilets: composting toilets and picnic tables in the park. There is no kitchen or shower.
- Dogs and fires: no dogs or other pets, and no fires at any time. Pack out what you bring in.
- Walks: the Tūtira Walkway climbs to Table Mountain Trig. Galbraith’s Track and the area behind the north gate are closed for forestry harvest, so check HBRC’s track list first.
Rules and Safety
- Fish & Game Hawke’s Bay rules apply and you need a licence. The lake is open all year to fly and spinner only.
- Only boats propelled by sails, oars or paddles can be used to fish Lake Tūtira, so no electric motors either. No fishing from any motorised craft on Lake Waikōpirō.
- Hydrilla, a pest weed, is being eradicated here. Wash your boat, kayak and gear and remove every plant fragment before and after launching.
- Toxic algae blooms happen from time to time, most often in warm, dry summers. HBRC says the lakes are not suitable for swimming because of algae and duck itch. Check LAWA or HBRC before you go, and avoid scummy water.
- Livestock graze the park. Take care around cattle with calves and watch for ongaonga (stinging nettle) beside tracks.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Napier, Taradale Road, Napier. Also sells Fish & Game licences.
- Crafty’s Rods & Guns, 108 Maraekakaho Road, Hastings. Tackle and licences.
- Licences are also sold online through Fish & Game.
Further Reading
Fish & Game: Lake Tūtira: access, stocking and suggested lures and flies.
HBRC: Tūtira Regional Park: camping, track closures, boating and algae advice.
Hawke’s Bay sports fishing regulations: season, methods, boat rule and limits.
Common Questions
Do I need a licence to fish Lake Tūtira?
Yes. You need a Fish & Game licence, and Hawke’s Bay rules apply.
Can I use bait at Lake Tūtira?
No. The lake is fly and spinner only.
Can I use a boat with a motor?
No. Only boats with sails, oars or paddles may be used to fish the lake, which rules out electric motors too.
When is the lake open?
All year. Shore fishing is usually best in spring, autumn and early in the season, and boats do better in summer.
Where can I fish from the shore?
The northern end access track and the causeway at the southern end both have parking, and there are signposted spots along the western shore.
Can I camp at Lake Tūtira?
Yes. The DOC campsite at the park gateway is free all year. The HBRC campground is $15 per vehicle per night and closed 1 July to 30 September.
Are dogs allowed?
No. Dogs and other pets are not allowed in the park, which is a wildlife reserve.
Is there algae in the lake?
Toxic blooms happen from time to time, mostly in warm, dry summers. Check LAWA or HBRC before you go.
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