The Arawhata River (often spelt with the Ngāi Tahu Māori dialect spelling Arawata River) is in the West Coast region of the South Island of New Zealand.[1]

Arawhata River
Arawata River
Map
Route of the Arawhata River
Arawhata River is located in New Zealand
Arawhata River
Mouth of the Arawhata River
Arawhata River is located in South Island
Arawhata River
Arawhata River (South Island)
Native nameArawhata (Māori)
Location
CountryNew Zealand
regionWest Coast Region
DistrictWestland District
Physical characteristics
SourceWaipara Saddle
 • locationSouthern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
 • coordinates44°24′00″S 168°38′56″E / 44.400°S 168.649°E / -44.400; 168.649
 • elevation1,280 metres (4,200 ft)
MouthJackson Bay / Okahu
 • location
Neils Beach
 • coordinates
44°00′S 168°41′E / 44.000°S 168.683°E / -44.000; 168.683
 • elevation
0 metres (0 ft)
Length60 kilometres (37 mi)
Basin features
ProgressionArawhata RiverJackson Bay / OkahuTasman Sea
River systemArawhata River basin
Tributaries 
 • leftStokes Creek, Phantom Creek, Snowball Creek, Joe River, Williamson River, Ridge Creek, Halfway Creek, Ten Hour Gorge Creek, Collins Creek, McTavish Creek, Clarke Creek, McArthur Creek, Joe Creek, McIntosh Creek, Shady Creek, Thomson Creek, Pounding Torrent, Fraser Creek, Notch Creek, Howe Creek, Jackson River, Frolic Brook, Gipsy Creek
 • rightMercer Stream, Fez Creek, Eros Creek, Slate Creek, Moore Creek, Snowden Creek, Pommel Creek, Waipara River, Fingals Creek, Top Creek, Nightfall Stream, Landslip Creek, Mongana Creek, Downpour Torrent, Jackass Creek, Music Creek, Fury Torrent, T.L. Creek, Tuning Fork Creek, Beau Creek, Barton Creek
BridgesHaast-Jackson Bay Road

The river has its headwaters in the Mount Aspiring National Park.[2] It drains the western side of the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana and heads in a northerly direction for 60 kilometres (37 mi), flowing into Jackson Bay / Okahu.[3] A small lake, Lake Ellery, drains into the river near its mouth, via a short tributary, the Jackson River.

Access is possible up the river by jetboat.[4] Access to the glaciers, forests and flats of the upper reaches of the valley is restricted by Ten Hour Gorge. Glacial silt in the river imparts an opaque green to greyish coloration to the water. The lower valley is grazed by cattle by the local farmers under a grazing licence. The majority of the land in the area is publicly owned and administered by the Department of Conservation.[5]

Owing to the high rainfall on the western side of the Southern Alps, the river level can rapidly rise.

References

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  1. ^ "Arawhata River". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. 1995. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  2. ^ Hansford, Dave (February 2015). "Aspiring to greatness". New Zealand Geographic. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Arawhata River". nzfishing.com. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Chasing Gold in the Arawhata, part 1". Wilderlife. 1 January 2018. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Arawhata - Waipara hunting". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 May 2021.