The Karamea drains the granite and marble wilderness of Kahurangi National Park to the far-north West Coast, a remote, beautiful river of clear pools and boulder runs in deep bush. When low it runs gin-clear over pale granite; after rain it rises hard. Strong, wild brown trout hold its pools in country a long way from the road.

Wading: Remote wilderness, fast rises after rain, slick boulders — back country care

The same West Coast terrestrial pattern as the Grey and Hokitika — green beetles early in summer, cicadas from late summer, both needing the clear water this river doesn't always hold — drawn from practical guides rather than published monitoring.