Perth River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Perth River |
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Upper Reaches of the Perth River
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| District | Westland District |
| Region | West Coast Region |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Perth Glacier |
| River mouth | Whataroa River 43°20′S 170°27′E / 43.333°S 170.450°E |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Perth River is an exciting river located in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. You can find it in the West Coast area of the South Island. This river starts high up in icy fields. It gets water from many smaller streams, including one that flows from Abel Lake.
The Perth River is famous for its thrilling rapids. It also flows through two narrow, rocky sections called gorges. Eventually, it joins up with the Whataroa River. Because it's quite wild, getting to the river can be tricky. However, some adventure companies now offer "heli-rafting." This means whitewater rafters fly in by helicopter to experience the river!
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Adventure on the Perth River
The Perth River is a fantastic spot for outdoor adventures. It offers different levels of excitement for those who love rivers.
Kayaking and Rafting Fun
For many years, kayakers have been flying into the Perth River. This is called "heli-boating." The usual starting point for rafting is at Five-Finger Stream. From there, you can enjoy a fun Class III-IV river run. This includes an amazing gorge section.
If you fly further upstream to Scone Hut, the trip becomes even more thrilling. It turns into one of the best Class IV-V runs on the entire coast! More recently, some paddlers have gone even further upstream from Scone Hut. They are looking for extreme Class V-V+ challenges.
Hiking the Perth River Valley Track
The Perth River valley also has an advanced hiking trail. This route is known as the Perth River valley track. It's a challenging journey that takes three or more days to complete.
This track gives hikers access to a huge area of land managed by the Department of Conservation. Along the route, there are two special huts where hikers can stay overnight. These are called Nolans Hut and Scone Hut.
Protecting the Perth River Valley
The Perth River Valley is a special place for nature. Efforts are being made to keep it safe and healthy.
Keeping Pests Away
In 2015, a group called Zero Invasive Predators Ltd (ZIP) started a project here. Their goal was to control pests in the Perth River Valley. Pests are animals that can harm the native plants and wildlife.
This program has been very successful. They have managed to get rid of all the pests in the valley. This helps the native animals and plants to thrive.
