Paddling near Balclutha, Otago
Balclutha sits at the mouth of the Clutha River / Mata-Au in South Otago — New Zealand's largest river by volume and the marquee paddle route in the region. The lower Clutha flows right through town, and the surrounding area includes still-water options such as Catlins Lake and Lake Tuakitoto, making it a practical base for a range of paddling styles.
Paddle smarter with real-time insights
Whether you're en route and conditions shift or you're looking for the best spot based on current flows, we enable you to make informed decisions on the fly.
Otago licenses and regulations
Explore Balclutha
Top paddling waters
Popular Cities
Loading popular cities...
Smarter Paddling Starts in the App.
Paddleways gives you everything you need to plan smarter, paddle better, and own every trip from first launch to takeout.