Clarence, New Zealand

Clarence is a small town in Canterbury, in the South Island of New Zealand. It was named after King William IV of the United Kingdom, who prior to his accession was Duke of Clarence.

It lies on State Highway 1, about 30 km north of Kaikōura, near the mouth of the Waiau Toa / Clarence River.

Surfing
Clarence has several surf breaks near the river mouth. Due to their difficulty, they are recommended for advanced to expert surfers.

River rafting
River rafting trips on the Waiau Toa / Clarence River have been run commercially since 1998.

2016 Kaikōura earthquake
Clarence and the surrounding area was significantly affected by the M7.8 2016 Kaikōura earthquake and cut off for some months from the rest of the South Island. The area was briefly evacuated following a slip upstream on the Waiau Toa / Clarence which caused a build up of water, threatening flash flooding in the town.