Ahuriri River

The Ahuriri River is a river in the Canterbury and Otago Regions of the South Island of New Zealand.

Ahuriri River
The Ahuriri River near Omarama
Location of the Ahuriri River
Etymology	From te reo Māori, unclear etymology
Location
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury
District	Mackenzie Country
Physical characteristics
Source	Mount Huxley
• location	Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
• coordinates	44.0835°S 169.678°E / -44.0835; 169.678
• elevation	1,600 metres (5,200 ft)
Mouth	Ahuriri Arm, Lake Benmore
• location	Mackenzie Basin
• coordinates	44.509°S 170.054°E / -44.509; 170.054 -->
• elevation	370 metres (1,210 ft)
Length	70 kilometres (43 mi)
Basin features
Progression	Lake Benmore→Lake Aviemore→Lake Waitaki→Waitaki River→Pacific Ocean
River system	Waitaki River system
Tributaries
• left	Canyon Creek, Avon Burn, Longslip Creek, Omarama Stream
• right	Hodgkinson Creek, Snowy Gorge Creek, Ahuriri River East Branch, Quail Burn
Bridges	Ahuriri Bridge (State Highway 8

The headwaters are on the eastern flanks of the Southern Alps. The river flows for 70 kilometres (43 mi) through the southernmost part of the Mackenzie Basin before reaching the Ahuriri Arm of Lake Benmore, one of the lakes in the Waitaki hydroelectric project. From there, the waters join with those of the Waitaki, which has its outflow in the Pacific Ocean.

Much of the upper portion of the river is in the Ahuriri Conservation Park,^[1] and it is a well-regarded fly fishing river, supporting both brown and rainbow trout.^[2][3]

A notable rock formation, the Omarama or Ahuriri River Clay Cliffs, is located close to the river's north bank some 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) west of the township of Omarama. Omarama is the main settlement close to the river.

See also

• List of rivers of New Zealand

References

1. Ahuriri Conservation Park/
2. Two of the Best Fly Fishing Rivers in the World
3. 'The Ahuriri River is internationally renowned for fishing'