It flows generally southeastwards for 65 kilometres (40 mi) before entering the Pacific Ocean at Waikuku Beach, Pegasus Bay north of Christchurch.

It is abundant in bird life, including the wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis) and Black stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae).

Surveys from 2000 to 2015, after work to clear weeds and pests, showed significant increases in banded dotterel, wrybill, black-fronted tern, and pied stilt, but black-billed gull, spur-winged plover and southern black-backed gull didn't change significantly.

[3] The Cones Road Bridge is located at 43°16′56″S 172°35′07″E / 43.2822°S 172.5854°E / -43.2822; 172.5854 and connects Rangiora to Ashley and Loburn.

[5] The bridge opened with the Rangiora to Ashley section of the Northern Railway on 17 April 1875.