Last updated October 2026
Lake Pupuke is a deep volcanic crater lake between Takapuna and Milford on Auckland’s North Shore. Fish & Game manages it as a mixed fishery: it holds perch, rudd and tench, and is stocked with catchable two-year-old trout.
The best trout spot is Quarry Lake, the narrow arm at the end of Northcote Road, where Fish & Game now releases its fish. You need a Fish & Game licence to fish for all of these species, including perch, rudd and tench, but licences for children are free.
At a Glance
- Location
- Between Takapuna and Milford, North Shore, Auckland
- Water
- Freshwater lake, no tides
- Main species
- Rainbow trout (stocked), occasional brown trout, perch, rudd and tench
- Best spots
- Quarry Lake at the end of Northcote Road; Sylvan Park, Milford
- Season
- Open all year; fly, spin and bait allowed
- Best time
- Trout mostly in winter; perch best in summer
- Boats
- Non-powered craft only (kayaks, rowboats)
- Licence
- Fish & Game licence for trout, perch, rudd and tench; free for children
- Rules
- Fish & Game Auckland/Waikato region, Anglers Notice 2026
- Facilities
- Car park, toilets and picnic tables at Sylvan Park
No tides. Trout fishing follows Fish & Game's releases and is best in winter; in summer the lake stratifies and weed and algae can build up, so check the current alert before you fish.
The Background
Lake Pupuke formed in an eruption about 190,000 years ago, which makes it one of the oldest features of the Auckland volcanic field. It is heart-shaped because two craters joined, the smaller one forming the north-eastern arm.
The lake is about 4.5 km around, up to 57 m deep, and at one point less than 200 m from the sea. Its traditional name is Pupukemoana.
The eruptions also produced lava flows, and the water escapes through cracks under the crater wall, feeding springs on the beaches between Takapuna and Milford. The same lava flow formed the fossil forest on Takapuna Reef. With no streams flowing in or out, trout cannot breed here, so the trout fishery depends on stocking.
The lake supplied water to Devonport in the 19th century. Pump houses were built in 1894 and 1906, the supply ended in 1944, and the old pump house is now the PumpHouse Theatre in Killarney Park.
LAWA rates the water quality as moderate, the second best of the lakes council monitors, but chlorophyll and nutrients have been rising. The lake is stratified outside winter, with little oxygen in the deep water, and introduced Vallisneria weed covers much of the bottom.
How to Fish Lake Pupuke
Where to fish
Private gardens run down to much of the shore, so shore access is limited to a few public spots. Fish & Game points anglers to Sylvan Park and the end of Northcote Road, where Quarry Lake, a long, narrow arm in a flooded former quarry, lies between Northcote Road and the hospital, next to the North Shore Canoe Club.
Since 2021 Fish & Game has released its trout into Quarry Lake instead of the main lake, and its fisheries manager said anglers there are about 20 times more likely to catch one. Respect other users around the radio-controlled boat area and the polo park. A kayak or rowboat opens up the rest of the shoreline.
Trout
Fish & Game stocks two-year-old rainbow trout averaging 35 to 45 cm, Lake Tarawera strain from the Ngongotaha hatchery. A typical year’s release for Quarry Lake and Pupuke is 600 rainbows, with brown trout added only now and then. Hatchery fish have one fin clipped.
Most trout are caught in winter, unlike the coarse fish. Fly fishing from the shore is the most common method, and spinning and harling also work. Bait under a float works well for the first few weeks after a release.
Perch, rudd and tench
Perch fish best in summer, on fly, spin or bait, and Fish & Game recommends small soft baits. For children, its go-to rig is a couple of kernels of corn about half a metre under a small float, on a 7 ft rod with 3 kg line.
Corn is now a legal bait in Auckland/Waikato waters, and dough baits work too. Lake Pupuke is a coarse fishing water, so when you fish for perch, tench or rudd you may use more than one rod (only one in use at a time), a roach pole and groundbait.
Lures and flies
- Spinners: Toby, Rapala, Mepps and Veltic, about 7 to 10 g.
- Nymphs: a floating line and a leader that keeps small stonefly or damselfly nymphs just above the weed beds.
- Harling from a kayak or rowboat: a slow-sinking line with bully patterns such as Mrs Simpson or Kilwell No 1 by day, and dark patterns such as Scotch Poacher or Black Marabou at night.
- Summer evenings: terrestrials such as cicadas and beetles.
Getting There and Facilities
- Sylvan Park, 17 Sylvan Park Avenue, Milford: car park, toilets, picnic tables and a barbecue. It is a base for sailing and rowing, so watch for boats, and keep an eye on small children.
- Killarney Park, 39 Killarney Street, Takapuna: home of the PumpHouse, with off-street parking including mobility parks.
- Quarry Lake: reached from the end of Northcote Road. Fish & Game says its landscaping makes it a great spot for children to fish.
- Boats: under Auckland Transport’s Navigation Bylaw the lake is reserved for swimmers and non-powered craft, so bring a kayak or rowboat, not a motor.
- Dogs: on a leash in the lakeside parks.
Rules and Safety
- You need a Fish & Game licence to fish for trout, perch and tench, and in the Auckland/Waikato region also rudd. Carry it while you fish. One licence covers all of New Zealand except TaupΕ, and children under 12 still need one, but it is free. Buy it online from Fish & Game.
- The Anglers Notice for Fish and Game Regions 2026 applies from 1 October 2026. Lakes like Pupuke are open all year to fly, spin and bait fishing. Check the Auckland/Waikato regulations for bag and size limits.
- Do not bring bait fish from other waters or move water between lakes. Felt-soled waders are banned: Check, Clean, Dry your gear.
- The lake is up to 57 m deep, murky with thick weed in places, and people have drowned here. Wear a lifejacket in a kayak and watch children near the edge.
- Check Safeswim for current water quality and algae alerts before you fish or swim.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Top Catch Takapuna, 50 Barrys Point Road, Takapuna: bait and tackle, open from 7am weekdays and 6am at weekends.
Official Sources for Lake Pupuke
Fish & Game: Lake Pupuke: the fishery, species and stocking.
Fish & Game Auckland/Waikato regulations 2026/27: seasons, methods, bag limits and coarse fishing rules.
Safeswim: Lake Pupuke: current water quality and algae alerts.
Common Questions
Do I need a licence to fish Lake Pupuke?
Yes. A Fish & Game licence is needed for trout, perch, tench and rudd. Children under 12 still need a licence, but it is free.
What fish are in Lake Pupuke?
Stocked rainbow trout, the occasional stocked brown trout, and perch, rudd and tench.
Where is the best spot for trout?
Quarry Lake, the narrow arm at the end of Northcote Road, where Fish & Game has released its trout since 2021.
Can I use bait at Lake Pupuke?
Yes. The lake is open all year to fly, spin and bait. Corn is a legal bait in Auckland/Waikato, and coarse fishing methods are allowed for perch, rudd and tench.
Can I take a boat on Lake Pupuke?
Only a non-powered craft such as a kayak or rowboat. The lake is reserved for swimmers and non-powered vessels.
When is the best time to fish?
Most trout are caught in winter, and perch fish best in summer.
Do trout breed in Lake Pupuke?
No. No streams run in or out, so the trout fishery depends on Fish & Game’s stocking.
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