| Waikawau River | |
| Source1 Location: | Herangi Range |
| Mouth Location: | North Taranaki Bight |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | New Zealand |
| Length: | 130NaN0 |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -38.478°N 174.636°W |
The Waikawau River is a river of the Waitomo District in the southern Waikato region. It flows generally west from the Herangi Range to reach the North Taranaki Bight 20km (10miles) north of Mokau.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "water of the shag" for Maori: Waikawau.[1]