Fishing
Tongariro River and more
The Turangi Bridge Motel sits on the banks of the Tongariro River, only 30 metres from the World Famous Bridge Pool. The Tongariro River is one of the top Fly-fishing rivers in New Zealand, where you can catch both Rainbow and Brown Trout all year round.
As well as the Tongariro there is the Tauranga-Taupo, the Hinemaiaia and Waitahanui Streams are a short drive from the “Bridge” Motel on the Northern side of Turangi and to the Western side you have the Omori, Kuratau and Whareroa streams. To the south there is Lake Rotoaira and the trophy trout Lake Otamangakau, where many 10 pound trout have been landed.
If you wish to get away from the madding crowds the rivers that flow from the surrounding mountains boast world-class wilderness fishing with crystal clear waters for sight fishing. The Wanganui, Whakapapa, Mangawhero, Ongarue Rivers . The list goes on.
So book your accommodation at Turangi Bridge Motel now. Let us be your base for all your activities.
Tournament Trophy
We have a large trophy just inside the front door of the “Bridge Motel”, this trophy was for a tournament in 1985 that was going to rival the then Taupo 3 day tournament . We have been told (it could be a little untrue, but that’s fishermen for you) that the ” Bridge ” tournament was run over 3 days and at the end of each day everyone was told where all the trout were caught and on what and when and this was done in a different language at the end of each day.
It was not the biggest fish that won the tournament, but was the total weight of fish that each fisherman had caught over the 3 days. The winner was Barry Greig from Turangi with a total catch of 43.94 kg. Anyone who now stays at the Turangi Bridge Motel goes in to having their name on the Trophy. All they have to do is catch the heaviest Trout for the season. Last season it was won by Paul Anderson from Australia with a 8 1/2 lb Rainbow.
Book your place this season and see if a Kiwi can do it!
Further helpful resources
Some history about the Turangi Bridge Motel
It was built in 1931 as a General Store/Post Office and had fishermen’s huts for accommodation. It was the first to be given a Tourist License in the King Country. It was then redeveloped in 1985 to it’s present modern state.
Turangi township was developed in the 1960′s when the hydro development project took place
