Waiau River (Southland)

For two other New Zealand rivers by the same name, see Waiau River.

The Waiau River system

Looking out on the Waiau River

Waiau River is the name of three rivers in New Zealand. The most southerly and largest of these is in Southland, in the southern South Island. It is the outflow of Lake Te Anau, flowing from it into Lake Manapouri 10 kilometres to the south, and from there flows south for 70 kilometres before reaching the Foveaux Strait eight kilometres south of Tuatapere. It also takes water from Lake Monowai.

The river doubled as the River Anduin at the end of the first The Lord of the Rings film, The Fellowship of the Ring, for the scenes where the Uruk-hai chase the Fellowship along the river banks.

Shallows on the Waiau River