The Patea River is in Taranaki in the North Island

North Island

The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...

 of New Zealand

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 runs for 105 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Taranaki

Mount Taranaki

Mount Taranaki, or Mount Egmont, is an active but quiescent stratovolcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. Although the mountain is more commonly referred to as Taranaki, it has two official names under the alternative names policy of the New Zealand...

, passing east through Stratford

Stratford, New Zealand

Stratford is the only town in the central Taranaki district of Stratford District, New Zealand. It lies beneath the eastern slopes of Mount Taranaki/Egmont, approximately half-way between New Plymouth and Hawera, near the geographic centre of the Taranaki region. The town has a population of...

 before swinging south and reaching the South Taranaki Bight

South Taranaki Bight

The South Taranaki Bight is the name given to the large bay which extends south and east from the south coast of Taranaki in New Zealand's North Island. With more symmetry than poetry or originality, it is matched by the North Taranaki Bight to the north of Cape Egmont.The size of the bight...

 near the town of Patea

Patea

Patea is the third-largest town in South Taranaki, New Zealand. It is on the western bank of the Patea River, 61 kilometres north-west of Wanganui on State Highway 3. Hawera is 27 km to the north-west, and Waverley 17 km to the east. The Patea River flows through the town from the...

.

The river was the original portal to South Taranaki for both Māori and Europeans. In the early days of colonial New Zealand, the Patea River defined the boundary between New Ulster Province and New Munster Province (from 1841 to 1853 - refer to Provinces of New Zealand

Provinces of New Zealand

The Provinces of New Zealand existed from 1841 until 1876 as a form of sub-national government. They were replaced by counties, which were themselves replaced by districts.Following abolition, the provinces became known as provincial districts...

).

Many enjoy canoeing in the Patea River - it is the only navigable river in South Taranaki.

Lake Rotorangi

Lake Rotorangi

Lake Rotorangi is the largest lake in the New Zealand region of Taranaki. The reservoir was created in 1984 by the damming of the Patea River.- History :...

 on the river is the longest man-made lake in New Zealand (46 km), formed when the Patea Borough Council built the Patea Dam

Patea Dam

The Patea Dam is a high compacted earth fill–type hydroelectric dam in New Zealand, constructed between 1979 and 1984. The Patea Hydro Electric Scheme first produced power in May 1984. After construction difficulties, wetter than normal conditions had caused a six-month delay. It is operated by...

 in 1979-84. The interesting southern access drive is via Ball Road through Alton

Alton, New Zealand

Alton is a small rural community in south Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located between the towns of Hawera and Patea.-Business history:...

 and Hurleyville

Hurleyville

Hurleyville is a community in south Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located 18 kilometres north of Patea and 30 km southeast of Hawera.-Education:...

. There is a free camping site with toilet facilities at the dam.