Burke River (New Zealand)

{{Short description|River in New Zealand}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Burke River

| native_name =

| name_etymology = Named after Robert O'Hara Burke

| image =

| image_size =

| image_caption =

| map = {{Maplink|frame=yes|type=line|plain=yes|zoom=10|frame-align=center|frame-width=270|frame-height=270|stroke-color=#0000ff|stroke-width=2}}

| map_size =

| map_caption = Route of the Burke River

| map_alt =

| pushpin_map = New Zealand South Island#New Zealand

| pushpin_map_size = 270px

| pushpin_map_caption = Mouth of the Burke River

| pushpin_map_alt =

| source1 = Confluence of Branch Creek and Hope Creek

| source1_location =

| source1_coordinates = {{coord|-44.0434|169.2193|type:river_region:NZ|display=inline}}

| source1_elevation =

| mouth_location = Haast River

| mouth_elevation = {{convert|95|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|-44.02555|169.36194|region:NZ|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = New Zealand

| subdivision_type2 = Region

| subdivision_name2 = West Coast Region

| subdivision_type3 = District

| subdivision_name3 = Westland

| subdivision_type4 = Protected area

| subdivision_name4 = Mount Aspiring National Park

| length = {{convert|19|km|mi}}

| discharge1_avg =

| basin_size =

| progression = Burke River → Haast River → Tasman Sea

| river_system =

| tributaries_left = Tumbling Water, Crazy Cataract, Gabble Brook, Cowan Creek, Expected Brook, Plover Stream, Brisk Water, The Twirligig, Yestev Creek, Strachan Creek, Bonny Stream

| tributaries_right = Upper Creek, Clear Creek, Howe Creek, Detour Rivulet, Restless Torrent, Hidden Rivulet, Raving Torrent

| waterfalls = Churn Rapids

| bridges =

}}

The Burke River is a river of New Zealand's South Island, located in Mount Aspiring National Park. It flows east for {{convert|19|km|mi|0}} from close to the Mueller Pass, reaching the Haast River {{convert|10|km|mi|0}} south of the Haast Pass.{{LINZ|id=17558|name=Burke River|accessdate=29 September 2023}}

The river was named by Julius von Haast when he searched for a crossing from Otago to the West Coast. It is named for Robert O'Hara Burke of the Burke and Wills expedition. The nearby Wills River is named for William John Wills.{{Cite book | page=170 |title=Caught mapping: the life and times of New Zealand's early surveyors |last=Holm |first=Janet |date=2005 |publisher=Hazard Press |location=Christchurch |language=English |oclc=636380050}}