Waiheke River

Waiheke River
Waiheke River (right) joins the Tūtaekurī River (bottom) to form the Ahauri River (left)
Map
Location
CountryNew Zealand
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationMount Barron
 • elevation1,806 m (5,925 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Ahaura River
 • elevation
270 m (890 ft)
Length22 km (14 mi)

The Waiheke River is a river of the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island. It flows west from its origins on Mount Barron in the Southern Alps to reach the Ahaura River,[1] which it forms where it joins the Tūtaekurī River, 20 kilometres northwest of Lake Sumner.

The Waiheke River flows down a long, low valley and is predominantly a shingle bed river flowing through beech forest with a margin of tussock grass along the banks. It can be kayaked, except during summer droughts.[2]

A pack-track to Canterbury used to go through Amuri Pass into the Doubtful River Valley.[2] It was improved by John Rochfort in 1863.[3] A route over the 993 m (3,258 ft) Amuri Pass remains in use.[4][5] Slaty Creek Hut has 4 beds, was built in 1952 by deer cullers and is now used by recreational hunters, trampers and climbers.[6]

  1. ^ "Place name detail: Waiheke River". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b G. D. and J. H. Egarr (1981). "Recreational River Survey" (PDF). NIWA. ISSN 0110-4705.
  3. ^ "Correspondence. NELSON EXAMINER AND NEW ZEALAND CHRONICLE". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 30 May 1863. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Amuri Pass, West Coast". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Doubtful valley track & routes". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Slaty Creek Hut". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2023.