Kūaotunu River
| Kūaotunu River | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | |
• location | Kūaotunu Beach |
• elevation | sea level |
The Kūaotunu River is a short river on the eastern Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island of New Zealand. It flows north towards the coast at Kūaotunu.
Geography
The Kūaotunu River is a short coastal stream originating within a terrain characterized by rolling farmland, native bush, and beach-fringed dunes along the eastern Coromandel Peninsula. Stretching approximately along a ten-kilometer stretch of terrain parallel to State Highway 25 near the settlement of Kūaotunu, it flows northward into the Pacific at Kūaotunu Bay, contributing directly to a sheltered estuary that supports local recreation and wildlife. According to assessments conducted by the Waikato Regional Council, water quality at the Kūaotunu Stream mouth remains suitable for swimming under dry weather conditions. However, after heavy rainfall or during spring tides, levels of fecal bacteria can rise above national safety guidelines, prompting advisories to avoid contact with the water for up to 48 hours. Geographically, the river lies just east of the Otama River, another minor Coromandel Peninsula watercourse discharging slightly to the northeast, highlighting the density of coastal waterways in this region.[1][2]
See also
References
"Place name detail: Kūaotunu River". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 12 July 2009. 36°45′S 175°43′E / 36.750°S 175.717°E