Last updated October 2026
The Groynes is a large council park off Johns Road between Christchurch Airport and Belfast, and it is one of the best places in Christchurch to take a child fishing. Its four signposted fishing lakes are for anglers under 18 only and are open all year.
Fish & Game stocks them with rainbow trout each spring, and brown and rainbow trout also live there from the nearby Ōtūkaikino. Adults can fish the Ōtūkaikino Creek, the South Branch of the Waimakariri, from 1 October to 30 April. Everyone needs a Fish & Game licence, and children under 12 get one free.
At a Glance
- Location
- Johns Road, between Christchurch Airport and Belfast
- Who can fish
- Lakes: anglers under 18 only. Ōtūkaikino Creek: everyone, in season
- Season
- Lakes open all year; Ōtūkaikino 1 October to 30 April
- Main species
- Rainbow trout (stocked) and brown trout
- Methods
- Fly, spinner and bait
- Licence
- Fish & Game licence for everyone; free for children under 12
- Gates
- 7am to 9pm in daylight saving; 7am to 7pm the rest of the year
- Facilities
- Toilets, free barbecues, playgrounds, boat hire on weekends
- Dogs
- On a leash, except in the fenced dog park and the river path beside it
- Rules
- Fish & Game North Canterbury, plus council park rules
No tides. The junior lakes are still, spring-fed water and fish best in the weeks after the spring trout release; check for algae warnings in summer.
What Makes It Worth the Trip
The park takes its name from the groynes built in the Ōtūkaikino in the 1930s: large blocks made from wool sacks filled with concrete, placed to separate the creek from the main branch of the Waimakariri River for flood protection.
Since the early 2000s the council has worked to restore the Ōtūkaikino, clear pest plants from the lakes and replant native species.
Fish & Game describes the four junior fishing lakes, at the western end of the reserve, as dedicated to young anglers.
Parents, grandparents and caregivers are welcome to help with casting and landing fish, but the child has to be the one fishing. The park also has a separate recreation lake used for boat hire, which is not one of the signposted fishing lakes.
Each spring Fish & Game releases about 800 rainbow trout into the lakes before the Take a Kid Fishing day. In 2024 about 300 were caught on the day, leaving around 500 in the lakes, and many fish go uncaught for months afterwards. The lakes also hold a resident population of brown and rainbow trout from the Ōtūkaikino.
The Ōtūkaikino was a traditional wai tapu, a waterway set aside for burial, and part of it is now protected as a wetland reserve. The council has been correcting te reo Māori names on park signs with Ngāi Tūāhuriri, so you may see spellings change on site.
How to Fish The Groynes
The junior lakes
The lakes are lined in places with a mat that helps control lagarosiphon, an invasive oxygen weed, and lost sinkers and hooks can snag or damage it. Fish & Game recommends rigs that stay off the bottom:
- Hooks: single hooks, sizes 1 to 12.
- Bait: no sinker on the bottom. Use split shot, and a bubble float or float rig to hold the bait up.
- Line: 6 to 10 lb.
- Soft baits: on light jig heads, 1/20 oz to 1/4 oz, with a size 1 hook.
The Ōtūkaikino for adults
Fish & Game calls the Ōtūkaikino a charming spring creek with healthy numbers of smaller trout, and a popular after-work fishery. In autumn larger trout run up it to spawn. Access is through the Groynes park or from the Dickeys Road bridge off SH1 north of Belfast. Fly, spinner and bait are all allowed from 1 October to 30 April.
Best time
The weeks after the spring release, usually in September, are when the lakes hold the most fish. The release day itself draws thousands of people.
Getting There and Facilities
- Access: from Johns Road. Bus details are on Metroinfo.
- Gates: open 7am to 9pm in daylight saving and 7am to 7pm the rest of the year. Cars locked in after closing are released at the owner’s cost.
- Toilets: three toilet blocks around the main car park and picnic areas.
- Picnics: free barbecues and picnic areas; some sites can be booked for a fee.
- Playgrounds: several, with a flying fox, swings and slides, and a nature playground near the boatshed.
- Boat hire: pedal boats, aqua bikes and canoes on the recreation lake, on weekends and in school holidays from 11am to 4pm.
- Walks: the Ōtūkaikino Track runs 8.9 km from Darroch Street in Belfast through the Groynes to Roto Kōhatu. Cyclists give way to walkers.
- Dogs: on a leash everywhere, except in the fenced dog park and on the path between the river and the dog park fence.
- More to do: for playgrounds, pedal boats and picnics, see our The Groynes guide.
Rules and Safety
- Age rule: only anglers under 18 may fish the four signposted junior lakes. Adults may help but not fish.
- Licence: everyone needs a Fish & Game licence and must carry it. Children under 12 (on 1 October) can get a free licence, including a paper one from the Fish & Game office at 595 Johns Road. Junior licences for 12 to 17 year olds are sold by the day or the season.
- Streams: the council says the streams in the park are closed to fishing during spawning, from April to October. The Ōtūkaikino season is 1 October to 30 April.
- Limits: Fish & Game’s 2026/27 Anglers Notice sets a daily bag for the junior lakes and the Ōtūkaikino, and a minimum size for trout across the region. Check them, and return fish you will not keep straight away.
- Gear: one rod, no more than three flies or spinners or one bait assembly, and no felt-soled waders.
- Water quality: check Environment Canterbury’s health warnings and LAWA for algae or contamination warnings, and avoid water contact for 48 hours after heavy rain.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Fish & Game North Canterbury, 595 Johns Road, Harewood: free child licences and local advice, just down the road.
- Hunting & Fishing Christchurch, 75 Clarence Street, Tower Junction, Addington.
- The Complete Angler, 484 Cranford Street, Redwood: a Fish & Game licence agent.
Official Sources for The Groynes
Fish & Game: The Groynes junior fishing lakes: who can fish, releases and the recommended rigs.
Christchurch City Council: The Groynes: gate times, facilities and dog rules.
Fish & Game North Canterbury regulations 2026/27: seasons, methods and limits.
Common Questions
Who can fish at The Groynes?
Only anglers under 18 can fish the four signposted junior lakes. Adults can fish the Ōtūkaikino Creek from 1 October to 30 April.
Do kids need a fishing licence at The Groynes?
Yes. Everyone needs a Fish & Game licence, but it is free for children under 12. The Fish & Game office on Johns Road issues free paper licences.
What fish are in The Groynes lakes?
Rainbow trout released by Fish & Game each spring, plus resident brown and rainbow trout.
Can you use bait at The Groynes?
Yes. Fly, spinner and bait are allowed. Keep sinkers off the bottom to avoid snagging the weed-control mat.
What time do the gates close?
9pm during daylight saving and 7pm the rest of the year. They open at 7am.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, on a leash, except in the fenced dog park and on the path beside it.
When does Fish & Game release trout?
Before the Take a Kid Fishing day each spring, usually in September. About 800 rainbow trout were released in 2024 and in 2025.
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