One of New Zealand's great braided rivers, draining the Southern Alps west of Temuka and running 121 km to the Pacific. The Rangitata is famous for two things: chinook (quinnat) salmon, which run from November to April and draw anglers from across the country, and white-water jet-boat tours through the spectacular Rangitata Gorge upstream.
The Rangitata Gorge — a deep, dramatic cut through the foothills with snow-capped peaks behind — was used as a filming location for Edoras in The Lord of the Rings. Several jet boat operators run trips from late spring to autumn. The lower river, accessible from State Highway 1 north of Temuka, is the salmon stretch. Bring sturdy boots; the braided gravel bars are heavy walking.