The Drake River is a river 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...

. It is located in southern Westland, and flows entirely within the Mount Aspiring National Park

Mount Aspiring National Park

Mount Aspiring National Park is located in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, north of Fiordland National Park, and between Otago and south Westland. The park forms part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site.-Geography:...

. The river follows a southerly course for seven kilometres before turning northeast to flow another five kilometres before reaching the Waiatoto River

Waiatoto River

The Waiatoto River is a river of the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Formed from several small rivers which are fed by glaciers surrounding Mount Aspiring, it flows north along a valley flanked in the west by the Haast Range before turning northwest to reach the Tasman Sea 20 kilometres...

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The tributaries of the river were probably surveyed and named by Mueller in 1885.

There is potential for a 30 MW power-generating plant at the junction of the Drake and Waiatoto Rivers.