From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gorge in Canterbury, New Zealand
The
Rakaia Gorge
is located on the
Rakaia River
in inland
Canterbury
in New Zealand's
South Island
.
Like its neighbour, the
Waimakariri River
, the Rakaia runs through wide shingle beds for much of its length, but is forced through a narrow canyon as it approaches the
Canterbury Plains
.
In the 1870s, there were proposals to extend the
Whitecliffs Branch
railway
into the Rakaia Gorge, and an 1880 Royal Commission on New Zealand's
railway network
was in favour of this proposal, but it never came to fruition.
The Rakaia Gorge bridge was completed in 1882 and provides an inland alternative to the more frequently used Rakaia River bridge just north of the town of
Rakaia
. The bridge carries
State Highway 77
and the
Inland Scenic Route
and connects the settlements of
Glentunnel
and
Methven
Swimming at the top bridges of the gorge is a favoured pastime for locals and tourists alike. Swimming in the main river can be done but only by strong swimmers. There is a perfect swimming hole under the concrete bridge that suits all levels, this area has no current as it is completely protected from the river.
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References
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External links
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43°31′05″S
171°39′21″E
/
43.5180°S 171.6557°E
/
-43.5180; 171.6557
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Populated places
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Malvern Ward
| Hawkins Sub-Division
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Tawera Sub-Division
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Selwyn Central Ward
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Springs Ward
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Longest New Zealand rivers
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