High Country Salmon

High Country Salmon is a working salmon farm and café set against the dramatic backdrop of the Waitaki Valley, where the turquoise waters of the hydro canals meet the dry, golden hills of inland Otago. This is a place to taste some of the freshest salmon you'll ever eat, watch the fish leap in their spring-fed raceways, and soak up the stark beauty of New Zealand's high country. It's a perfect pit stop on the road between Christchurch and Queenstown, offering a genuine taste of the region's aquaculture.

Highlights & What to See

• Salmon tasting and café: Sample cold-smoked, hot-smoked, and sashimi-grade salmon at the on-site café, or grab a salmon burger, poke bowl, or bagel to enjoy on the deck with views of the canals.
• Feeding the salmon: Buy a bag of pellets and watch the fish surge to the surface in the raceways – a mesmerizing sight for kids and adults alike.
• Self-guided farm tour: Walk around the ponds and learn about the sustainable farming methods used to raise salmon in the clear, fast-flowing water diverted from the Waitaki River.
• Photography: The vivid blue of the water against the parched brown hills creates stunning photo opportunities, especially in the late afternoon light.
• Picnic by the canals: Grab some fresh salmon and sides from the café, then find a spot along the nearby Ōhau Canal for a peaceful picnic.

Suggested Time to Spend

Plan for 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how long you linger over the salmon tasting and feeding the fish. It's an ideal quick stop to stretch your legs and refuel on a road trip, but you could easily spend longer if you decide to have a full meal or picnic by the canal. Most visitors find that 45 minutes is enough to enjoy the main highlights without feeling rushed.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Ōmarama: A small town with a quirky clay cliffs walk and a hot-air ballooning scene, about 15 minutes' drive south.
• Twizel: The main service town for the Mackenzie Basin, with great cafés, the Pukaki Information Centre, and access to Mount Cook National Park, 30 minutes north.
• Lake Ōhau: A stunning turquoise lake with a peaceful walking track and the Ōhau Lodge, perfect for a scenic detour, 10 minutes west.
• Waitaki Dam: An impressive historic hydro dam with a visitor centre and walking trails, 20 minutes east.
• Oamaru: A charming coastal town with Victorian architecture, a penguin colony, and artisan food scene, about an hour's drive east.

Please check official sources for current details.