| Whawanui River | |
| Source1 Location: | Aorangi Range |
| Mouth Location: | Cook Strait |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | New Zealand |
| Length: | 13abbr=onNaNabbr=on |
| Source1 Elevation: | 807m (2,648feet) |
| Mouth Elevation: | 0m |
The Whawanui River is a river of the Wellington Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows south from the Aorangi Range to reach Cook Strait 10km (10miles) northeast of Cape Palliser. It is one of the southernmost rivers in the North Island.[1]
The river reaches the sea close to White Rock, which is formed of calcilutite in a Paleocene limestone.[2] Richard Barton set up White Rock as a sheep station in 1847.[3] Banded dotterel nest near the beach.[4]