It flows east from its source in the dunes near Karioitahi Beach and Lake Puketi, then south from Waiuku joining with the Aka Aka Stream before reaching the Waikato River in its tidal reaches close to Motutieke Island.

[1] Despite being only 12 km (7.5 mi) long, its Māori name to English translates to 'long river'.

[7] In the 1850s the Awaroa was an important link in the trade between Waikato and Auckland.

[8] A canal or tramway was considered as early as 1850 for bringing coal from Huntly[9] and again in 1855.

[10] A 1921 report also considered a canal or railway, but also rejected them as too expensive for the likely traffic.