Wairau River

The Wairau River winds through the sun-drenched valleys of Marlborough on New Zealand’s South Island, rising in the rugged Spenser Mountains and flowing northeast across broad alluvial plains before reaching the Pacific near Blenheim. Its braided channels, gravel bars and surrounding vineyards create a landscape of open skies and distant ranges that invites exploration. Kayakers and rafters navigate its lively stretches, while anglers seek brown and rainbow trout in the clear runs. Cyclists and walkers follow riverside trails, and picnickers enjoy quiet banks amid the dry, golden hills that define this unique South Island waterway.