[1] It has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it supports breeding colonies of the endangered black-billed gull.

[2] The river has two branches which meet 21 kilometres (13 mi) from the coast, just inland of the town of Ashburton.

Both river and town are named for Bingham Baring, 2nd Baron Ashburton, who was a leading member of the Canterbury Association.

[4] The Ashburton River North Branch / Hakatere flows from the slopes of Godley Peak (2,087 metres (6,847 ft)) in the Palmer Range.

[6] The river exits the valley via the Ashburton Gorge, with the Moorhouse Range to the south and the Clent Hills and Winterslow Range to the north, emerging onto the Canterbury Plains at Mount Somers then flowing east towards Ashburton Forks.