Shotover River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shotover River / Kimi-ākau |
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Jet boating the Shotover River canyons
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Kawarau River 290 m (950 ft) |
| Length | 75 km (47 mi) |
The Shotover River is a lively river found in the Otago region of New Zealand's South Island. It's about 75-kilometre (47 mi) long and is known for its fast flow and many exciting rapids.
This river starts high up in the Southern Alps. It then flows south through a place called Skippers Canyon. It collects water from the areas between the Richardson Mountains and the Harris Mountains. Finally, it joins the Kawarau River near Queenstown. The Edith Cavell Bridge crosses the river at a spot called Arthurs Point.
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Fun Activities on the Shotover River
The Shotover River is a very popular place for tourists and adventurers. Many exciting activities happen here!
Gold Mining History
A long time ago, the Shotover River was famous for its gold. It was one of the richest gold rivers in the world! Gold was first found here in 1862 at Arthurs Point. People used different methods like panning and dredging to find the gold. Even today, some people still search for gold in the river and its smaller streams, Moke and Moonlight Creeks.
Thrilling River Adventures
Today, the Shotover River is a top spot for adventure tourism.
- White Water Rafting: You can go on exciting white water rafting trips. Teams paddle down the river, navigating through its rapids.
- Jet Boating: Fast jet boats zoom through the canyons of the river. These rides are super thrilling and start from nearby Queenstown.
- Canyon Swing: There's also a special site where you can do a canyon swing. This is a giant swing over the river, a short distance from Arthurs Point.
Several companies have permission to use the river for these activities.
How the Shotover River Got Its Name
The river has an interesting history behind its name.
European Naming
The first European to live near Lake Wakatipu was William Gilbert Rees. He arrived in 1860 and named the river Shotover. He named it after a large estate in England called Shotover Park, which belonged to his business partner, George Gammie. Before Rees, two Scottish explorers had called it Tummel. Early gold miners sometimes called it Overshot. But the name Shotover was the one that stayed.
Māori Name: Kimi-ākau
The Māori name for the river is Kimi-ākau. This name means looking for the coast. It probably refers to the river's area as a path people used to travel to the West Coast. They went there to find Pounamu, which is a valuable greenstone.
The Oxenbridge Tunnel
The Oxenbridge Tunnel is located at Arthurs Point. It's a 170-metre (560 ft) long tunnel. It was built a long time ago by the Oxenbridge brothers. They hoped to move water from the river through the tunnel to find gold on the riverbed. Their plan didn't work out for mining, but the tunnel is still important.
In 1985, the tunnel was recognized as a special historic place. Today, rafters and kayakers use it as part of their river adventures. There's also a walking path called the Oxenbridge Tunnel Track. It runs from the Edith Cavell Bridge along the Shotover River, leading close to the tunnel.
When the River Freezes
Sometimes, the Shotover River can get so cold that parts of it freeze!
- In July 1991 and June 1992, the river froze completely from one bank to the other near Skippers Canyon.
- In July 2007, large blocks of ice, as big as car tires, appeared in the river. This made it hard for tourist activities to run.
- In 2012, after several very cold days, large sections of the river froze again. This also caused problems for the companies that run tours on the river.
Images for kids
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Lower Shotover Bridge (October 2021)
