Riverton, Southland Map

About Riverton, Southland

Riverton is a locality in the Southland Region of New Zealand. It has a population of approximately 1,680. It sits at an elevation of around 7 m above sea level. It lies approximately 26 km west-northwest of Invercargill, the regional capital. Riverton is located at 46.3500°S, 168.0167°E. It observes New Zealand Time (NZST/NZDT). Statistics New Zealand classifies the area as a small urban area.

Riverton rests on a gentle swell of land that slopes towards the shimmering expanse of Taramea Bay, its very air carrying the faint, briny tang of the sea a kilometre or so distant. It lies 26.2 km west-north-west of Invercargill (from Invercargill: bearing 282°T), and is situated 26.7 km west of Rosedale. The landscape here is a soft tapestry of rolling farmland, the green pastures diligently tended, punctuated by the darker, more brooding hues of native bush that cling to the slopes and skirt the edges of the Aparima River. Beyond the immediate agricultural spread, the land unfurls in broad, sweeping contours, hinting at the larger, more rugged forms of the distant Longwood Range, their peaks often softened by a haze that lends a dreamy quality to the horizon, especially as the sun begins its slow descent, casting long, golden shadows across the fields and the calm waters of the bay.

The history of Riverton is closely entwined with the ebb and flow of the Aparima River and the bounty of Taramea Bay. For generations, this coastal locale has been a hub for fishing, its harbour a familiar sight for vessels returning with their catch, the economy here having long been shaped by the sea's generosity and the fertile soil that supports dairy and sheep farming. Evidence of earlier times can be discerned in the older buildings that stand with quiet dignity, their weathered facades speaking of a pioneering spirit and the steady accumulation of lives lived and work undertaken. The distinctive character of Riverton is not one of grand pronouncements, but of a quiet resilience, a place where the rhythm of the tides and the seasons still exerts a gentle but undeniable influence on the daily lives of its inhabitants.

About This Riverton Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Riverton, Southland, New Zealand — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: -46.35, 168.01667. Live weather conditions with current observations and a 7-day forecast are powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time New Zealand and world news feeds keep the page current, while an editorial description provides background on Riverton.

Riverton sits within the Southland Region. Location data is drawn from the GeoNames geographical database and verified by coordinates, ensuring the correct Riverton is identified even where the name is shared across multiple New Zealand localities.