Hollyford River

{{use New Zealand English|date=August 2019}}

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

{{Infobox river

| name = Hollyford River / Whakatipu Kā Tuka

| image = Hollyford River.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption =

| map = {{Maplink|frame=yes|type=line|plain=yes|zoom=8|frame-align=center|frame-width=270|frame-height=270|stroke-color=#0000ff|stroke-width=2}}

| map_size =

| map_caption = Route of Hollyford River / Whakatipu Kā Tuka

| map_alt =

| pushpin_map = New Zealand Fiordland#New Zealand South Island#New Zealand

| pushpin_map_size = 270px

| pushpin_map_caption = Mouth of Hollyford River / Whakatipu Kā Tuka

| pushpin_map_alt =

| source1 =

| source1_location = Darran Mountains, Fiordland

| source1_coordinates = {{coord|-44.77605|168.00935|region:NZ|format=dms}}

| source1_elevation =

| mouth_location = Martins Bay, Tasman Sea

| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|-44.3375|168|region:NZ|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = New Zealand

| length = {{convert|72|km|mi|abbr=on}}

| discharge1_avg =

| basin_size =

| progression = Hollyford River → Martins Bay → Tasman Sea

| tributaries_left = Cirque Creek, Marian Creek, Caples Creek, Moraine Creek, Chasm Creek, Cleft Creek, Madeline Creek, Glacier Creek, Stickup Creek

| tributaries_right = Homers River, Monkey Creek, Windfall Creek, Disappointment Creek, Falls Creek, Divide Creek, Sunny Creek, Roaring Creek, Potters Creek, Humboldt Creek, Eel Creek, Swamp Creek, Hidden Falls Creek, Rainbow Creek, Pyke River, Jerusalem Creek

| waterbodies = Lake McKerrow / Whakatipu Waitai

| waterfalls =

| bridges =

}}

File:HollyfordValleyNov182024 02.jpg

The Hollyford River / Whakatipu Kā Tuka is in the southwest of the South Island of New Zealand. It runs for {{convert|72|km}}{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/hollyford-river|title=Hollyford River|publisher=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|accessdate=2016-08-18}} through Fiordland, its sources being close to the Homer Tunnel and in Gertrude Valley in the southern Darran Mountains.

At first, the river flows southeast and east, coming as close as 1 km to the east–west divide of the South Island, before continuing north through the glacier-formed Hollyford Valley. Near the end, the river passes through Lake McKerrow before reaching Martins Bay on the coast of the Tasman Sea {{convert|25|km}} north of Milford Sound.

The Hollyford Track follows the river's course. Part of the river's course is traditionally regarded as the boundary between the Southland and Otago regions, however, current maps show the entirety of the Hollyford Valley contained within the Southland Region.{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/StatsMaps/Home/Maps/2006-census-quickstats-about-a-place-map.aspx?viewer=viewer_config_2006_Live.txt&webmap=map_config.txt&layerId=3&featureId=15|title=Census Map|publisher=Statistics New Zealand|accessdate=2016-08-18}}

In January 1863, Patrick Caples explored the river, naming it after his home town of Hollyford, County Tipperary in Ireland.Otago Daily Times, 2 Dec 1904, p.7 Following the passage of the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998, the name of the river was officially altered to Hollyford River / Whakatipu Kā Tuka.{{cite web | url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1998/0097/10.0/DLM431335.html | title=Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998 | accessdate=28 March 2016}}

In September 1863 James Hector used the names Kaduku River and Kakapo Lake for Hollyford River and Lake M’Kerrow.{{Cite journal |last=Roche |first=M. |date=2017-01-02 |title=James Hector and JT Thomson in strife over names and time |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03036758.2016.1207679 |journal=Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand |language=en |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=94–99 |doi=10.1080/03036758.2016.1207679 |s2cid=132677236 |issn=0303-6758|url-access=subscription }} These names were occasionally used in later accounts.{{Cite web |date=9 April 1870 |title=RAISING OF THE STEAMER CHARLES EDWARD. Westport Times |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WEST18700409.2.4 |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}

Three sections of the river are regularly travelled by kayak:{{Cite book

| publisher = Craig Potton| isbn = 978-1-877333-60-6 | last = Charles| first = Graham| title = New Zealand whitewater: 125 great kayaking runs| location = Nelson, N.Z.| date = 2006}}

• Monkey Creek - Falls Creek: Grade: V+
• Falls Creek - Marian Swingbridge: Grade: III - IV
• Marian Creek Run: Grade: IV - V