Cook River

Cook River / Weheka
Origin	Southern Alps
Mouth	Tasman Sea
Basin countries	New Zealand
Length	30 km (19 mi)
Source elevation	890 m (2,920 ft)
Mouth elevation	0 m (0 ft)

The Cook River / Weheka is in the South Island of New Zealand. The headwaters are from the La Perouse Glacier on the western flanks of the Southern Alps, and it flows west, then northeast, then northwest and into the Tasman Sea. Its tributaries include the Balfour River, fed by the Balfour Glacier, and the Fox River, fed by the Fox Glacier. Much of the river lies within the Westland Tai Poutini National Park.^[1] The river was renamed from Cook River to Cook River / Weheka as a result of the Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998.

Brown trout can be fished for in the river.^[2]

Access along the river by foot is difficult beyond the junction with the Balfour River. There are no approved helicopter landing sites in the river valley, but there are chamois, tahr and small numbers of red deer available to hunters.^[3]

References

1. ^ Peter Dowling (editor) (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. Map 76. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8. 
2. ^ "Cook River Trout Fishing (Weheka River)". New Zealand Fly Fishing for Trout and Salmon. http://www.nzfishing.com/FishingWaters/West%20Coast/WCFishingWaters/WCCook.htm. Retrieved 7 September 2009. 
3. ^ "Fox Glacier to Karangarua". New Zealand Department of Conservation. http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/west-coast/south-westland/south-westland-hunting/where-to-hunt/fox-glacier-to-karangarua/. Retrieved 7 September 2009. 

Coordinates: 43°27′S 169°47′E / 43.45°S 169.783°E / -43.45; 169.783