The Porter River is a river of the Canterbury Region of New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

's South Island

South Island

The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...

. It rises close to the southern end of the Craigieburn Range east of Lake Coleridge

Lake Coleridge

Lake Coleridge is located in inland Canterbury, in New Zealand's South Island. Located 35 kilometres to the northwest of Methven, it has a surface area of 47 km²....

, flowing generally northeast to reach the Broken River

Broken River, New Zealand

Broken River is a river in the South Island of New Zealand. It drains into the Waimakariri River due north of the town of Springfield.The Broken River Ski Area is in the catchment area of the river. The Broken River Cave is on Cave Stream, a tributary of Broken River.-See also:*Rivers in New Zealand...

 close to Castle Hill

Castle Hill, New Zealand

Castle Hill is a location and a high country station in New Zealand's South Island. It is located at an altitude of 700 metres, close to State Highway 73 between Darfield and Arthur's Pass. It is private property....

. the Porter Heights Skifield is located above the river valley's western flank, and State Highway 73

New Zealand State Highway 73

State Highway 73 is a major east-west South Island State Highway in New Zealand connecting Christchurch on the east coast with Greymouth/Hokitika on the west coast via the Southern Alps...

 follows the river's course for some distance to the west of Porters Pass