Makuri River

Makuri River

The first impression you have on sighting the Makuri is - ‘clear’. The next impression, as you set foot in it, is - ‘cold’. The Makuri River differs greatly from many other rivers in the Wellington region in that it remains cold even during the highest mid summer temperatures. While other rivers suffer badly from low flows, high temperatures and sluggish fish, the cold, clear water of the Makuri flows on, even when there is drought conditions all around.
The river rises in limestone country in the Puketoi Ranges and has a ‘chalkstream’ nature that suggests it is spring fed. In the upper reaches, it is more a creek than a river, winding through farmland until it reaches the small settlement of Makuri. Here it changes nature completely as it tumbles through a rugged gorge, flanked with the beautiful native bush of the Makuri Scenic Reserve. From here downstream, it hides away in a 30 metre deep channel it has dug down into the limestone over the years. The river wends its way, always in the same high walled channel, through farms until its joins the less attractive Tiraumea. The combined rivers later then join the Mangatainoka River north of Pahiatua.

Read the rest of the chapter in Ron's new ebook Troutfishing New Zealand here