Last updated October 2026
Lake Waihola is a large, very shallow lake on the lower Taieri Plain, beside Waihola township and State Highway 1, about 35 km south of Dunedin. Fish & Game Otago says it holds large numbers of perch, and trout are caught too.
The lake is open for fishing all year. You can fish from the shore at the township end or take a small boat out from the ramp behind the Lake Waihola Holiday Park.
Lake Waihola at a Glance
- Location
- Waihola township, State Highway 1, between Dunedin and Milton
- Water
- Shallow tidal freshwater lake, about 640 ha and 6 km long, mean depth 0.75 m
- Main species
- Perch; trout at times
- Season
- Open all year
- Methods
- Fly, spinner and bait; fishing from a boat is allowed
- Boat ramp
- Behind the Lake Waihola Holiday Park, 10 Waihola Place
- Licence
- Fish & Game sports fish licence required, including for perch
- Suits
- Perch fishing with children; small boats and kayaks
- Water quality
- Algae warnings have been issued in past summers: check LAWA before you go
Only a small tidal rise and fall through the Waipori; check for any toxic algae warning before you go.
What to Expect
Lake Waihola covers about 640 ha and is about 6 km long, but its mean depth is only 0.75 m, and much of the bottom is soft mud. It sits only a little above sea level.
On a flood tide, water from the Taieri River pushes back up into the lake, and the tidal rise and fall is about 0.3 m. The northern end drains into the Waipori River, which joins the Taieri. Fish & Game describes saltwater coming in on the tide, so the water can be slightly brackish.
The lake is part of the Waipori and Waihola wetland system, one of New Zealand’s largest remaining lowland wetlands at about 2,175 ha. It is home to giant kōkopu and fernbirds, and Fish & Game calls the wider complex the most extensive waterfowl habitat in Otago.
The Sinclair Wetlands are close by. Mana whenua are Ngāi Tahu, including Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki and Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou. The original name was Waihora, usually translated as spreading or wide waters.
It is a busy lake. People water ski, sail, jet ski, kayak and paddleboard here, and the lake has a rowing course of international standard. In the game bird season, duck hunters use permanent maimai at the northern and south-western ends of the lake.
Water leaves the lake through the Lower Waipori, which runs on to the Taieri. Upstream on the Taieri, our Taieri River at Outram guide covers the trout water at Outram Glen.
How to Fish Lake Waihola
Where to fish
Perch hold around underwater structure and snags. They swim in small schools, so when you start getting bites, stay where you are rather than moving on. From the shore, the township end of the lake around the jetty and the holiday park is the handiest place to start.
A small boat or kayak lets you work along the edges, but the channels are shallow, and Fish & Game advises caution and local knowledge when navigating them, especially in the dark.
What to catch and what to use
- Perch: brightly coloured soft plastics, with many anglers saying red works best. Small blade spinners such as Mepps and Jensen, small Rapalas and Zeds are popular. Perch also take worms, maggots, feathered lures and nymphs.
- Trout: caught at times in the lake. Ask at a tackle shop or at the holiday park for what has been showing up recently.
Tide
There are no tide times to fish to here, but the lake does rise and fall by about 0.3 m as the Taieri tide pushes water up through the Waipori, and some saltwater comes in with it.
Getting There and Facilities
- By car: State Highway 1 runs through Waihola, about 35 km south of Dunedin and around 30 minutes by car. Milton is 16 km to the south-west.
- Boat ramp: behind the Lake Waihola Holiday Park at 10 Waihola Place.
- Holiday park: cabins, powered and unpowered sites, a barbecue area, playground and dump station.
- Food: the Black Swan café and the Waihola Tavern are in the township.
- Other users: water skiers, jet skis, sailors and rowers all use the lake, so keep lines clear of their lanes on busy days.
Rules and Safety
- Perch are sports fish in Otago, so you need a Fish & Game sports fish licence to fish for them, as well as for trout. There is no bag limit for perch. Check the Otago regulations for the trout bag.
- The lake, its outlet and the waterways connecting it to Lake Waipori are open all year to fly, spinner and bait, and you may fish from a boat.
- The Otago Regional Council has issued health warnings for cyanobacteria (toxic algae) on the lake in past summers. While a warning is in place, avoid contact with the water, keep dogs out, and avoid eating fish from the lake. If you do eat them, remove the gut and liver and wash the fish in clean water. Check LAWA and the signs at the lake before you fish.
- The lake is very shallow with soft mud in many areas. Don’t wade out far, and take care launching and running a boat in the shallow channels.
- In the game bird season, hunters are out in maimai and boats, often in the dark. Give the maimai at the northern and south-western ends a wide berth, and check Fish & Game Otago for season dates.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Dunedin (Allan Millars), 141 Crawford Street, Dunedin: fishing gear, and a Fish & Game licence agent. Pick up lures, worms and your licence in Dunedin on the way down.
Find Out More
Fish & Game Otago sports fishing regulations: the season, methods and limits for Lake Waihola and the Waipori.
LAWA: Lake Waihola at jetty: water quality and any toxic algae warning for the lake.
Fish & Game: Lake Waihola: the lake, its wetlands, the boat ramp and where the maimai are.
Common Questions
What can you catch in Lake Waihola?
Mainly perch, which Fish & Game says are in the lake in large numbers. Trout are caught at times.
Do I need a licence to fish for perch at Lake Waihola?
Yes. Perch are sports fish in Otago, so you need a Fish & Game sports fish licence.
Is there a bag limit for perch?
No. There is no bag limit for perch in Otago. Trout limits apply, so check the Otago regulations.
When can you fish Lake Waihola?
All year. The lake is open to fly, spinner and bait fishing year-round.
Where is the boat ramp?
Behind the Lake Waihola Holiday Park at 10 Waihola Place. The channels are shallow, so go slowly and take care in the dark.
What are the best lures for perch?
Brightly coloured soft plastics, especially red, and small blade spinners such as Mepps. Worms and maggots work too. Fish near snags and structure.
Is there toxic algae in Lake Waihola?
Cyanobacteria warnings have been issued in past summers. Check LAWA’s Lake Waihola at jetty page and the signs at the lake before you fish.
Is Lake Waihola tidal?
Yes, a little. The Taieri tide pushes water up through the Waipori, and the lake rises and falls by about 0.3 m.
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