Waiau Uwha River

The Waiau Uwha River rises in the Spenser Mountains of the Southern Alps in northern Canterbury on New Zealand’s South Island and flows roughly one hundred and sixty kilometres eastward through alpine valleys, tight gorges and the Hanmer Plains before reaching the Pacific Ocean north of Cheviot. With a catchment exceeding three thousand square kilometres it ranks among North Canterbury’s largest rivers and shifts from clear, steep upper reaches to a broad braided gravel bed in its lower course. Upper and middle sections invite multi-day rafting and packrafting trips together with challenging tramps through the St James Conservation Area, while the full length is renowned for excellent brown trout and seasonal sea-run salmon fishing, jet boating, kayaking and opportunities for nature observation.