Last updated November 2026
The Point is the grassed reserve in Ngāruawāhia Domain where the Waipā River runs into the Waikato. From the bank you can fish both rivers and the line where their waters meet.
Brown trout live along the whole Waikato, and in spring the bigger fish that have been feeding in the lower river turn up the Waipā to spawn, past this corner. It is shore fishing from a town park with toilets and parking close by, and you need a Fish & Game licence.
At a Glance
- Location
- Ngāruawāhia Domain, at the end of Broadway Street, Ngāruawāhia
- Type
- Riverbank at the confluence of two large lowland rivers
- Water
- Fresh: Waikato River and Waipā River
- Main species
- Brown trout; rainbows are more plentiful upstream of Hamilton
- Methods
- Fly, spinner and bait all allowed
- Season
- Open all year
- Best time
- Twilight and after dark; winter and early spring for brown trout
- Access
- Grass banks in the domain, with parking along the Waipā side
- Toilets
- The Point Toilet, in the domain
- Rules
- Fish & Game Auckland/Waikato; licence required
No tides. River level and clarity move the fishing: stay off the bank when the Waikato or Waipā is high after rain, and expect the best trout fishing in the cooler months.
Setting and Background
The Point sits at the far end of Ngāruawāhia Domain, west of Great South Road. On the aerial photo the two rivers are easy to tell apart: the Waipā comes in from the south-west, often browner, and runs alongside the Waikato for a while before the water mixes. The road and rail bridges over the Waikato are just upstream on the town side.
This corner has a long history. The first Māori king was crowned here in 1858. In the 19th century The Point was a busy river port for steamboats and ferries, and it was the town centre around 1900.
A band rotunda built by the Regatta Association in 1912 stands at the far end, and heritage boards in a 10 m waka-shaped display tell the story of the town’s name and of how the Waikato River formed.
Ngāruawāhia Domain is also where the Te Awa River Ride starts and finishes. The ride follows the Waikato upstream through Hamilton towards Karāpiro, so the domain is busy with walkers and cyclists on fine days. Fish where you are not in the way of the path.
How to Fish The Point
Where and when
Fish & Game describes brown trout as abundant along the full length of the Waikato, says the lower river fishes best in the winter months, and says the best fishing is generally at twilight or after dark. In spring large browns move into the river to feed on smelt and can be caught anywhere from Mercer up to Karāpiro Dam.
By late October Fish & Game expects many of them to head up the Waipā, and nzfishing.com notes that the big trout move up from the Waikato into the Waipā late in the season to spawn. The confluence is the gateway for those fish.
The lower Waipā is a large river between willow-lined banks and is not as popular as the Waikato. It suits a spinner when the flow is low.
What to catch and what to use
- Brown trout on lures: Fish & Game suggests paddle-tail soft baits and spinners such as black or copper Tobys or Zeds. If you get strikes without hooking up, slow down and pause the soft bait for a second after a missed strike.
- Brown trout on the fly: large, dark streamer flies, around size 4.
- Bait: allowed here. Use only bait fish taken from the water you are fishing.
- Rainbow trout: Fish & Game says rainbows are plentiful upstream of Hamilton. Browns are the fish to target here.
For the river through the city itself, see our Waikato River fishing guide for Hamilton.
Getting There and Facilities
- Getting there: The Point is in Ngāruawāhia Domain, reached from Broadway Street on the west side of Great South Road.
- Parking: on the aerial photo, cars park along the riverbank on the Waipā side of the domain.
- Toilets: Waikato District Council lists The Point Toilet in the domain.
- Te Awa River Ride: starts and finishes at the domain, so watch for cyclists when you cast.
Rules and Safety
- The Fish & Game Auckland/Waikato Anglers Notice that took effect on 1 October 2026 has no separate entry for the Waikato here, and the Waipā is listed only upstream of the State Highway 3 bridge. Both rivers at The Point fall under the rule for all other rivers and streams: open all year to fly, spinner and bait. Check the notice for limits.
- You need a current Fish & Game licence and must carry it whenever you fish.
- Do not use fish or clams from another water as bait, and do not move water between waterways, including in bait buckets.
- There are no restricted fishing hours in the Auckland/Waikato region, but these are large, deep rivers. Fish from the bank, keep children back from the edge, and stay away from the water when the rivers are high after rain.
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The Point: Common Questions
Where is The Point in Ngāruawāhia?
At the end of Ngāruawāhia Domain, off Broadway Street, where the Waipā River joins the Waikato River.
What fish can you catch at The Point?
Mainly brown trout. Rainbow trout are more plentiful upstream of Hamilton.
When is the best time to fish?
Twilight and after dark. Winter is best on the lower Waikato, and in spring big browns pass the confluence on their way up the Waipā.
What lures work?
Paddle-tail soft baits and black or copper Tobys or Zeds. On the fly, use large dark streamers.
Can I use bait at The Point?
Yes. Fly, spinner and bait are all allowed, but bait fish must come from the water you are fishing.
Do I need a licence?
Yes. You need a current Fish & Game licence and must carry it.
Are there toilets?
Yes. Waikato District Council lists The Point Toilet in Ngāruawāhia Domain.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Related links 3
- Fish & Game Auckland/Waikato regulations 2026/27: seasons, methods, bait rules and limits.
- Fish & Game: Waikato River and hydro lakes: how and when the river fishes, from Taupō to the sea.
- Waikato Regional Council river levels: latest river levels and flows before you go.