Internationally recognised for its importance, Waituna wetland is a place for bird watching and trout fishing.
Waituna Lagoon (also known as Lake Waituna) and wetlands was one of the first sites in the world to be named "a wetland of international significance" under the RAMSAR Convention, an intergovernmental treaty that was signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971.
The area is an important habitat for birds, fish and eels. It is also home to some very unusual plants, such as the cushion plant Donatia which normally grows in sub-alpine areas. Seventy six species of birds have been recorded here, including international migratory waders. The lagoon is a significant trout fishery - fly fishermen enjoy trying to outwit the wily sea-run brown trout. The flatness of the area makes Waituna great for walking - through farmland, across peat country and out onto the reserve.
You can access the wetland from Kapuka South Road, which is signposted on State Highway 92 approximately five kilometres past Gorge Road township.