The Awatere River in Marlborough, New Zealand offers two main paddling sections, both suited to paddlers with solid whitewater skills. The upper section, known as the Upcott Gorge run, is approximately 23km long and is characterized by bouldery Class II to II+ rapids with at least one Class III rapid. The run has a constant gradient with no significant pools between rapids, meaning swimmers will typically require self or team rescue. This continuous nature makes it unsuitable for new paddlers or groups of mixed ability; solid Class II+ paddlers with good rescue skills are the recommended minimum. Budget three to five hours for this section depending on flows and ability.

The lower section, from Mt Gladstone Bridge to Awapiri, covers roughly 20km and runs at a similar II/II+ grade, with three to four hours being a reasonable time estimate. This section is run occasionally by hardshell kayakers, and packrafters are advised to err on the side of caution when interpreting kayaker-oriented descriptions.

Access to the river is via Awatere Valley Road, which connects to State Highway 1 just south of Blenheim. The Awapiri gauge on the Awatere River is the recommended tool for assessing flows before a trip. The region is generally dry, so suitable flows are most reliably found during spring snowmelt conditions or following periods of rain. For the Upcott Gorge section, flows above 12 cumecs are considered good; at higher flows, waves and holes become significantly larger, as do the waves off the bluffs. Packrafters are advised to use the lower end of flow brackets recommended for kayakers.

The surrounding Awatere Valley sits beneath the peak of Mt. Tapuae-o-Uenuku, giving the river corridor a distinctive high-country character. The river flows predominantly over open land, which, combined with the valley's exposure, can produce strong winds that would affect paddling conditions.