Wangapeka River

The Wangapeka River is a river of the Tasman Region of New Zealand's South Island. It rises in two branches, the North Branch and the South Branch, in the Matiri Range within Kahurangi National Park, meeting some 25 kilometres southeast of Karamea. It flows generally northeast to reach the Motueka River 30 kilometres south of Motueka.

Wangapeka River
Route of the Wangapeka River
Mouth of the Wangapeka River Show map of New Zealand Wangapeka River (South Island) Show map of South Island
Location
Country	New Zealand
Physical characteristics
Source	Wangapeka Saddle (north branch)
• coordinates	41.4235°S 172.4215°E / -41.4235; 172.4215
2nd source	Marino Mountains (south branch)
• coordinates	41.5514°S 172.4655°E / -41.5514; 172.4655
Mouth
• location	Motueka River
• coordinates	41°19′43″S 172°47′12″E
Length	37 km (23 mi)
Basin features
Progression	Wangapeka River → Motueka River → Tasman Bay → Tasman Sea
Tributaries
• left	Stone Creek (north branch), Luna Stream (north branch), Boyd Stream (south branch), Robson Stream (south branch), Kiwi Stream, Patriarch Stream, Gibbs Creek, Chummie Creek, Chandler Creek, Prospect Creek, Coal Creek, McRae Creek
• right	Loaf Creek (south branch), Wright Creek, Rolling River, Prices Creek, Dart River, Bushend Creek, Sherry River, Caves Creek, Blue Rock Creek

The Wangapeka valley was the site of a major goldfield during the late 1860s, and is mentioned in some versions of the New Zealand folk song "Bright Fine Gold".^[1]

See also

• List of rivers of New Zealand
• Wangapeka Track

References

"Place name detail: Wangapeka River". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 12 July 2009.

1. "Bright Fine Gold - Origins of its lyrics". Folksong.org.nz. Retrieved 11 May 2011.