It flows from the Richmond Range into Pelorus Sound / Te Hoiere.

At Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve, the river was used as a film locations for the barrel rider scene in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,[1] which increased the area's popularity for river rafting.

[2] The Pelorus River was originally known as Te Hoeire by local Māori after the first canoe to travel to the South Island.

European exploration and exploitation was begun by Lieutenant Chetwode of HMS Pelorus in 1838, who named both the river and the sound after his vessel.

[3] Brownlee Tramway transported timber from the Carluke Sawmill through the river valley to the shipping port and mill of Blackball, Havelock, from c.1881 through to 1915.