Awarua River (Southland)

Awarua River
Route of the Awarua River
Mouth of the Awarua River
Awarua River (Southland) (South Island)
Awarua River (Southland) (New Zealand)
Location
CountryNew Zealand
RegionSouthland
DistrictSouthland
Physical characteristics
SourceWaiuna Lagoon
  coordinates44°18′54″S 168°08′32″E / 44.3151°S 168.1421°E / -44.3151; 168.1421
  elevation15 metres (49 ft)
Mouth 
  location
Big Bay
  coordinates
44°17′35″S 168°07′15″E / 44.29312°S 168.12088°E / -44.29312; 168.12088
  elevation
0 metres (0 ft)
Length8.34 kilometres (5.18 mi)
Basin features
ProgressionAwarua RiverBig BayTasman Sea

The Awarua River is a short river that flows from the Waiuna Lagoon into Big Bay, also known as Awarua Bay, an embayment at the northern end of Fiordland in New Zealand. The river's mouth is at the northern end of Three Mile Beach, the Big Bay beach. One of the rivers that feeds Waiuna Lagoon is the Dry Awarua River.

The mouth of the Awarua River is near the western boundary between the West Coast Regional Council area and the Southland Regional Council areas. It was formerly the boundary between Canterbury Province and Otago Province from when they were created in 1853.