Tongariro National Trout Centre
The Taupō fishing district's first trout...
...was caught in April 1904. It weighed 1.36 kg. Since then the popularity of this region as a prized trout fishery has increased to the point where approximately 70,000 – 80,000 fishing licences are sold every year. The fishery is world renowned for the quality and size of its fish, and is particularly special in that it is a wild fishery – the population sustained by wild trout and not by hatchery stocking.
The Tongariro National Trout Centre has played an important role over the years in educating people about the fishery, and raising awareness among the public of the importance of freshwater conservation and the need to create a sustainable fishery resource. The complex has seen many changes and improvements over the years and the latest addition, The River Walk Visitor Centre (opened at the end of August 2003), is a further step toward improving the facility.
The hatchery area of the complex is continually maintained by the Department of Conservation in a state of readiness should re-stocking of the fishery ever be necessary. This could be the course of action if a severe natural occurrence was to put the wild trout fishery in jeopardy. At present the hatchery still performs a role in rearing fish for the children’s fishing pond each year.
A fish trap was installed in 1963 in the Waihukahuka Stream which runs through the Centre, and this trap was operated until 1995. It was used to monitor the run of spawning trout and also to trap fish from which eggs were obtained for the hatchery.
The children’s fishing pond was originally built to act as a settling pond from which water from all of the hatchery raceways and ponds flowed prior to being discharged back into the Waihukahuka Stream. Today, the pond is used for the very popular children’s fishing days where children between the ages of 6 and 14 are assisted to catch a trout with a fly rod. This experience provides an opportunity to pass on valuable messages about trout fishing. Along with The River Walk Visitor Centre, the viewing chamber and the hatchery, the complex provides a great educational tool for children and adults alike.
The underwater viewing chamber looks directly into the Waihukahuka Stream and provides an excellent view of wild trout in their natural habitat. It was built by the Turangi Lions Club in 1983 and received further improvements to the structure in 2000. The viewing chamber still proves to be one of the most popular features of the Tongariro National Trout Centre.
The River Walk Visitor Centre within the Tongariro National Trout Centre, adds a further dimension to the complex. In 2001, The Tongariro National Trout Centre Society was incorporated to promote and foster public interest in and understanding of the Taupo fishery through the development of a trout centre and wider education programmes. Together with the Department of Conservation, the society shared a vision to create an educational facility that would be an excellent addition to the existing complex. The society purchased the Department of Conservation’s obsolete workshop in the grounds with the intention of turning the building into an advocacy centre, complete with auditorium and interpretive displays.
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Children's Fishing Days
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Held at the children's fishing pond at Tongariro National Trout Centre in Turangi. At these events, children are taught flyrod skills by volunteers of the Tongariro National Trout Centre Society. The fish is weighed and measured and a certificate issued.
2010 Dates
The fishing pond will be open on the following days for 2010:
Sunday 3 October (School Holidays)
Sunday 24 October (Labour Weekend)
Things to do at the Trout Centre
- Wander along the mighty Tongariro River and enjoy the native bush, tui, kereru and wild trout
- Feed the fish with food for sale from the River Walk Visitor Centre
- Bring a picnic or make use of the coin operated electric barbeque
- Have a look at the underwater viewing chamber, where you can see wild trout in their natural environment in the Waihukahuka Stream
- Wander through the hatchery facility where trout are reared for the children’s fishing pond
- Watch children catch a trout from the fishing pond on certain days of the year
- Learn all about the history of trout fishing in the Taupō District and what the Department of Conservation does to manage the fishery, through the interesting displays at The River Walk Visitor Centre
- Watch a 15 minute audio visual about fly-fishing in the auditorium
