Mataura River
General data
- Name: Mataura River
- Water system: Pacific Ocean
- Water type: River
- Progression: Toetoes Bay -> Pacific Ocean -> Planet Earth
- Climates: Temperate
- Continents: Australia & Oceania
- Countries: New Zealand
The river's headwaters are located in the Eyre Mountains to the south of Lake Wakatipu. From there it flows southeast towards Gore, where it turns southward. It then passes through the town of Mataura, and enters the Pacific Ocean at Toetoes Bay on the southern coast of the South Island. Much of its channel is braided.
The Mataura is renowned as a source of brown trout, and is a popular fishing venue, including whitebaiting. It has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it supports breeding colonies of the endangered black-billed gull.