Riverton, New Zealand

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Riverton is a small town at the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand. It is in the province of Southland and lies at the western end of Oreti Beach, 30 kilometres west of Invercargill.

The Pourakino and Aparima Rivers empty into Foveaux Strait at Riverton. Riverton's population is currently about 1900 people, and its main industry is fishing.

Riverton was established by Captain Howell as a whaling station about 1837, when it was called Jacob's River. His house, which survives, was built about that time and is the oldest surviving building in the South Island.

It has a high school called Aparima College (Yrs 7-13).

On 9 June 1879, a branch line railway from Invercargill was opened to Riverton. Over the course of the next few decades, further extensions were made to the railway and it became known as the Tuatapere Branch. On 30 July 1976, it was truncated from Tuatapere back to Riverton and became known as the Riverton Branch. There were hopes that forestry traffic would generate sufficient tonnages to warrant the continued operation of the line, but these hopes failed to come to fruition and the railway to Riverton was closed on 15 January 1978. The most significant relic that remains of the railway is a disused truss bridge near the town.

[edit] Attractions

The Rocks; includes Mitchells Bay and Hendersons Bay
Taramea Bay; nice beach, has a soundshell for events
Harbour; with lots of fishing boats
Mores Reserve; walking tracks, excellent lookout
Howells Point; nice picnic area
The Big Paua; A large Paua Shell made by a local company Fiordland Souvenirs