The Big River has also been known by several other names, Windsor River[1] and Māori names Hakapoua,[2] Okopowa,[3] Patu-po,[4] or Patupō,[5] though that last name, meaning kill by night,[1] might refer to a place near Long Point and Waitutu.[6] It is a river of southern Fiordland, New Zealand, and is one of three rivers of that name in the South Island. It is the main source of Lake Hakapoua and a lower stretch is the lake's 2-kilometre (1.2 mi) outflow to the sea. The river rises on the 1,123 m (3,684 ft) high Arnett Peak,[7] in the Cameron Mountains, runs about 23 km (14 mi) to the lake.[8] At about the mid point of the river it runs through a narrow gorge.[9] Elsewhere it is generally very shallow.[10] The river is in the Fiordland National Park.[11]
At the southern end of Lake Hakapoua, cataclastic Balleny Basin, Eocene, Macnamara Formation, sedimentary rocks lie over Big Pluton rocks. They consist of a basal conglomerate and pebbly sandstone, covered by carbon-rich mud and sandstones.[15][16] It was these rocks which slipped in 1915, filling part of the river and Lake Hakapoua, which had until then been tidal.[17]
Big River is at the end of the South Coast Track, 61 km (38 mi) from the road at Rarakau (about 28 km (17 mi)) west of Tuatapere). The track runs via Waikoau River, the former Port Craig tramway, Waitutu River and Aan River. Westies Hut, the nearest hut to Big River, is 2 km (1.2 mi) from the mouth of the river.[18] The 5-bunk hut[19] is a former fishing shelter, in an uplifted sea cave, which was restored in 2007.[20]
The South Coast Track used to be part of the telegraph line and track to Puysegur Point,[21] which was built in 1908-9,[22] but replaced by radio in 1925,[23] after many failures and repairs.[24]
Routes have also been described linking Big River from the Richard Burn,[14] or Lake Kakapo,[25]orLakes Poteriteri and Mouat, all via Lake Monk.[26]
