Arawhata River

Template:Short description Template:Use New Zealand English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox river The Arawhata River (often spelt with the Ngāi Tahu Māori dialect spelling Arawata River) is in the West Coast region of the South Island of New Zealand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The river has its headwaters in the Mount Aspiring National Park.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It drains the western side of the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana and heads in a northerly direction for Template:Convert, flowing into Jackson Bay / Okahu.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A small lake, Lake Ellery, drains into the river near its mouth, via a short tributary, the Jackson River.

Access is possible up the river by jetboat.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Access to the glaciers, forests and flats of the upper reaches of the valley is restricted by Ten Hour Gorge. Glacial silt in the river imparts an opaque green to greyish coloration to the water. The lower valley is grazed by cattle by the local farmers under a grazing licence. The majority of the land in the area is publicly owned and administered by the Department of Conservation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Owing to the high rainfall on the western side of the Southern Alps, the river level can rapidly rise.

References

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