Burke River (New Zealand)

Burke River
Route of the Burke River
Mouth of the Burke River
Burke River (New Zealand) (New Zealand)
EtymologyNamed after Robert O'Hara Burke
Location
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWest Coast Region
DistrictWestland
Protected areaMount Aspiring National Park
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of Branch Creek and Hope Creek
  coordinates44°02′36″S 169°13′09″E / 44.0434°S 169.2193°E / -44.0434; 169.2193
Mouth 
  location
Haast River
  coordinates
44°01′32″S 169°21′43″E / 44.02555°S 169.36194°E / -44.02555; 169.36194
  elevation
95 m (312 ft)
Length19 kilometres (12 mi)
Basin features
ProgressionBurke RiverHaast RiverTasman Sea
Tributaries 
  leftTumbling Water, Crazy Cataract, Gabble Brook, Cowan Creek, Expected Brook, Plover Stream, Brisk Water, The Twirligig, Yestev Creek, Strachan Creek, Bonny Stream
  rightUpper Creek, Clear Creek, Howe Creek, Detour Rivulet, Restless Torrent, Hidden Rivulet, Raving Torrent
WaterfallsChurn Rapids

The Burke River is a river of New Zealand's South Island, located in Mount Aspiring National Park. It flows east for 19 kilometres (12 mi) from close to the Mueller Pass, reaching the Haast River 10 kilometres (6 mi) south of the Haast Pass.

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.