Contents

Waiho River

Waiho River
Waiho River flowing out of the Franz Josef Glacier valley
Route of the Waiho River
Mouth of the Waiho River Show map of South Island Waiho River (New Zealand) Show map of New Zealand
Location
Country	New Zealand
Region	West Coast
District	Westland
Physical characteristics
Source	Franz Josef Glacier
• location	Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
• coordinates	43°26′59″S 170°10′32″E / 43.4497°S 170.1755°E / -43.4497; 170.1755
Mouth	Tasman Sea
• coordinates	43°17′11″S 170°03′03″E / 43.2863°S 170.0509°E / -43.2863; 170.0509
Length	25 km (16 mi)
Basin features
Progression	Franz Josef Glacier → Waiho River → Tasman Sea
River system	Waiho River
Tributaries
• left	Trident Creek, Dolly Creek, Callery River, Docherty Creek
• right	Rope Creek, Arch Creek, Hugh Creek, Duck Creek, Park Creek, Tatare Stream

The Waiho River (traditionally the Waiau River^[1]) is a river of the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island. It is fed by the meltwater of the Franz Josef Glacier and skirts the main township of Franz Josef to its south, where its river bed is crossed by SH 6 on a long single-lane bridge. Due to changes in rainfall and snow melt, the river's water flow varies greatly. In a severe rain storm on 26 March 2019, the bridge was destroyed after 400 millimetres (16 in) of rain had fallen.^[2] The bridge and one abutment was rebuilt, and the road link reopened after 18 days. The works cost NZ$6m.^[3]

Waiho River merges with Docherty Creek just before reaching the Tasman Sea 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southwest of Ōkārito.

Gallery[edit]

• 
  The origin of the river is at Franz Josef Glacier
• 
  The Waiho River flows through the town of Franz Josef, passing features such as the St James Church
• 
  The rise of the Waiho River bed between 1936 and 2018
• 
  The Waiho Bridge was destroyed in 2019

See also[edit]

• List of rivers of New Zealand

References[edit]

"Place name detail: Waiho River". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 12 July 2009.