The Waihou River is located in the northern North Island of New Zealand.

[1] The river flows north for 150 kilometres (93 mi) from the Mamaku Ranges past the towns of Putāruru, Te Aroha, Paeroa and Turua, before reaching the Firth of Thames at the south end of the Hauraki Gulf near the town of Thames.

[4] In 1879 Te Au o Tonga,[5] or the Falls of Awotonga, were destroyed by 200 pounds (91 kg) of dynamite to free the navigation of the river for shipping.

[6] Josiah Firth spent £7,442 to 1880, extending navigation for his Kotuku steamer, drawing 3 ft (0.91 m), as far as Stanley Landing,[7] near Gordon.

A survey conducted in 2009 showed that the upper section of the river supported over 700 fish per kilometre.