Geography

The Styx River, 24.8 kilometres long, has two main tributaries, Smacks Creek and Kaputone Stream. Several other smaller waterways, both natural and constructed, drain into the Styx River before it enters the sea north of the city of Christchurch via Brooklands Lagoon and the Waimakariri River.  

As indicated by the Black Map drawn in 1856, when early Europeans settled in the area, the Styx River and its tributaries were surrounded by extensive wetlands. There was also a possible tributary link to the much larger Waimakariri River.