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Whanganui Inlet facts for kids

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Whanganui Inlet
Farewell spit.jpg
NASA satellite image of Farewell Spit. Whanganui Inlet can be seen centre left.
Whanganui Inlet is located in New Zealand
Whanganui Inlet
Whanganui Inlet
Location in New Zealand
Location Tasman District
Nearest city Nelson

Whanganui Inlet is a large natural indentation in the northwest coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

The inlet is a drowned river valley running parallel to the west coast. It is some 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) in length and on average is about 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) wide. A narrow channel halfway along the valley connects the inlet to the Tasman Sea. This channel is located 19 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of Farewell Spit.

It is still in a largely unspoilt natural state, with seagrass and salt marsh providing an environment friendly to sea life. It is a popular site for fishing and boating, and much of the inlet is protected by a wildlife management area and by the Westhaven Marine Reserve.

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