1. Cape Kidnappers (Hawke's Bay)

The gannet colony is the draw, the fishing is the bonus. Rock fishing at the base of the cliffs. Tide matters.

2. Tāwharanui Peninsula (Auckland)

The rocks at the eastern end. Snapper, kahawai, kingfish. The marine reserve next door means bigger fish.

3. Castlepoint (Wairarapa)

The reef around the lighthouse. Blue cod, butterfish. The waves can be dangerous — check the forecast.

4. The Nuggets (Catlins)

The rocky headland. Big blue cod and trumpeter. The sea lions might watch you — keep your distance.

5. Cape Palliser (Wairarapa)

The southernmost point of the North Island. Snapper, gurnard, blue cod. The road is gravel for the last 20km.

6. Banks Peninsula (various)

Akaroa Head, Onawe Peninsula, Pōhatu Point. Snapper and blue cod. Best in summer.

7. Whangaparāoa Peninsula (Auckland)

The rocks at Shakespear Regional Park. Snapper, kingfish. Open and safe.

8. The Kaikōura Peninsula

The rocks around the seal colony. Blue cod, butterfish, trumpeter. Watch for seals.

9. The Moeraki Peninsula (Otago)

Beyond the Moeraki Boulders. Blue cod and rock lobster.

10. The Tora Coast (Wairarapa)

Remote rock fishing. Snapper, gurnard, kahawai. Best in summer. The road is gravel.

FAQ

Which of these spots is safest for a beginner or someone fishing with kids?

Whangaparaoa Peninsula, at Shakespear Regional Park, is the one explicitly flagged open and safe, which makes it the better pick with kids or as a first rock-fishing trip. Castlepoint and the Nuggets both carry real hazards, big surf at the reef, sea lions on the rocks, that need more caution than a first-timer usually plans for.

Castlepoint's waves are called dangerous. Should it be skipped, or is it still worth it?

It's worth it for blue cod and butterfish around the lighthouse reef, but only if you check the swell forecast before you go, not once you're standing on the rocks. Skip it on any day with a big southerly running; the waves there have a real reputation, not a theoretical one.

Do I need a 4WD for Cape Palliser or the Tora Coast?

No, a standard car handles both. Cape Palliser's last 20km and the road into Tora are gravel but graded, not 4WD tracks, though neither is a road to drive fast or at night, and summer is genuinely the better season for both given the exposed coastal wind in winter.