Wangapeka River

Wangapeka River
Map
Route of the Wangapeka River
Wangapeka River is located in New Zealand
Wangapeka River
Mouth of the Wangapeka River
Wangapeka River is located in South Island
Wangapeka River
Wangapeka River (South Island)
Location
CountryNew Zealand
Physical characteristics
SourceWangapeka Saddle (north branch)
 • coordinates41°25′25″S 172°25′17″E / 41.4235°S 172.4215°E / -41.4235; 172.4215
2nd sourceMarino Mountains (south branch)
 • coordinates41°33′05″S 172°27′56″E / 41.5514°S 172.4655°E / -41.5514; 172.4655
Mouth 
 • location
Motueka River
 • coordinates
41°19′43″S 172°47′12″E / 41.32872°S 172.78665°E / -41.32872; 172.78665
Length37 km (23 mi)
Basin features
ProgressionWangapeka RiverMotueka RiverTasman BayTasman Sea
Tributaries 
 • leftStone Creek (north branch), Luna Stream (north branch), Boyd Stream (south branch), Robson Stream (south branch), Kiwi Stream, Patriarch Stream, Gibbs Creek, Chummie Creek, Chandler Creek, Prospect Creek, Coal Creek, McRae Creek
 • rightLoaf Creek (south branch), Wright Creek, Rolling River, Prices Creek, Dart River, Bushend Creek, Sherry River, Caves Creek, Blue Rock Creek

The Wangapeka River is a river of the Tasman Region of New Zealand's South Island. It rises in two branches, the North Branch and the South Branch, in the Matiri Range within Kahurangi National Park, meeting some 25 kilometres southeast of Karamea. It flows generally northeast to reach the Motueka River 30 kilometres south of Motueka.

The Wangapeka valley was the site of a major goldfield during the late 1860s, and is mentioned in some versions of the New Zealand folk song "Bright Fine Gold".[1]

  1. ^ "Bright Fine Gold - Origins of its lyrics". Folksong.org.nz. Retrieved 11 May 2011.