Last updated October 2026
The Waipaoa River mouth is where the Waipaoa River meets Poverty Bay, at the far south-western end of the long beach that runs from the city past Midway. Anglers surfcast the beach and the mouth here.
Gisborne shore anglers target snapper, kahawai and trevally along this coast. You reach it from the gravel parking at the end of Centennial Marine Drive, not from Stanley Road, which is several kilometres away at the Midway end. Young Nicks Head lies across the mouth.
At a Glance
- Location
- South-west end of the Poverty Bay beach, end of Centennial Marine Drive, Gisborne
- Type
- River mouth with sand bars and an open surf beach
- Water
- Waipaoa River mouth and Poverty Bay (sea)
- Main species
- Gisborne shore species: snapper, kahawai and trevally
- Access
- Gravel parking at the end of Centennial Marine Drive
- Toilets
- None near the mouth; nearest at the Midway surf club building
- Dogs
- Off-leash on the beach from Stanley Road to the Waipaoa River
- Tide port
- Gisborne (LINZ)
- Rules
- MPI Central; Fish & Game rules within 500 m of the mouth
- Cost
- Free
- High 2:57 am 1.9 m
- Low 9:08 am 0.6 m
- High 3:24 pm 1.9 m
- Low 9:45 pm 0.6 m
Best times today: around 2:57 am, 9:08 am, 3:24 pm and 9:45 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 9:31 am and 9:54 pm (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best. Full 7-day Gisborne tides ›
Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
Getting to Know Waipaoa River Mouth
From the air, the Waipaoa spreads into a wide, silty mouth, braided by sand bars, before breaking through to the sea.
The road ends at a gravel area on the northern bank, and a track runs along the dunes behind the beach towards Midway. Gisborne District Council counts more than 7.2 km of beach between Pacific Street and the river mouth.
The mouth sits at the edge of the Gisborne harbour limits, which run from Tuaheni Point to Young Nicks Head (Te Kurī-a-Pāoa) on the far side of the river. Wherowhero Lagoon is also south-west of the mouth. In the aerial photo the river water is brown and silty where it meets the sea.
The council monitors a Waipaoa River swim site, which rated suitable for swimming in its January 2025 round. Rivers carry a higher risk after rain, so the council advises keeping out of the water for three to five days after heavy rain.
How to Fish the Waipaoa River Mouth
Where and when
Walk from the Centennial Marine Drive parking onto the beach and cast into the surf either side of the mouth. The mouth shifts with floods and tides, so look at the channel before you set up, and stay off the sand bars as the tide comes in. Fresh water pushing out after rain colours the sea for some distance.
What to catch
- Snapper, kahawai and trevally: the usual shore catches on the Gisborne coast.
- Trout: within 500 metres of the mouth, the water counts as freshwater, and trout need a Fish & Game licence.
- Local advice: ask at Hunting & Fishing Gisborne what has been caught at the mouth recently.
Getting There and Facilities
- Driving: follow Centennial Marine Drive south-west to its end, where there is gravel parking by the mouth. Stanley Road, which the old directions used, is at the Midway end, several kilometres away.
- Toilets: none near the mouth. The nearest council toilet is at the Midway surf club building.
- Dogs: dogs may be off-leash on the beach and foreshore from Stanley Road to the Waipaoa River.
- Camping: freedom camping is prohibited across the Gisborne urban area; the Midway surf club car park allows it for up to three nights.
- Young Nicks Head: do not cross the river to Young Nicks Head; fish from the city side.
Rules and Safety
- Sea fishing follows MPI’s Central area rules. No licence is needed, and MPI lists no closures at the mouth.
- Within 500 metres of where the river meets the sea at low tide, Fish & Game Eastern’s freshwater rules apply.
- Do not wade the river mouth. Currents, shifting sand bars and floodwater make it dangerous, especially on an incoming tide or after rain.
- Avoid the water for three to five days after heavy rain, and cook any shellfish until the shells open.
- Under the Tairāwhiti Navigation Safety Bylaw, fishing gear must not obstruct boats.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Gisborne, 310 Gladstone Road: tackle, bait and Fish & Game licences.
Find Out More
MPI Central fishing rules: size limits, daily limits and closures for the East Coast.
Gisborne District Council: Can I swim here?: water quality advice, especially after rain.
Gisborne District Council: dog exercise areas: where dogs can run off-leash on the beach.
Common Questions
How do I get to the Waipaoa River mouth?
Drive to the end of Centennial Marine Drive, where there is gravel parking by the mouth. Stanley Road is at the Midway end, several kilometres away.
What can I catch at the Waipaoa mouth?
Snapper, kahawai and trevally are the usual shore catches on the Gisborne coast.
Do I need a licence?
Not for sea fishing. Within 500 metres of the mouth, trout need a Fish & Game licence.
Are there toilets at the Waipaoa mouth?
No. The nearest council toilet is at the Midway surf club building.
Can I take my dog?
Yes. Dogs may be off-leash on the beach from Stanley Road to the Waipaoa River.
Can I wade the river mouth?
No. Currents and shifting sand bars make it dangerous, especially after rain.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ).