Awatere means 'fast flowing stream', which is an apt description for one of the four largest rivers in the Marlborough region. A winding river, tracing it back to its source has you following an offshoot of the alpine fault. Running for 110 kilometres from its mountainous beginnings, the Awatere provides activities for all ages.
Activities range from swimming in the river itself or lagoon at its mouth, to bird-watching for the Black-billed Gull or Black-fronted Tern that call the Awatere home. Trout fishing on the Awatere is possible, with brown trout being frequently reeled in. Bring a kayak and make your way down to the cook strait, or head north and tackle the Black Birch Range.
Following the Awatere Valley Road will take you past scenic vistas and local vineyards, eventually leading the Hodder Bridge, a suspension bridge built in the 1930's. From the Reserve near this bridge, you can tackle Mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku, the tallest mountain in New Zealand outside of the Mt Cook range.
References:
1. https://www.marlboroughonline.co.nz/marlborough/information/geography/rivers/awatere-river/