Awakino is a small township located on the edges of the Awakino River (10 minutes north of Mokau township)

Although technically Awakino is not within the Taranaki region the locals have a really strong affinity with Taranaki, because it is the place you get the first views of Mt Taranaki as you are travelling from the North.

Awakino is also known for its whitebaiting and fishing, scattered all along the edges of the river are little huts in which keen whitebaiters will endure all kinds of weather to capture the little transparent delicacies.

The white baiting season starts in August and goes for 3 months, and in this time the rivers are like a highway with hundreds of people trying their luck to catch the whitebait.

Free...Just add time.

Fishing at the river mouth is great pastime for the locals with great benefits of fresh fish, with snapper, gurnard, kahawai, and mullet being on the menu. So take a surf casting rod, and a spend some time on the beach. (Be careful of tides)

Further upstream flounder and mullet can be caught with set nets or drag nets.

At low tides you can wade across the river and walk along the amazing untouched coastline, locals take floating barges with 4wd motorbikes across to get to the reef further along the beach for seafood.

Something for the kids is fishing off the Awakino pier, they're sure to catch something.

On the southern side of the Awakino River mouth is called the Awakino Heads lookout and the view from there is spectacular. There is a path that will lead you down to the beach, this is a great spot for surfcasting, longline fishing or kite fishing.

Otherwise have a go at whitebaiting, you will learn lots about the region and the people if you stop to talk to one of the locals, they just love to talk!! you might even get to take home some whitebait or find out a secret whitebait fritter recipe!