Whataroa River

The Whataroa River often runs remarkably blue. BLUE to make you slow the car while crossing the bridge, BLUE to make you park and gawk! Not just BLUE though, there’s also a backdrop of jagged grey snow-capped peaks and a helicopter waiting to whisk you up and around the heights. If you’re coming from the North, this BLUE is like that of the Hokitika Gorge…simply eye-boggling! If you’ve yet to witness Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki or any of the famed Southland glacial rivers, then the Whataroa River is a glimpse of the eye candy that awaits as you tour southwards.

The BLUE may stop you, but make sure to turn up the short road on the south side of the bridge. Have a splash in the BLUE there at the carpark, but also check-out this helicopter’s rates for a glacier flight. All I can say is that it’s a way cheaper flight than you’ll find in the upcoming glacier tourist-a-ramas, and you get a fly-over this amazing BLUE river to boot. This is probably the most old-school, non-touristy-feeling glacier flight operation in the glacier area (Glacier Country Scenic Flights).

OK, enough commercialized promotion, (I’ve received nothing for this, nor have I actually taken the flight…but the travelers I met loved their flights). For an even better photo of the Whataroa River and the mountain backdrop than the one you’ve undoubtedly already taken from the carpark, ask the Heli-man for permission to walk up the signed farm track. Just 5 minutes up the track the photo-op becomes smashingly better, and you may spy an elusive Okarito white heron on the way.