The Hookhamsnyvy Creek is a natural watercourse in the northern Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island.
It runs roughly south before briefly turning west to join the Leader River.
The first route north followed the Leader Valley and would have required a diversion of the Hookhamsnyvy Creek.
Some initial groundwork was done for this, but the outbreak of World War I in 1914 caused construction to be paused.
When it resumed, a new coastal route via Hundalee was chosen, the diversion of the Hookhamsnyvy Creek permanently abandoned, and the line opened in 1945.