Huxley River facts for kids

A backcountry swing bridge crossing the river

The Huxley River is in the South Island of New Zealand. It feeds into the Hopkins River which in turn feeds into Lake Ōhau.

History

The first Pākeha to explore the valley was Julius Von Haast. The valley was named after the biologist Thomas Henry Huxley. The Huxley valley previously had the Māori name Tairau, meaning 'a stake or peg'. The northern branch of the valley also has Brodrick pass, previously named Te Tarahaka, meaning ‘a thief who steals without qualms or care for the thoughts of others’. This pass was incredibly important for traversing the South Island, and was in heavy use in the old days, due to the fact that it is a grade 1 ascent from both the Landsborough side and the Huxley side.