Tuapeka River

{{short description|River in New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} The '''Tuapeka River''' is a river located in [[Otago]] in the [[South Island]] of New Zealand. It is a tributary of the [[Clutha River]], which it joins at Tuapeka Mouth between [[Roxburgh, New Zealand|Roxburgh]] and [[Balclutha, New Zealand|Balclutha]].

The Tuapeka's main claim to fame is as the centre of the [[Otago gold rush]] of the 1860s. The first major discovery of gold in Otago was at [[Gabriel's Gully]], close to the Tuapeka, in 1861.

An earlier wooden crib dam was built further upstream in 1907. The concrete dam was begun in 1914. Water from the dam was conveyed on a water race to the turbine and sluicing area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuapekamouthferry.co.nz/heritage-hub/tuapeka-river-dam-walk |title=THE TUAPEKA RIVER DAM WALK|website=tuapekamouthferry.co.nz|access-date=1 February 2021}}</ref>

{{coord|46|01|S|169|31|E|display=title|region:NZ_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Rivers of Otago]] [[Category:Otago gold rush]] [[Category:Rivers of New Zealand]] [[Category:Tributaries of the Clutha River]]