A West Coast favourite
Whitebait
Every spring, West Coast riverbanks fill with people and nets chasing these little fish. Here, they don't become fritters – you can watch them swim and grow.
Whitebait by numbers
2,000LaquariumHome to our shoal of whitebait
$70+per kiloDemand can be that intense!
1 Sep – 30 Octwhitebait seasonA short season, so it's eaten fresh
Quick whitebait facts
Little fish, big deal
Whitebait fritters are a world-famous New Zealand delicacy.
Every life stage
In our aquarium you can see whitebait at different stages as they grow.
A whole family
Whitebait are young fish from the Galaxiid family – and as ours grow, we're working out which species they are.
Shoal life
Watch them swim together as a shoal, just like in the river.
Fresh is best
Whitebait is almost always eaten fresh and rarely frozen.
A Coast tradition
Spring on the West Coast means whitebait stands lining the rivers.
Classic recipe
The West Coast whitebait fritter
Everyone argues about the perfect recipe – but the most common way is beautifully simple:
- Mix the whitebait with an egg
- Add a little salt and pepper
- Lightly fry until golden
Come and see them swim
Open daily 9am–5pm · No booking needed
Prices & Opening Hours