Rangitikei River

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The Rangitikei River should not be confused with the Rangitaiki River (located north in the Bay of Plenty), another of New Zealand's larger rivers, which flows through the central and northern North Island.

The Rangitikei River system

The Rangitikei River is one of New Zealand's longest rivers. Its headwaters are to the southeast of Lake Taupo in the Kaimanawa Ranges and its outflow is into the Tasman Sea 40 kilometres southeast of Wanganui.

The river flows for 185 kilometres from the Central Plateau southward past Taihape, Mangaweka, Hunterville, Marton, and Bulls, to the South Taranaki Bight at Tangimoana. The river gives its name to the surrounding Rangitikei District.

In 1897 the Rangitikei river flooded and all six bridges on it were damaged or destroyed. The Port at the Mouth of the river was also washed away and never rebuilt.

The river is a popular leisure and recreation area for jetboating and fishing. It's sheer vertical "paapa" (clay) cliffs (unique to this part of New Zealand) and deep canyons provide the perfect setting for high thrill activities such as bungy jumps and flying fox rides. Gravity Canyon [1] on the Mokai reach is a world famous attraction. Part of the river was used as the setting for the Anduin River in Peter Jackson's movie dramatisation of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.