Cardrona River facts for kids
The Cardrona River is a cool river in the South Island of New Zealand, located in a region called Otago. It's one of the first rivers that flows into the big Clutha River / Mata-Au. In fact, it joins the Clutha River only about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from where the Clutha River starts, right after it leaves Lake Wānaka.
The River's Journey
The Cardrona River flows north for about 40 kilometers (25 miles) through a deep and narrow area called the Cardrona Valley. The very beginning of the river, its "headwaters," are found near the Crown Range route. This is New Zealand's highest main road! As the river travels, it passes by the small town of Cardrona and the popular Cardrona skifield, which is a great place for skiing and snowboarding. The river then continues its journey south of the town of Wanaka.
A Glimpse into History
The Cardrona River has a much older name given by the Māori: the Ōrau. This river was an important pathway for Māori travelers long ago. It connected Lake Wakatipu (known as Whakatipu Waimāori) with Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea. The Ngāi Tahu tribe, a major Māori iwi (tribe) in the South Island, recorded the Ōrau as a special place for gathering food. They would collect tuna (eels), pora (a type of 'Māori turnip'), and weka (a native bird) from this area.
