Last updated October 2026
The Tukituki River at Walker Road is a river access point east of Waipawa in Central Hawke’s Bay, just downstream of where the Waipawa River flows into the Tukituki. LAWA describes it as a popular swimming and recreational spot that also draws anglers, and walkers visit over the summer months.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council tests the water here every week from November to March, and the site holds a Fair long-term grade on LAWA: usually fine for swimming, but best avoided after rain.
Toxic algae is the bigger concern at this spot, with health warnings issued in recent summers, so check LAWA for warnings and alerts before every visit. It lies south of Hastings in the Central Hawke’s Bay countryside, so it works best as part of a day trip rather than a quick swim from town.
Swimming Facts
Before you swim: Tested weekly Nov–Mar by Hawke's Bay Regional Council. Stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain. Latest result on LAWA
Today at Tukituki River at Walker Road
Monday 19 OctoberWater quality track record
What the grades mean
Excellent and Good: rarely unsafe for swimming. Fair: usually fine, but avoid swimming after rain. Poor: often unsuitable, especially after rain, so check the latest result first.
Grades use LAWA’s method: the 95th percentile of routine E. coli results over the five summers from 2020/21 to 2024/25, with at least 50 tests (458 per 100 mL from 95 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- Walker Road, east of Waipawa, Central Hawke’s Bay (access across Hawke’s Bay Regional Council land at the road end)
- Water
- Tukituki River, freshwater, just below the Waipawa River confluence; no tides
- Riverbed
- Cobbles (LAWA describes the site as cobble dominated)
- Water quality
- Fair (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Weekly from November to March by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council; results on LAWA
- Toxic algae
- Mats of toxic algae have been found here in several summers; check LAWA warnings and keep dogs away from algal mats
- Facilities
- None listed by the council or LAWA
- Lifeguards
- None
- Fishing
- Popular with trout anglers (Fish and Game licence required)
- Cost
- Free
About the Tukituki River at Walker Road
The Tukituki River runs for 117 kilometres from the Ruahine Ranges to the Pacific Ocean at Haumoana, flowing east and then northeast through Waipukurau before it reaches Hawke Bay close to Hastings.
Walker Road gives access to the river east of Waipawa, at the point where the Waipawa River joins the Tukituki. Fish and Game notes that this confluence is commonly called the Breakwater.
LAWA describes the Walker Road site as cobble dominated, so expect a stony riverbed and stony banks rather than sand. The area is popular with anglers, and swimmers and walkers come during the summer months. Hawke’s Bay Tourism notes that the Tukituki and its tributaries hold a large population of wild rainbow and brown trout.
Access is across Hawke’s Bay Regional Council land at the end of Walker Road. Access to the river here has not always been straightforward: for the 2023/24 summer the regional council moved its water sampling downstream to Tamumu Bridge because of ongoing access issues, and in January 2024 it noted that repair work was being completed at Walker Road.
Rivers in this area can change after floods, so be ready to use another access point if the road end is closed.
The Tukituki Trail, a network of mostly flat limestone walking and cycling tracks beside the river between Waipukurau and Waipawa, is close by if you want to add a walk or a ride to the trip. Downstream, Fish and Game lists Tamumu Bridge on Pourere Road as the next public access point, reached from both sides of the bridge.
Swimming and Water Quality
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council tests the water at Walker Road every week from November to March, as part of its summer monitoring of popular swimming spots.
The site holds a Fair long-term grade on LAWA, based on routine tests over the five summers from 2020/21 to 2024/25. A Fair grade means the water is usually fine for swimming but is best avoided after rain.
Across 115 tests from November 2019 to March 2025, 95% were suitable for swimming. Most summers recorded no unsuitable results at all; the exceptions were one unsuitable result in the 2021/22 summer and three in 2022/23.
A good record does not tell you what the water is like today, so check the latest result for this spot on LAWA before you swim.
Stay out of the water for at least 48 hours after heavy rain, when runoff from farmland can raise bacteria levels.
The regional council’s own advice is to wait up to three days, and to use its rule of toes: if you cannot see your toes when standing knee-deep, the water quality is not the best for a swim. There are no lifeguards here, and river levels and flows change quickly after rain, so check the flow, swim with others and keep a close eye on children.
Toxic Algae at Walker Road
Toxic algae is a recurring problem on this stretch of the Tukituki. Between the 2019/20 and 2024/25 summers the regional council checked Walker Road for toxic algae 22 times, and 10 of those checks reached the action level, when people are advised to stay out of the water.
LAWA’s alert for the site says regional council staff have seen mats of toxic algae here, either on the rocks or floating free, and asks visitors to watch for it, particularly with dogs and young children.
In January 2024 the regional council reported multiple blooms near Walker Road, and in December 2025 Health New Zealand issued a health warning for the Tukituki River at Black Bridge and Walker Road after monitoring found moderate to high cover of potentially toxic algae.
While a warning is in place, people should avoid swimming and keep animals, particularly dogs, away from the water until it is lifted.
The algae looks like dark brown or black mats attached to rocks on the riverbed and often has a strong musty smell, which dogs find appealing. High flows can remove a bloom, but detached mats can pile up along the edge of the river.
Contact can cause skin rashes, nausea, stomach cramps and tingling or numbness around the mouth and fingertips. Anyone who feels unwell after being in the river should see a doctor or call Healthline on 0800 611 116, and a dog that seems unwell after a visit should go to a vet straight away.
Getting There and Access
Waipawa sits on State Highway 2 south of Hastings, and Walker Road lies east of the town. Public access to the river is across Hawke’s Bay Regional Council land at the road end. If the road end is closed, Tamumu Bridge on Pourere Road, which you can follow from Waipawa, is the next access point downstream.
No toilets, changing rooms or other facilities are listed for the Walker Road access point, so bring water and everything you need for the day, and take your rubbish home.
Where to Learn More
LAWA: Tukituki River at Walker Road: LAWA and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council: the latest swimming result, the long-term grade and any toxic algae alert for this spot.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council: Toxic Algae: How to recognise toxic algae on Hawke’s Bay rivers and what to do if people or dogs come into contact with it.
Fish and Game: Tukituki River Access Points: A guide to the public access points along the Tukituki River, including Walker Road and Tamumu Bridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim in the Tukituki River at Walker Road?
Yes. LAWA describes Walker Road as a popular swimming and recreational spot. The site has a Fair water quality grade, and toxic algae is common in summer, so check LAWA for the latest result and any warnings before you get in.
What is the water quality like at Walker Road?
The site holds a Fair long-term grade on LAWA, which means it is usually fine for swimming but best avoided after rain. Of 115 tests from November 2019 to March 2025, 95% were suitable for swimming.
Is there toxic algae in the Tukituki River at Walker Road?
Mats of toxic algae have been found here in several summers, and Health New Zealand issued a health warning for Walker Road in December 2025. Look for dark brown or black mats on the rocks, and stay out of the water while a warning is in place.
Can I take my dog to Walker Road?
Dogs are especially at risk from toxic algae because they are attracted to its musty smell and may eat it. Keep dogs away from algal mats, keep them out of the water while a warning is in place, and take a dog to a vet straight away if it seems unwell after a visit.
How long should I wait to swim after rain?
Wait at least 48 hours after heavy rain. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council advises up to three days, and suggests the rule of toes: if you cannot see your toes when standing knee-deep, it is not the best time for a swim.
Where is the Walker Road access point?
It is east of Waipawa in Central Hawke’s Bay, at the end of Walker Road, just downstream of where the Waipawa River joins the Tukituki. Access is across Hawke’s Bay Regional Council land at the road end.
Are there lifeguards or toilets at Walker Road?
No. There are no lifeguards, and no toilets or other facilities are listed for the access point, so bring what you need and swim with others.
Can you fish at Walker Road?
Yes. LAWA notes the area is popular with fishers, and the Tukituki and its tributaries hold wild rainbow and brown trout. You need a Fish and Game licence to fish for trout.
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