Buller River

The Buller River, known to Māori as Kawatiri, ranks among New Zealand’s most powerful and pristine waterways as it carves through the South Island. Rising from the clear waters of Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes National Park, it journeys roughly 170 kilometres through dense beech forests, steep granite gorges and broad gravel plains before reaching the Tasman Sea near Westport. Its banks are lined with untouched rainforest and forested slopes that shelter native birds such as tūī, weka and, at times, the great spotted kiwi. Crystal-clear pools alternate with roaring rapids, while the dramatic Buller Gorge, framed by pink granite walls and lush vegetation, creates a uniquely wild and romantic setting. The river offers a rich range of leisure pursuits: thrilling whitewater rafting and kayaking through grade 2 to 4 rapids, high-speed jet-boat rides through narrow canyons, peaceful trout fishing for sizable brown trout, and swimming in calm, transparent pools. Riverside walking tracks, short loop trails, the crossing of New Zealand’s longest swingbridge and quiet vantage points invite visitors to immerse themselves in the untamed surroundings and fully experience the strength and beauty of this free-flowing river.