Last updated October 2026
Sullivans Dam is a 6.6 hectare reservoir in the upper Leith Valley, about 10 km north of central Dunedin at the top of the Northern Motorway. Fish & Game Otago stocks it with hatchery rainbow trout, and it is open to fly and spin fishing all year.
Bait is not allowed. The dam sits in a narrow valley of native bush and some pine, so there is usually a sheltered bank to fish from, and the Cloud Forests of Leith Track starts at its northern end.
At a Glance
- Location
- Leith Valley Road, upper Leith Valley, about 10 km north of central Dunedin
- Type
- Water supply reservoir, 400 m long and 180 m wide; deep at the southern end, weedy shallows near the inflow
- Water
- Reservoir (freshwater lake)
- Main species
- Stocked rainbow trout
- Season
- Open all year
- Methods
- Fly and spinner only; no bait; no fishing from boats, float tubes or other craft
- Access
- Gate with a stile on the right of Leith Valley Road, about 200 m past the bridge over SH1; a second gate about 200 m further on
- Parking
- Small car parks at each access; keep the gateways clear
- Licence
- Fish & Game sports fishing licence required
- Rules
- Otago Fish & Game sports fishing regulations
No tides: light, wind and the season move the fishing, with terrestrial insects on the water from November to mid-March.
The Background
City councillor Archibald J. Sullivan proposed the dam in 1909 to expand Dunedin’s water supply. Work started in May 1913 and the reservoir opened on 15 July 1916. It was stocked with trout soon after, and it has been a popular spot for anglers ever since. Its outflow is the Water of Leith.
The reservoir is 400 m long and up to 180 m wide. The southern end, by the dam, is deep, and it gets shallower and weedier towards the inflow at the top end. Native bush and some exotic pine line the valley, and the catchment is popular with walkers.
The trout come from the hatchery at OceanaGold’s Macraes Mine, run with Otago Fish & Game. Over 20 years to 2024 it released about 150,000 yearling rainbow trout into put-and-take waters, including Dunedin’s water supply reservoirs. Sullivans Dam was restocked before the September 2025 school holidays.
Anglers fish the reservoir by permission of the Dunedin City Council. Fish & Game asks everyone to stay out of the water and to take their rubbish home.
How to Fish Sullivans Dam
Where to fish
The first gate on Leith Valley Road brings you to the dam end, where the water is deepest. The second gate leads on a short forest walk to the top end of the reservoir, where the shallows near the inflow are weedy. The valley is narrow and bush-lined, so on a windy day one bank is usually sheltered.
Flies
- Nymphs: bullies are a major food here. Fish & Game suggests Black & Peacock, Hare’s Ear, Midge Pupa and Gold Bead Hare’s Ear nymphs in sizes 12 to 16.
- Dry flies: a small Adams works all year. In the warmer months try Coch-y-Bonddu, Royal Wulff and cicada patterns.
- Terrestrials: from November to mid-March, cicadas, blowflies and beetles are in the trout’s diet.
Spinners
Brightly coloured Tasmanian Devils suit the rainbows. In the deep water near the dam, let the lure sink for a while and vary the speed of your retrieve. Scented artificial lures are allowed when you fish them actively to imitate a baitfish.
Getting There and Facilities
- Road: drive north up Leith Valley Road. About 200 m after the bridge over SH1, there is a gate on the right with a stile beside it for foot access. The second access is about 200 m further on.
- Parking: small car parks at each access point. Keep the gateways clear.
- Walking: the Cloud Forests of Leith Track starts at the northern end of the dam. It is well graded with some muddy sections, and a DCC sign at the start lists its hazards.
- Facilities: bring what you need, including a bag for your rubbish.
Rules and Safety
- You need a Fish & Game sports fishing licence. A family whole-season licence covers the people named on it.
- Under the Otago regulations Sullivans Dam is open all year to fly and spin fishing. Bait is not permitted, for public health reasons, because this is a water supply reservoir.
- No fishing from any boat, canoe, float tube or other flotation device. A daily bag limit applies: check the current Otago regulations.
- Stay out of the water and take your rubbish home. Access depends on the Dunedin City Council’s permission.
- The water is deep at the dam end. Keep children close to you on the bank.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Dunedin (Allan Millars), 141 Crawford Street, central Dunedin: flies, spinners and fishing gear. Licences are also sold online by Fish & Game.
Official Sources for Sullivans Dam
Fish & Game: Dunedin fishing spots: access, flies and lures for Sullivans Dam and the other city waters.
Otago sports fishing regulations: the current season, methods and bag limits for Otago waters.
Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club: Cloud Forests of Leith Track: the walk that starts at the northern end of the dam.
Common Questions
Where is Sullivans Dam?
In the upper Leith Valley, about 10 km north of central Dunedin. The access gates are on Leith Valley Road, just past the bridge over SH1.
What fish are in Sullivans Dam?
Rainbow trout, stocked by Fish & Game Otago from the Macraes hatchery.
Can I use bait at Sullivans Dam?
No. It is a water supply reservoir and bait is not permitted. Fly and spin fishing only.
When is Sullivans Dam open for fishing?
All year under the current Otago regulations.
Do I need a licence?
Yes. You need a Fish & Game sports fishing licence. A family whole-season licence covers the people named on it.
Can I fish from a float tube or kayak?
No. Fishing from any boat, canoe or flotation device is not allowed at Sullivans Dam.
What flies work at Sullivans Dam?
Small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear and Black & Peacock in sizes 12 to 16, a small Adams all year, and cicada and beetle patterns from November to mid-March.
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