Eglinton River
Encyclopedia
The Eglinton River is located in the region of Southland in the southwest of New Zealand
. It flows through Fiordland National Park
for 50 kilometres. Its headwaters are at Lake Gunn
, 25 kilometres east of Milford Sound
, and it flows generally south before entering Lake Te Anau
along the lake's eastern shore opposite the entrance to North Fiord.
For much of its length the Eglinton is accompanied by the only road in the region, State Highway 94
from Te Anau to Milford Sound. The southern end of the Milford Track
is located close to the Eglinton River.
The first Europeans to explore the river were David McKellar and George Gunn, in 1861. The river was named after Archibald Montgomerie, 13th Earl of Eglinton
by James McKerrow, an Otago surveyor. The road which is now Highway 94 was built in 1935, opening up the valley to visitors.
The river flow is small leaving Lake Gunn but is greatly increased by Cascade Creek, which joins it just south of the lake. There are short gorges between Lake Gunn and Cascade Creek, and below the junction with Walker Creek. While the river has been kayaked from Cascade Creek, there is not usually sufficient water at this point and whitewater kayaking
is more common from the junction with the East Branch. Rainbow
and brown trout
are available in the river up to Cascade Creek. Deer are hunted throughout the area, and wild pigs can be found near the river mouth.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It flows through Fiordland National Park
Fiordland National Park
Fiordland National Park occupies the southwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the largest of the 14 national parks in New Zealand, with an area of 12,500 km², and a major part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site...
for 50 kilometres. Its headwaters are at Lake Gunn
Lake Gunn
Lake Gunn is a lake in the South Island of New Zealand, located at .A small lake between Lake Te Anau and Milford Sound, it lies close to the State Highway 94 . The small tramping camp of Cascade Creek lies close to the lake's southern end...
, 25 kilometres east of Milford Sound
Milford Sound
Milford Sound is a fjord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island, within Fiordland National Park, Piopiotahi Marine Reserve, and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site...
, and it flows generally south before entering Lake Te Anau
Lake Te Anau
Lake Te Anau is in the southwestern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. Its name was originally Te Ana-au, Maori for 'The cave of swirling water'. The lake covers an area of 344 km², making it the second-largest lake by surface area in New Zealand and the largest in the South Island...
along the lake's eastern shore opposite the entrance to North Fiord.
For much of its length the Eglinton is accompanied by the only road in the region, State Highway 94
New Zealand State Highway 94
State Highway 94 is a New Zealand State Highway connecting the large Southland town of Gore with one of New Zealand's most popular destinations Milford Sound. It also passes the significant townships of Lumsden and Te Anau as well going through the Homer Tunnel...
from Te Anau to Milford Sound. The southern end of the Milford Track
Milford Track
The Milford Track is a widely known tramping route in New Zealand – located amidst mountains and temperate rain forest in Fiordland National Park in the southwest of the South Island....
is located close to the Eglinton River.
The first Europeans to explore the river were David McKellar and George Gunn, in 1861. The river was named after Archibald Montgomerie, 13th Earl of Eglinton
Archibald Montgomerie, 13th Earl of Eglinton
Sir Archibald William Montgomerie, 13th Earl of Eglinton KT, PC , known as Lord Montgomerie from 1814 to 1819, was a British Conservative politician...
by James McKerrow, an Otago surveyor. The road which is now Highway 94 was built in 1935, opening up the valley to visitors.
The river flow is small leaving Lake Gunn but is greatly increased by Cascade Creek, which joins it just south of the lake. There are short gorges between Lake Gunn and Cascade Creek, and below the junction with Walker Creek. While the river has been kayaked from Cascade Creek, there is not usually sufficient water at this point and whitewater kayaking
Whitewater kayaking
Whitewater kayaking is the sport of paddling a kayak on a moving body of water, typically a whitewater river. Whitewater kayaking can range from simple, carefree gently moving water, to demanding, dangerous whitewater. River rapids are graded like ski runs according to the difficulty, danger or...
is more common from the junction with the East Branch. Rainbow
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
and brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
are available in the river up to Cascade Creek. Deer are hunted throughout the area, and wild pigs can be found near the river mouth.