| Makarora River | |
| Pushpin Map: | New Zealand South Island#New Zealand |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 270px |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Mouth of the Makarora River |
| Source1: | Mount Brewster |
| Source1 Coordinates: | -44.0814°N 169.4596°W |
| Mouth Location: | Lake Wānaka |
| Mouth Elevation: | 300m (1,000feet) |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -44.3178°N 169.1714°W |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | New Zealand |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Otago |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | Queenstown-Lakes |
| Length: | 35km (22miles) |
| Progression: | Makarora River → Lake Wānaka → Clutha River / Mata-Au → Pacific Ocean |
| Tributaries Left: | Stewart Creek, Kiwi Creek, Camerons Creek, Muddy Creek, Templeton Creek, Brady Creek, Sawmill Creek, Pipson Creek, White Creek, Station Creek, Ewings Creek, Boggy Creek, Flaxmill Creek, Ōturaki Creek |
| Tributaries Right: | Fish River, Blue River, Ore Stream, Leven Stream, Young River, Tiel Creek, Wilkin River |
The Makarora River is in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand.
The Kāi Tahu name for the river is Makarore. Manga (maka in the Kāi Tahu dialect) means stream. However the meaning of rore in this context is unknown.[1]
The headwaters are in Mount Aspiring National Park, on the eastern flanks of the Southern Alps near Haast Pass, which is the saddle between the Makarora and Haast River valleys. The Makarora River flows south into the northern end of Lake Wānaka after passing the small community of Makarora. The river attracts some recreational fishing, jetboating and kayaking. Rainbow and brown trout migrate from Lake Wānaka up the river and its tributaries to spawn, mainly in autumn and winter.[2]
In September 2007 a landslide in the Young River valley blocked off the corresponding stream. Young River is a tributary to Makarora River. The landslide created a new lake which appears to be permanent.
follows the Makarora River for the majority of its course from just south of Haast Pass. A popular[3] short walk leads to its confluence with the Blue River, at the aptly named Blue Pools.[4] Cameron Flat Campground is a convenient campsite with a cooking shelter and bathrooms directly off State Highway 6.