Harihari is a small settlement, with a population of 330 in the 2013 census,, located approximately 50 minutes from the Glacier Townships and Hokitika. It predominantly services a thriving dairy farming industry with most of these properties located on the Wanganui River Flats which provides lush pastures and a suitable climate for these farms.

The town made international headlines in 1931 when Guy Menzies, a young aviator from Sydney, became the first person to fly solo across the Tasman Sea from Australia eventually landing upside down in a swamp near the town. This feat is acknowledged at the Guy Menzies Park where a replica of that plane is housed in a hanger erected by the community to commemorate his achievement.

Forestry was a major industry earlier in the century with several large sawmills harvesting and processing timber from the surrounding area.

Today Harihari provides quality facilities to travellers with a friendly local hotel, motels, a general store, craft shops and a service station while there is superb hunting, fishing and tramping opportunities all close to the township.

The Harihari Centennial was celebrated on the 23 February 2008.

Click anywhere on the map below to interact with it: