The Akatarawa River is a short river in the lower North Island of New Zealand, flowing south for approximately 20 kilometres through small rocky gorges and the Akatarawa Valley before joining the Hutt River (Te Awa Kairangi) at Birchville, in the northern end of Upper Hutt. Its source lies near Maunganui at an elevation of around 600 metres, and it descends to approximately 80 metres at its confluence with the Hutt River. Waters ultimately drain into Wellington Harbour and Cook Strait.

The paddleable section runs from the first bridge on Karapoti Road (off Akatarawa Road) down to the Hutt River confluence, with an alternative take-out at the Hutt Valley Club rooms. This stretch is rated Grade 2+ to 3, characterised by small rock gardens and play waves at the easier end, with one notable Grade 3 rapid known as The Wall. The run typically takes one to two hours. When the river is running in flood, additional surfing opportunities open up in holes that are ordinarily straightforward.

Flow is the critical planning factor for this river. The standard gauge reference is the Akatarawa River at Cemetery gauge, which needs to read approximately 1 metre for the run to be worthwhile. The river rises and drops quickly in response to rainfall, so timing a trip to coincide with suitable flows requires monitoring conditions after significant rain. In drier periods, water levels can be very low.

The Akatarawa section has served as an alternative course for the Hutt Gorge whitewater race when the Hutt River itself is in flood, indicating it can carry substantial volume during high-water events.

The river passes through the Akatarawa Forest, a large recreational area in the Wellington Region that also accommodates mountain biking and four-wheel driving. The surrounding landscape features thick native bush on both sides of the valley. The Little Akatarawa River Canyon, in the vicinity, is used for canyoning activities involving caves, rock jumps, and abseiling, though this is a separate feature from the main paddling run.