After some 25 km (16 mi) it again turns west, to enter a series of small lakes where its waters are joined by those of the Roaring Lion River.

From here the river continues west through steep-sided valleys before leaving the national park and reaching its floodplain 10 km (6.2 mi) from the coast of the Tasman Sea.

The river passes the small settlements of Umere and Arapito before reaching the Ōtūmahana Estuary and the Tasman Sea close to the township of Karamea.

[5] Deposits of silt raised the level of the river bed and led to a greatly increased risk of flooding in the townships of Karamea and Market Cross.

[6] On 30 December 1929 there was heavy damage in Karamea and Arapito from a sudden flood attributed to the breach of a dam created during the earthquake.

[9] Over the next few years, stop banks and training walls were constructed on the north side of the river to help mitigate the flood risk to the town.