The cold, clear waters of the glacier-fed Rakaia River flow through impressive high terraces and under the Rakaia Gorge bridge before heading across the Canterbury Plains and ultimately into the Pacific Ocean.
At this time of the year, the snow capped peaks to the west provide an impressive white backdrop.
Many vantage points, at both river and bridge level, offer impressive views of the power of the river, its changing colour and its majestic setting.
A memorial plaque above the river at the Rakaia Gorge bridge tells visitors that in the days of the early settlers, John Bryan transported passengers, stock and freight over the river on a punt.
He and his wife also ran an accommodation house nearby.
The original iron bridge at the gorge was built in 1885 and a wooden bridge, erected over the southern channel in 1884, was replaced in 1945 by a concrete structure.
Last year around $1.2 million was spent on deck replacement on the main, single lane iron bridge, referred to as the No.1 bridge.
As well as replacing the deck, the work included refurbishing handrails and strengthened structural elements and took around four months to complete.
