"Id","Region","River Name","Section","Class","Class (decimal)","Length","Gradient","Time","Put in","Take out","Body" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/acheron/chimney-stream-to-clarence","Canterbury","Acheron","Chimney Stream to Clarence","I-II+","1.6","10km","","2-6 hours","","Just below the Clarence confluence.","
The Acheron lies in the wide open spaces of inland Marlborough and with road access for all its length it's a good paddle for those who like scenery with their paddling. Most of the river is easy single channel with a few corners, but there are a number of bedrock rapids which require class II and III skills to negotiate. The river is best with flows in the 20-50 cumecs flow range, but it is still a scenic float plus bony rapids run at 15-20 cumecs.
The put in can suit your timetable, but about 25km upriver the river is braided Class I and mostly of interest for bird watchers and fishers. The access is via the Molesworth road via Hanmer Springs and Jacks Pass and access details are available on DoC website. Generally you can get on this road between Christmas and early April, but kayakers can ask DoC Marlborough or DoC Waimakariri for access. The road is OK for cars with reasonable ground clearance.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/adams/to-wanganui","West Coast","Adams","To Wanganui","V","5","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/ahuriri/ahuriri-drop","Otago","Ahuriri","Ahuriri Drop","II","2","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/wellington/akatarawa/akatarawa-karapoti-to-hutt-river","Wellington","Akatarawa","Karapoti to Hutt River","II+","2.25","4.4km","9m/km","1-2 hours","At first bridge on Karapoti Rd, off Akatarawa Road","At Hutt River confluence just off Akatarawa Road","The Akas run is well-known by Wellington kayakers as the run you do if the Hutt Gorge is too high or if you are not yet ready to tackle the Gorge. Many a budding kayaker has cut their teeth as it were on the Akas on weekend mornings and/or after work in the evenings.
Being only 10 minutes from Hutt Valley Canoe Club clubrooms this is the local learners trip. However it does need some rain to make it fun.
Starting at the first bridge at Karapoti, the river leads down to a small drop which can provide some playing at good flows. 2 km of easy rock gardens brings you to another small wave with an excellent eddy where new paddlers can learn to surf at the right flows.
Another 1.5 km of easy rock gardens culminates in a steeper rapid after a left hand bend which has 2 routes. The right hand route has most water at lower flows but has some rocks to avoid as you drop down. A right hand bend follows as you head down to the Wall Rapid.
The Wall rapid is easy grade III but can be intimidating to new paddlers. Run it on the right or paddle to the left and portage over a few rocks.
Another 1.5km and you are at the confluence with the Hutt River. If you left your car here paddle across the Hutt and take out. Otherwise carry on for another 2 or so km to the Hutt Valley Canoe Club and exit up the steps.
At high flows the Akas washes out and is a fast 0.5 hour run with few waves but plenty of swirly stuff and 1-2 holes. At high flows swimmers will take a while to make the banks and boat rescue can be tricky as the eddies wash out.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/anatoki/anatoki-hut-to-anatoki-valley-sawmill","Tasman","Anatoki","Anatoki Hut to Anatoki Valley sawmill","IV-V","4.5","15km","80m/km","14 hrs","Anatoki Hut or gravel beach","Anatoki Valley sawmill","
First run in December 1996 by a team from Nelson this creek can only be described as 'radical' and is the flag bearer for the Golden Bay runs and 8 cumecs is all that is required to make it a goer. If you haven't done the Anatoki you haven't done anything and if you go in prepared for anything - you will find it. If you are feeling lucky you could go without some food and overnight gear in your boat but most will want this as insurance - oh and don't expect any nice campsites if you do spend the night in there.
""A mix of mank and absolute classic drops but you have to work pretty hard for it all"" says Trent Garnham who managed a 2006 lightning fast run in 10hours with a very strong team! The Anatoki in good flow is just ten cumecs. The first 500m is flat and provides a chance for a warm up - yeah right!
The action comes at you for the next couple of hours in the form of some multiple drops and slides with small pools between. The section ends with a 5m waterfall and a small lake behind a slip. Just when you thought it was steep enough it gets steeper as the next 7km drops at 80m/km. This section is essentially a long and very steep rock garden and most things will need to be scouted.
Travelling at speeds of less than 1km/ hour is common but the portages are short and not difficult. Approximately two kilometres above Anatoki Bend are two nice, four metre waterfalls, the first can be portaged but the second is a clean drop into a big pool and can't be portaged. Shortly after this is a gravel beach which has okay camping for a multi day trip or provides a landing zone and starting point for a one day.
To get to the take out; from Takaka drive towards nelson for 2km. Turn right onto Anatoki Valley rd and drive approximately 5km, passing Bencarri Farm Park. Either park and fly from the old sawmill (you must ask the farmers permission to land the helicopter and cross his land) or further up the valley where the river meets the road before Happy Sam's Farm.
A bit like Doctor's Creek on the Buller, only more beautiful, and with 1 slightly harder bit. The harder rapid that gets towards grade 3 at times is at the end of the gorge where it opens out to farmland, and is easily seen and portaged if necessary.
15 Mile Creek to James Rd is about 9 km.
For a longer trip, of about another 7 km, you can put in a km before the Heaphy Track road-end.
At higher flows (perhaps from 100-300, but certainly in the mid 200s) there is a playwave at the junction of Bainham Creek, 2.5 km before James Rd. When working this rates up there with the best in the country. It can be hard to get the flow right so have a backup plan, eg the lower Takaka in good flow is a fantastic play-run.
Be aware that the Aorere rises further and faster than just about any river in the country, and is to be avoided in major flood.
Salisbury Creek falls has been paddled, in case you're wondering.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/aorere/bainham-wave","Tasman","Aorere","Bainham wave","III","3","","","","Confluence of Aorere and Bainham Creek","Confluence of Aorere and Bainham Creek","The wave is on the grade 2/3 Aorere gorge section, but you can also park and play. Impeccable eddy service is provided by the groynes built for flood protection.
For park and play ask at Gareth Scott's place, on the corner of Cook Rd about 1km up Aorere Valley Rd from the Bainham store. Or phone 524-8968.
Turn off at the double farm gate on the left another 1/2 km up the valley, drive 200m down the cattle track to where it meets the river. Walk 200m upstream and you'll find a spot where you can see the wave and also easily duck under the electric fence.
https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@-40.7760287,172.5549872,269m/data=!3m1!1e3
The Aorere has huge floods, with a record high is 3500 cumecs. To catch the wave you usually need to be there within hours of a decent downpour, study the flow and rain graphs to figure out when.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/arahura/arahura-gorges","West Coast","Arahura","Arahura Gorges","IV-V","4.5","15.2km","21m/km","4.5-8 hours","above third gorge near Newton Creek","Arahura Bridge above Milltown","One of the most sought after and enjoyed runs in New Zealand. The Arahura rates as one of the great kayaking runs in the world. It has a wide range of runnable flow levels, great scenery, wild location and stunning whitewater. The Arahura is often described as one of the most 'fair' West Coast Rivers - what you see is what you get - there are very few nasties in disguise. It benchmarks good honest boating.
In 1986 Hugh Canard and two companions made what is thought to be the first kayak descent beginning near Olderog Creek. In 1993 Bruce Barnes investigated and ran Third Gorge. By the end of that season at least four other teams had sampled the delights and word began to spread. In 1984 Bruce and Mick et al flew in through Styx Saddle and paddled from the top of the river, adding a class III+ section that is good when there is a good flow in the river. Rafts even made the scene with the first descent by raft in 2002. In 2006 Dave Kwant and JJ added another chapter by flying to Harmen Hut and reported a funky 'gotta do it once' adventure in the upper Arahura Stream down to Styx Saddle and out in 6.5 hours with good water level!
From the normal put in busy class III-IV rock gardens lead into Third Gorge. Half a kilometre in is Curtain Call, one of the most photographed drops on the coast and worthy of all of them. Do what ever you do and smile for the camera(s). A couple of hundred metres further down is Dent Falls (the next most photographed drop on the coast). Scouting is easiest on the right side. Dent has been run any number of ways successfully, and unsuccessfully. Life stays busy for another half kilometre below Dent Falls before the intensity eases until Olderog Creek (there is a hut here).
Tight, class IV+ leads into Second Gorge and the technical crux of the Arahura. Billiards is a steep, punchy rapid with some testing hydraulics. Station a throw bagger next to them. Dave Mills lead the way in Billiards rescues on one trip by pulling two people (who were window shading in the hole) onto the rock, still in their boats, giving them the brief on the rest of the rapid before shoving them back in to finish off! This benevolent deed was unjustly rewarded in Jan 2005 when Dave swam at Billiards and went through a very long underwater sieve. There is an 'alternate route' down the left side and the 'alternate alternate' route on the far left. Another 200m of steep water and the gradient eases except for the one rapid everyone forgets - 'Alzheimer's'. Class I and II make up the 2-3km down to the Cesspit.
If you've already decided against the final gorge, the track is on river left about 150m before the gorge starts. If you miss this take out on river left above the 'pit' and thrash up the creek to the track. 15-20 minutes will see you back at the river for the final few kilometres of class II-III water to the take out. Expect a gradient of 36m/km in the first 5 kilometre easing to 21m/km.
Scouting the Cesspool entry is easy from the either side. There are a number of alternatives if choosing to paddle. The honest choice is to run down the middle and make the fine line across the turning curtain of water and open book corner. Once landed hold onto your hat and avoid the hole (left) and cave (right) and the new rocks that have appeared. Or, drop in from the right over the rock ledge for the 3.5m boof (it's shallow in there so make sure to flat land), grovel around the tricky rock and do as the first option. Or, portage on the left side and seal launch into the big pool for the last class IV gorge with some fantastic moves.
The Milltown Gorge on the lower Arahura has been used for years by teaching groups and offers a nice trip for novice paddlers on the coast rather than driving shuttles or sitting at helicopter pick ups. The gorge itself has a half dozen or so Class II+/III rapids with some fun little play spots and good practice eddies. Good play boating when really high.
The best way to shuttle is to ride a mountain bike along the forestry road which parallels the river (but has a locked gate you have to climb over) this takes about as long as driving and is better for your health! The car shuttle is a little complex and you" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/arahura/styx-saddle-to-third-gorge","West Coast","Arahura","Styx Saddle to Third Gorge","III+","3.25","","","","Styx saddle","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/arnold/kaimata-to-kokiri","West Coast","Arnold","Kaimata to Kokiri","II","2","5km","10m/km","1-2 hours","Power station at Kaimata","Road bridge at Kokiri","
The Arnold River drains from Lake Brunner, inland of Greymouth, and is a fantastic, mellow run ideal for after work or on a relaxing weekend.
The river flows quite quickly down a steady gradient with some great surf waves, rock splats and single channel rapids. The river is used extensively by locals, the local high school and Tai Poutini polytech for teaching their outdoor rec students. It is always warm, and offers a fantastic venue, the only decent one on the Coast!, for teaching beginners. Watch out for the willow trees.
To get to the put-in; drive towards Reefton from Greymouth. Turn right at Stillwater and drive for about 6km to the signposted road on the left to the power station. Put in either down the grassy ramp to the right of the power station, or down the small gravel track that branches off to the right.
To get to the take-out; drive about 4km back towards Stillwater to the Kokiri freezing works on the right hand side. Turn to the right and park at the bridge.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/southland/arthur/lake-ada-to-milford-sound","Southland","Arthur","Lake Ada to Milford Sound","III-IV+","3.7","4km","10m/km","2-3 hours","Lake Ada","Milford Sound","The Arthur River flows into Milford Sound and provides a spectacular route for the famous Milford Track which follows it for almost its entire length. Needless to say the scenery is stunning and the waterfalls flowing off the valley sides after recent rain are not to be forgotten. Rick McGregor and Dave Kirk where probably the first to venture up the Arthur with a mind to paddling it in 1984. They also claim the first epic when Dave broke his paddle and swam.The commonly paddled section is from the outlet of Lake Ada down to the Sound. There are two channels leaving the lake. Take the left one. In very high levels after very heavy rain the river can push into the big class V realm. If you are out of your depth the track is very close to the river the whole way.
Once leaving the lake there is a series of steep rocky rapids in the class III+ range. Be wary of undercut rocks and the odd trapped log in this section. Eventually the two channels join and you will feel the extra water suddenly through a series of big water moves and hydraulics. These lead to a long flat section just above the crux rapid. Scout from the rocks at the head of the rapid. Portage on river right in the slippery moss and big boulders if you need to. A tricky entrance and drop into a cauldron requires some thought, as does the important cauldron exit. The rest of the rapid has many big holes so hold on to your hat and poke " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/ashburton/ashburton","Canterbury","Ashburton","Ashburton","III-IV","3.5","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/ashley/ashley-gorge","Canterbury","Ashley","Ashley Gorge","III+","3.25","12.5km","7.5m/km","2-5 hours","Ashley River Bridge on the Lees Valley Rd","Ashley Gorge campground","
Canterbury paddlers are blessed with this little gem on their back doorstep. The Ashley (Rakahuri) has been kayaked, canoed, tubed and liloed for decades. It feels like a wilderness trip because of the depth of the gorge and anyone walking out faces a lengthy epic.
The Ashley was a pleasant sanity preserver during my university years. We used to skip lectures and head up for an afternoon paddle, especially when there was a good flow in the river. In summer flows it can be a little scratchy, but fine for people just breaking out of beginner stage. (Don" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/ashley/lees-valley-to-middle-bridge","Canterbury","Ashley","Lees Valley to Middle Bridge","II (III)","2.2","8.3km","5.2m/km","2-3 hours","Ashley River bridge at Lees Valley (Gillespie","Middle bridge (put-in for Ashley Gorge run)","
This run has a west coast feel " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/wellington/atiwhakatu-stream/atiwhakatu-to-holdsworth-lodge","Wellington","Atiwhakatu Stream","Atiwhakatu to Holdsworth Lodge","IV","4","","","","","","
Described by Fergus Bramley in NZ Canoeing Winter 2013 (13.2).
Park at the end of Mt Holdsworth Road, carry boats up Atiwhakatu on true right of river.
Takeout: http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-40.906762,175.478948&z=14
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/marlborough/awatere/mt-gladstone-to-awapiri","Marlborough","Awatere","Mt Gladstone to Awapiri","I-II+","1.6","20km","","3-4 hours","Mt Gladstone bridge","Awapiri bridge","The Awatere is a long river, rising in Molesworth Station and meeting the sea near Seddon. The headwaters include water flowing off the western slopes of the Inland Kaikoura range, but it is a dry part of New Zealand, so rain events present the best kayaking opportunities. The lower section of the Awatere" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/baton/baton-run","Tasman","Baton","Baton Run","III","3","5km","9m/km","1-2 hours depending on flow and put in","along open river flats 5km upstream from ford","ford 4km upstream from the Baton Bridge (c. 200m upstream from confluence)","
Characterised by a number of rapids through a series of picturesque gorges, the Baton River is almost a minature version of Nelsons Wairoa River. A major tributary of the Motueka River, the Baton is a wonderful outing with enjoyable class III paddling and numerous playspots. It" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/baton/upper-baton","Tasman","Baton","Upper Baton","III-IV","3.5","","","","","","
This run is a lot more technical than the lower Baton and includes a few undercut rocks, boulder gardens and a gradient of about 18 metres per kilometer for the best white water section. To get to the put in, you walk 7 kilometres from the conference of the Ellis and the Baton. Continue walking past the swing bridge until the track meets the river (about 2km upstream from the swing bridge). I am not sure what the white water is like upstream of this point. Take out at the Baton/EIlis conference. We did this in 3 hours.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/big/big-river-to-coast","Tasman","Big","Big River to Coast","IV-IV+","4.1","","30m/km","1-2 days","Where you can","Lagoon on West Coast","Write up of first descent in CUMEC Magazine #6, p34-37 by Ben Robson.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/blackball/smokeho-creek-to-blackball-creek-bridge","West Coast","Blackball","Smokeho Creek to Blackball Creek bridge","IV","4","4.5km","25m/km","1.5-2.5 hours","Smokeho Creek below swingbridge","Blackball Creek bridge","Flowing out of the Southern Paparoas, this creek has been one of the Coast's best-kept secrets. Runnable only after reasonable rain, the creek affords numerous 1-2m drops and good class IV read and run.
It was first explored in 2003 by Trevor James, Andy Backhouse and Bob Cameron. It looked good but just needed the water. They didn't have to wait long - this is the west coast. Being fully aware of the potential for hidden logs and trees in this steep, treelined, corridor they treaded carefully and went in during low flows. Over time the acceptable flow levels have raised so now it has been done in a wide range of flows. . Once on the main river you get a kilometre or so of class III+ to get warmed up. Things then steepen for 2.5km of mostly class IV/+ and there are a couple of ugly tree sieves that may require portaging and the crux rapid has a log railslide to boof then avoid a nasty cave with water pushing through it - you don't want to go into that! When things abruptly drop to class II it is all over and you just have to get to the bridge before you run out of water.
My first trip down was after a long drawn out day of waiting at the Blackball Hilton while a stationary front dumped over 160mm of rain in 24hours. At about 4.30pm we finally decided to go and hoped like crazy the level would drop quickly. At Smokeho Ck instead of a trickling current and crash and thrash to the river we had a miniature freight train ride to the confluence. The main creek was brown and charging as we picked our way very carefully down from (the few there were) eddy to eddy. We walked one tree sieve otherwise it was a great level to be in there. BUT - a swim was out of the question and good group boating skills were absolute necessary. In high water without prior knowledge it is solid class IV+ boating.
To get to the take out: from Greymouth head north and cross the Cobden Bridge over the Grey River. Turn right and drive a short distance before a right turn again signposted to Taylorville and Blackball (along the Grey's true right bank). There is one more left turn (signposted Blackball) as the road heads back towards the Grey and Stillwater. Keep on this, past the left turn for Blackball, and you will cross the Blackball Creek. Just bankfull and brown is a good flow. If it doesn't look like you can paddle/float down to the bridge it is probably too low and certainly will be by the time you get to the put in. Park on river left (there is another take out beyond the school which cuts out about 1.5km of the flat water at the end. You can find this for yourself).
To get to the put-in: Drive back south to the signposted turnoff to Blackball. Drive up to Blackball and turn left at the Blackball Hilton. Follow this main street just out of town until the road splits and is sign posted "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/boyle","Canterbury","Boyle","Engineers Camp to Windy Point","II-III","2.5","","","","","","
Beginner to intermediate water, wild and scenic character.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/buller/lake-rotoiti-to-sh63","Tasman","Buller","Lake Rotoiti to SH63","II-III+","2.6","2km","8m/km","30-60min","Buller Bridge on West Bay Road, Lake Rotoiti","Buller Bridge on SH63","This run begins at Lake Rotoiti, the source of the mighty Buller, and is worth it if only to paddle from the lake to feel the birth of this majestic river. From start to finish, this run is one long rapid. Make sure you are able to make an eddy to actually get out at the bridge! The section is a good beginner trip with a slightly different feel to it. As a frenetic youth working at Rotoiti Lodge in St Arnaud I paddled this section more than 150 times, mostly on my own because there was no one else to paddle with and I couldn" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/buller/howard-to-harleys-rock","Tasman","Buller","Howard River Bridge to Harley's Rock Bridge","I-II","1.5","5km","6m/km","40-90 minutes","800m east of Howard River Bridge on SH63","Harley","
A pleasant cruise on an ever-growing river featuring plenty of straight-shot rapids with good eddies at the bottom. The put in can be used as the take out for the upper run. The section is often used for beginner courses and club trips and can be extended by continuing to a large gravel pit a couple of kilometres past Harley" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/buller/osullivans","Tasman","Buller","O'Sullivan's to Ariki","III","3","5.9km","6m/km","2-5 hours","picnic area at the top of O' Sullivan's Rapid","Ariki Falls (signposted) off SH6","
A classic of the Buller region, O" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/buller/whale-creek-to-ariki","Tasman","Buller","Whale Creek to Ariki","III","3","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/buller/earthquake","Tasman","Buller","Earthquake","III","3","10km","6m/km","2.5 hours","Harry's Track carpark","Big iron bridge on SH6","
Great scenery, great rapids and great (big) sandflies. Home of the mighty Gunslinger, inspiration for tales and lies aplenty at the pub. One of the historically classic and favourite runs in New Zealand.
The Earthquake section gets its name from the huge slip and side of the hill that slid into the river during the 1968 Inangahua shake. It dammed the river dry for 48 hours causing major concern it would burst and clear a swathe all the way to Westport. Fortunately, it released slowly. The lake at the put in is caused by the remains of the dam and provides a good warm up for the run that follows.
Play spots are plentiful through the first few rapids but many are " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/buller/granity-creek","Tasman","Buller","Gowan Bridge to Rait Road Bridge","III+","3.25","10km","6m/km","2-5 hours","Gowan Bridge off SH6","Rait Road Bridge off SH6","
A nemesis for countless neophyte kayakers, spawner of numerous legends (both real and imagined), the Granity Creek section of the Buller has been an area classic forever.
From the put in fun bouncy water keeps you busy for a couple of kilometres down to the top of Granity Creek rapid. Many get out on river right and take a look. Otherwise head down the middle and avoid the obvious hydraulics.
Granity Creek legends abound; in 1983 a guy named Pete Dale swam and lost his boat. A week later a fisherman from Westport phoned and said the mislaid kayak had been found on a sandbar at the river mouth! Dirk Paschier attained guru status by hand paddling Granity for the first time in 1983. In 1999 a World Cup Down River Racing event bought competitors from all over the world to race the rapid, break boats and cannon off walls. Long may it last! Once the formalities of the main Granity Creek rapid are dispensed with, settle back for pleasant rapids and surfing through the fun Graveyard and on down. Two Mile Island is the next obvious feature with excellent eddies to carve up and play in (there is often a play hole between the islands at Two Mile but need " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/buller/doctors-creek","Tasman","Buller","Doctor's Creek","II+","2.25","5.5km","3m/km","1-3 hours","Across paddocks on the south side of Doctors Creek.","Mangles/Buller confluence.","
The era of rodeo kayaking has turned the Doctors Creek run on the Buller River into one of the river" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/buller/owen-river-to-doctors-creek","Tasman","Buller","Owen River to Doctor's Creek","II+","2.25","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/burke/monument-to-haast-river","West Coast","Burke","Monument to Haast River","V","5","13.5km","35m/km","2 days","The monument at the head of the Burke River","Haast River confluence","
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/clarence/acheron-to-glen-alton-bridge","Canterbury","Clarence","Acheron to Glen Alton bridge","II-III","2.5","195km","3m/km","3-4 days","Acheron Bridge near the Acheron Accommodation House","Glen Alton bridge (or SH1 bridge)","
The Clarence River is one of the country" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/clarence/jacks-pass-to-acheron","Canterbury","Clarence","Jack's Pass to Acheron","II","2","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/clarence/lake-tennyson-to-jacks-pass","Canterbury","Clarence","Lake Tennyson to Jack's Pass","II","2","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/clarence/glen-alton-bridge-to-sh1","Canterbury","Clarence","Glen Alton Bridge to SH1","II-III","2.5","9km","","","Glen Alton bridge","SH1 bridge","
Extreme care has to be taken approaching the SH1 bridge as there are hard-to-see concrete flood protection " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/southland/cleddau/chasm-to-milford-lodge","Southland","Cleddau","The Chasm to Milford Lodge","IV-V+","4.61","7.5km","40m/km","2-5 hours","The Chasm carpark","Milford Lodge","
Wait for rain, preferably a lot of it. It starts steep and the rapids are reminiscent of the Marian Creek run on the Hollyford. Not long after starting is one very steep, as yet unrun rapid, best portaged along the road. Back on the river the gradient remains steep all the way to the Donne confluence. Everything else has been paddled, in the right water.At the Donne the gradient eases (12m/km) and class IV water lasts for a kilometre or so, then it's into class II and III before Milford Lodge.To get to the put-in: go through the Homer Tunnel, drive down the Cleddau valley to The Chasm carpark, pose for pictures among the hundreds of tourists. Scramble out the end of the carpark down to the river. If you're getting in at the Donne River, either bash down the Donne River itself for 150m, or drive 500m further towards Milford from the Donne River bridge to where the river runs close to the road.To get to the take-out: drive down the valley and turn off at signs to Milford Lodge. The Lodge is a backpacker hostel with camping sites, a shop, showers and washing facilities if you need these. (There aren't any others in the area).
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/clutha/wanaka-to-lake-dunstan","Otago","Clutha","Wanaka to Lake Dunstan","I","1","","","","","","RUS 2414, class unknown
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/cobb/cobb","Tasman","Cobb","Cobb","IV-V (VI-)","4.55","","50m/km","","from below the Cobb reservoir","Cobb Powerhouse","The Cobb has a seriously steep run from below the Cobb reservoir. Walk down to the junction with Daimond lake stream. A short warm up and your world will change drastically. Three hours of 50m/km with only a few portages drops into 100m/km and plenty of scouting and portaging. It then sits down (?) to 50m/km again to the Cobb Powerhouse. It needs a strong team with good communication skills.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/crooked/upper-gorge","West Coast","Crooked","Upper Gorge","IV+-V","4.6","2.5km","28m/km","40mins - 4hours","Where the track first returns to the river or Morgan Creek","At the old bridge site","The Crooked River is just north of SH73 between Arthur" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/crooked/upper-upper-gorge","West Coast","Crooked","Upper Upper Gorge","V-VI","5.5","","","","Old airstrip","","
In 1996 a team flew into Forks Hut and made their way out from there in " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/crooked/lower-gorge","West Coast","Crooked","Lower Gorge","II-III","2.5","","","1-4 hours","Old Bridge site","Road Bridge","
There is a lovely class II-III run on the lower Crooked. Put in at the old bridge site (take out for the upper run) and paddle about 4.5km to the first road bridge over the Crooked. This is a lovely beginner/intermediate trip and well worthwhile
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/doubtful","Canterbury","Doubtful","?","III","3","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/falls-creek/falls-creek","West Coast","Falls Creek","Falls Creek","V","5","2.5km","80m/km","2-8 hrs - seriously!","bridge","Hokitika","Falls Creek is a guidebook writer" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/fox/fox-glacier-to-sh6","West Coast","Fox","Fox Glacier to SH6","IV+ (V-)","4.27","3km","23.5m/km","1-2 hours","From the glacier carpark, or carry up to the terminal face of the glacier","Fox River bridge SH6.","
For those who like it on the rocks. The Fox River drains that which changes from a frozen to liquid state. You guessed it; ICE " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/glenroy/to-glenroy-river-bridge","Tasman","Glenroy","Glenroy Valley road to Glenroy River bridge","IV-IV+","4.1","2.9km","19m/km","1 hour","1.9 kilometre from road junction up the Glenroy Valley Road","Glenroy River Bridge","
After rain when the Matakitaki is flowing high the Glenroy is a refreshing cure for the big water fatigue that sets in after too much of the Buller. It" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/gowan/lake-rotoroa-to-buller-river","Tasman","Gowan","Lake Rotoroa to Buller River","III","3","11km","","","Lake Rotorua","Gowan bridge on Buller river","Subject of request to vary Buller WCO." "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/grebe/grebe-river","Southland","Grebe","Percy Valley bridge to Lake Manapouri","II-III+","2.6","3km","11m/km","1 hour","Percy Valley Bridge","End of the road at Lake Manapouri","You have to work for this one. It is a long way off the beaten track and best suits those in the area for other reasons (tramping, mountain biking). The run is moderate and needs water to make it worthwhile. Locals say it gets to class IV in very high flows. Maybe it does, but you can decide.
To get to the put-in, head into the deep south and Borland Lodge, west of Monowai and north of Lake Monowai. Drive past the Lodge and through the gate on the road over the Borland Saddle. Follow this winding gravel road for 37km to the Percy Valley bridge.
To get to the take-out, continue 3km down the road to the south arm of Lake Manapouri where there is a DOC public shelter and toilets. Take plenty of HEAVY DUTY insect repellant!!
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/grey/gentle-annie-gorge","West Coast","Grey","Gentle Annie Gorge","III","3","15km","5m/km","2-4 hours","End of gravel road on river right","River access point off Waipuna Road.","An excellent scenic, moderate trip for strong beginners. Great eddies and scenery offer a fun half-day trip, or take lunch (and sandfly repellent) and make a day of it. Low volume boats will find plenty of squirting and playing through the gorge.
To get to the PUT IN: from Ikamatua: drive north on SH7 for three kilometres to a road signposted Hukarere, immediately before the Snowy Creek bridge. Turn right onto this road and drive 29 kilometres on a single lane, gravel road to a creek down to the river. If you get to a house and private property sign, you have gone 150 metres too far. Carry down the bank and across the river flats to the river. To get to the TAKE OUT: return to Ikamatua and drive south over the Big Grey River bridge. About 200 metres after the bridge, turn left at a sign to: Waipuna No Exit. Follow this road for 16.5 kilometres, over two bridges, to anywhere with access to the river. Leave gates as you find them.
The upper Grey area creates the option of a multi-day, moderate trip starting south of Springs Junction. This starts on the northern branch (Blue Grey) and goes down to the junction with the Grey. Most parties continue and camp somewhere before the Gentle Annie Gorge, finishing at Waipuna Road the next day
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/grey/lower-grey","West Coast","Grey","Lower Grey","II","2","","","","","","Great park & play wave action at Dobson, when the flow is up: http://vimeo.com/97388740
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/grey/upper-grey","West Coast","Grey","Upper Grey","II-III","2.5","","","3-4 hours","Bridge on gravel road off SH7","Easier to keep going through the gorge...","This is a scenic trip through beech forest and beautiful gorges with fun boulder garden rapids. It can easily be combined with the Gentle Annie gorge section as an overnight or longer day trip. This is recommended since the walk out at the Gentle Annie gorge put-in makes the paddle far more worthwhile! Keep an eye out for trees which come down this section regularly in high flows.
To get to the put-in; drive from Reefton towards Springs Junction on SH7. A few kilometres before Springs Junction the road goes down a steeper hill and round a left-hand hairpin bend. At this hairpin bend there is a small gravel road to the right; tuirn down this. Drive until you reach the bridge over the river. Put in here.
To get to the take-out; just keep going when you get to the Gentle Annie put-in!
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/haast/haast","West Coast","Haast","Haast","I","1","","","","","","Several potention sections: above Gates of Haast, Gates of Haast and flatwater to Haast town..." "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/haast/gates-of-haast-to-clarke-confluence","West Coast","Haast","Gates of Haast to Clarke Confluence","III-IV","3.5","","","","","","Technical boating, easier from Thunder Creek Falls." "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/hanmer","Canterbury","Hanmer","?","I","1","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/northland/hatea/hatea","Northland","Hatea","Hatea","I","1","","","","","","RUS 1115, class unknown
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/hawea/control-gates-to-camp-hill-road","Otago","Hawea","Control Gates to Camp Hill Road","II","2","","","","Below control gates at Lake Hawea","Bridge at Camp Hill Road","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/hawea/camp-hill-road-to-albert-town","Otago","Hawea","Camp Hill Road to Albert Town","II-II+","2.15","","","","Bridge at Camp Hill Road","DOC campground at Albert Town","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/hawea/hawea-whitewater-park","Otago","Hawea","Hawea Whitewater Park","III","3","0.5km","","","Off Camp Hill Road, near bridge over Hawea","","More info: http://www.centralotagowhitewater.co.nz/hawea-whitewater-park
Map: http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-44.652126,169.238239&z=14
The Mungo/Hokitika from Poet Creek Hut has been paddled a number of times and it is a very well worthwhile trip for a good team in good conditions. Mungo Gorge is the first up and has two nice rapids at the entrance followed by a blind ledge drop. Catch the eddy, portage the next wee slot on the right, seal launch back in to ferry glide to river left, and portage around a nasty drop into a sieve. Back into your boats and paddle a blind 15-foot drop and another portage. After all this carrying - it has some great read " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/hokitika/nogo-creek-to-kakariki-canyon","West Coast","Hokitika","Nogo Creek to Kakariki Canyon","V","5","8km","25m/km","4 hours","Nogo Creek","Second cableway in the Hokitika","
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/hokitika/kakariki-canyon","West Coast","Hokitika","Kakariki Canyon","III-IV","3.5","7km","18m/km","1-2 hours","bottom of Kawau Gorge","check with helicopter pilot","
The Kakariki Canyon run on the Hokitika River is an ideal first helicopter trip and if you have some class III boaters they can wait at the Hokitika/Whitcombe confluence and still have a fun trip out from there. If it is a sunny day make sure to allow time at the put in to lounge on the sun-baked rocks and enjoy the location.
Begin with some eddy-hopping through class III boulder gardens into a short, scenic, water worn schist gorge which is perfect for photography. The river opens to two rapids which are the hardest in the run. They are both fed by slip debris and change regularly and weigh in at the easy class IV range. Scouting and portaging is generally done on the left side and don" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/southland/hollyford/gunns-camp-run","Southland","Hollyford","Gunn's Camp Run","I-II","1.5","8km","12m/km","2-4 hours","Gunn's camp (check with the manager if accessing the river through the camp)","On the Hollyford road where it joins the river 8km from the camp, or Moraine Creek swingbridge","
Crystal clear class III water against the beautiful northern Darran Mountains makes this a great day out for intermediate paddlers. Keep an eye out for logs come to rest after being washed down from the upper sections in high water. Ask for permission from the campground owner before getting on the water.
The Moraine Creek rapid is a 500m long class IV boulder garden at the end of the run. It drops 20m through this length and is fun if you want to add some more excitement to your Milford journeys.
To get to the put-in; from the Milford road turn off to the Hollyford Valley. Drive about 7km of gravel road to Gunn's Camp.
To get to the take-out; continue along the road for about 8km to the Moraine Creek rapid, visible from the road. Park at the top or bottom of the rapid depending on where you want to get out.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/southland/hollyford/marian-creek","Southland","Hollyford","Marian Creek","IV-V","4.5","8km","32m/km","3-5 hours","Marian Creek swingbridge","Gunn's camp (check with the camp manager that it is OK to exit via the camp)","One of the premier runs on any Kiwi whitewater tour the Marian Creek run rates very highly. Crystal clear water in the shallows, deep green in the pools, steep challenging rapids requiring a variety of complex moves. All this against the phenomenal scenery and backdrop of the northern Darran Mountains. It" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/southland/hollyford/monkey-creek-to-falls-creek","Southland","Hollyford","Monkey Creek to Falls Creek","V+","5.25","7km","40m/km","3-5 hours","Monkey Creek (off SH94 just below Homer Hut)","Falls Creek","
Steep and gnarly best describes the upper run on the Hollyford. This one needs rain, and lots of it. It will only be possible when the Marion Creek section is far too high to contemplate. The gradient looks impressive, but be aware the first kilometre is flat before the river drops at over 50m/km!
Most of the action is well within the class V league. If you are not totally solid on this sort of water don't even bother getting your boat off the car. The portages are in the first third of the trip where the river moves away from the road. Scouting is necessary for much of the journey. It is possible to bash back to the road at any stage if conditions get too bad (or good!). The gradient eases just before Falls Creek, but at the flows necessary for this run the water stays pushy right to the Marion Creek swingbridge.
To get to the put-in; Monkey Creek flows into the gentle upper valley area just below Homer Hut. The creek is signposted on the bridge crossing it. Make your way down the creek to the river.
To get to the take-out; Falls Creek take-out is on SH94 1km west of the Hollyford Valley turnoff. Marion Creek swingbridge is 1km down the Hollyford from the turnoff.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/southland/hollyford/falls-creek-to-marian-creek","Southland","Hollyford","Falls Creek to Marian Creek","III-IV","3.5","2.5km","28m/km","1-2 hours","Falls Creek","Marion Creek swingbridge","A great intermediate run for those just pushing into class IV paddling and it is the easiest of the " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/southland/hollyford/moraine-creek","Southland","Hollyford","Moraine Creek","IV","4","0.5km","40m/km","2 minutes","At the to of the rapid.","At the bottom of the rapid","
The Moraine Creek rapid is a 500m long class IV boulder garden at the end of the Gunn's Camp run. It drops 20m through this length and is fun if you want to add some more excitement to your Milford journeys.
To get to the rapid; from the Milford road turn off to the Hollyford Valley. Drive about 15km of gravel road to the rapid, visible from the road.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/hooker/first-swingbridge-to-hooker-bridge","Canterbury","Hooker","First swingbridge to Hooker bridge","IV","4","3.7km","16m/km","1-2 hours","First swingbridge Hooker Valley","Hooker Bridge","The water is absolutely frigid and hard to read, you get an icecream headache if you turn over, and you" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/hope","Canterbury","Hope","?","II","2","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/hurunui/hawarden-gap","Canterbury","Hurunui","Hawarden Gap","II (III)","2.2","","","","Bottom of Maori Gully","Mandamus confluence","
From the bottom of Maori Gully (just above Surveyors Stream) to Mandamus confluence. The valley widens after the gorge of Maori Gully but still passes over occasional bedrock to produce features including drops and wave-trains. The Hawarden Gap itself is a short, narrow bedrock constriction that can produce some challenging hydraulics
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/hurunui/maori-gully","Canterbury","Hurunui","M","III","3","12.5km","5.6m/km","1.5-5 hours","Seaward Stream","Cattlestop track","IV, > 100cu
Flowing through an isolated subalpine valley, much of the attraction of the Hurunui lies in its easy, yet enjoyable rapids with excellent eddies for teaching and learning. It"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/hurunui/top-gorge","Canterbury","Hurunui","Top Gorge","II","2","3km","","1","Sisters Stream confluence","Jollie Brook swingbridge","
The river is immediately constrained by a steep-walled gorge with a two or three distinct drops that can be challenging for inexperienced paddlers. Beyond the short gorge the river opens out onto shallow boulder gardens down to the bedrock at Jollie Brook.
To get to the take out: Look for the swingbridge across the Hurunui 500m downstream from Jollie Brook.
To get to the put in: At the stockyards, walk down a 4WD track to where Sisters Stream meets the Hurunui.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/hurunui/jollie-brook-to-south-branch","Canterbury","Hurunui","Jollie Brook to South Branch","II","2","6.5km","","1.5 hours","Jollie Brook swingbridge","Seaward Stream","Jollie Brook is an excellent teaching area, and slalom competitions are occasionally held at the put in. There is good camping at several locations; one just up the road, through a gate, has a long-drop toilet.
Shallow boulder gardens for about 3km to South Branch (an alternate put-in and take out). Several bluffs, eddy lines and waves (at the right flow) provide playable features. Dozy Stream is often used as a put-in to extend the Maori Gully run.
To get to the take out: Drive up the Lake Sumner Road to the bridge across Seaward Stream.
To get to the put in: Continue up Lake Sumner Road to the swingbridge across the Hurunui River below Jollie Brook stream.
Features: The Island, Slip 'n' Slide.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/hurunui/lake-sumner-to-sisters-stream","Canterbury","Hurunui","Lake Sumner to Sisters Stream","II","2","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/hurunui/south-branch-to-maori-gully","Canterbury","Hurunui","South Branch to M","II","2","","","","","","Features: The Eddy of Doom, Devil Fang Falls, Dozy Stream, The Bluff of Death, Teapot Corner, Bill's Bluff.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/hurunui/mandamus-to-sh7","Canterbury","Hurunui","Mandamus to SH7","I","1","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/hurunui/sh1-to-sea","Canterbury","Hurunui","SH1 to sea","II","2","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/hurunui/sh7-to-sh1","Canterbury","Hurunui","SH7 to SH1","II","2","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/wellington/hutt/hutt-gorge","Wellington","Hutt","Hutt Gorge","III-IV","3.5","9.5km","7.5m/km","2-4 hours depending on play time","Kaitoke Regional Park off SH2 just before Rimutakas, North of Upper Hutt","Near water supply/Twin Lakes/Te Marua speedway, turn left off SH2 at Te Marua Golf Club then turn left again at the first water supply building.","Hutt Gorge is the closest class III to the capital of NZ, Wellington. It needs a northwest fresh or sustained southerly rain to be runnable (over 1.8m on the Te Marua gauge). Above 2.7m on this gauge it is a harder run (class IV) with plenty of holes and few eddies so you need to know where the holes are going to be.
At normal flows (2.0-2.5m) the Gorge is like a wilderness run even though it is close to Upper Hutt (and Wellington). After putting in on the Pakuratahi River next to the Regional Park car park (toilets) and smiling at the tourists who flock to the LOTR filming sites, there is a km of class II-III. Once you get to the last (flume) bridge it is time to make sure everryone is ""OK"" because walking out after this point is difficult. Logs are common in the Gorge and scouting of blind drops is mandatory unless you have prior recent knowledge. The logs shift in every flood so don't be tricked into thinking you know the river from six months ago.
After leaving the flume bridge the river flows around to the left where the first drop occurs. In 2007, this drop has no log in it and is really just a chute. The easy but fast water and drops continue for 300m before the river goes left. This leads to the site of a recent (October 2007) pinning and overnight stay due to logs in the main flow. The offending logs have since been trimmed but have not yet moved so this rapid is a mandatory scout and/or portage depending on flows. Above 2.0m there is a line on the right or if you feel lazy you can go over the log. Below 2.0m portage is the only option. This rapid is now called Westpac in recognition of 2 recent chopper rescues.
Another 400m takes you through Anne's Drop (now small at normal flows) and down to the ""Weir"". This is a generally friendly river-wide log weir which is a great play spot for everyone. A great place to let off some steam and have a go.
The river then turns right down several chutes to a big pool which ends at the confluence of Putaputa Stream (enters on right) where there is a sharp left turn. The gradient steepens with a small drop then onto the rock gardens and after a right turn you enter the Chicayne Rapid. The usual line is left of the big rock in the middle. After this chute it's time to eddy out and do your best to scout the Log Drop. This is a riverwide rata log which lodged itself here about two years ago (2005?) and has created an extra degree of challenge for newbies on the Gorge. At low flow the best option is to portage on river right. At 2.0m it is not practical to portage and best to run it middle left. At high flows there is a car-eating hole on river left so you need to keep right!
There is a big pool after the Log Drop then comes the Toilet Bowl - a steep tongue on river right is the easiest route or if you feel like a harder line go left.
From here is roughly 2km of easy class III with some play spots which switch on and off depending on the flow. In here is a nice class III drop called Pinball? which occurs on a left hand bend and is just above a play spot we used to call Woodies Wave?
Another 500m and you are at the half way point. The grade from here on is easy class III but log danger can change this of course. After Kororipo Stream (enters right) the grade drops off even more until the last half hour or so is easy class II.
At flows above 2.1m the second half of the run is still good fun.
Take out when you get to the car park. There is a big pool where kayakers gather before running the next (learners) section called the Twin Lakes run.
The Hutt Gorge contains a variety of drops and waves. It is wisest to run it on a dropping river as the narrow gorge can fill up quickly and the grade can change appropriately. The scenery is awesome. Every time we take a new paddler down they can't believe this is all so close to Wellington. But of course it is rain dependent so be prepared to sacrifice something to get to the Gorge!
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/wellington/hutt/twin-lakes-to-mangaroa","Wellington","Hutt","Twin Lakes to Mangaroa","II","2","","","1-2 hours","At the take out for Hutt Gorge run - turn left off SH2 at Te Marua Golf Club","Either at Mangaroa Stream confluence beside SH2 or further down where Akatarawa River joins (at Twin Bridges)","The Twin Lakes run traditionally begins at the take out for the much harder Hutt Gorge run and ends at the Hutt Valley CC rooms along Black Beech street in Birchville, Upper Hutt.
Alternatively you can take out half way down at the confluence of Mangaroa Stream beside SH2. The section from the Mangaroa Stream down to the Akatarawa confluence (Twin Bridges) is known as the Junction section. Then if you continue downstream for another 2km you arrive at the steps on river left to the HVCC clubrooms.
Twin Lakes is easy class II with several fast moving rapids but no serious drops or good play spots at normal flows. Danger comes from willows and riverworks and learners should not be allowed to lead for this reason. At one spot you can have fun gathering golf balls.
Take out as mentioned above at the Akatarawa confluence (also known as Twin Bridges) on river left or continue down to HVCC clubrooms (river left).
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/wellington/hutt/hutt-river-mangaroa-to-twin-bridges","Wellington","Hutt","Mangaroa to Twin Bridges","II","2","","","0.5-1.5 hours","At Mangaroa Stream confluence, next to SH2","At Twin Bridges - confluence of Hutt and Akatarawa or Hutt Valley CC Clubrooms on banks of Hutt River","This section is described in the Twin Lakes section. Basically the put-in is half way through the normal ""Twin Lakes"" run. There are several easy rapids to negotiate, suitable for learners at normal flows. There are numerous willows along the edges." "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/wellington/hutt/twin-bridges-to-poets-corner","Wellington","Hutt","Twin Bridges to Poet's Corner","II","2","7.5km","1.7m/km","1-2.5 hours","At the confluence of Hutt and Akatarawa Rivers (Twin Bridges) or at the Hutt Valley CC Clubrooms","At Poet's Corner across from Whakatikei Street next to SH2 (River Road) just north of the Moonshine Bridge","Leaving the Twin Bridges you encounter a right hand bend with a left wall easily negotiated but can be troublesome for newbies at higher flows. Easy Class II down to overhead wire bridge then onto sharp right bend about 3km down. This is Maoribank Rapid and has several bedrock features and chutes to negotiate. This can be Class III depending on flows. Can be portaged generally in a variety of ways. Another km down you pass beneath the Totara Park road bridge then there may be several small drops/waves before you pass the Whakatikei Stream confluence on river right (easily missed) then very soon you are at the take out (river left). This is a popular swimming spot so expect to see people and maybe even a dog or two.
Beware of willows and old riverworks. " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/inangahua/inangahua","West Coast","Inangahua","Inangahua","III-IV","3.5","7km","18m/km","2-3 hours","At the road bridge on SH7, where there is a steeper rapid immediately above the road bridge","River flats on the right","The Inangahua flows east from Rahu Saddle to Reefton before it joins the Buller. After heavy rain this section offers something a little different!
The first rapid just above the road bridge doesn't really charecterise the rest of the run, which typically has more single drops with powerful hydraulics. The harder rapids are in the first kilometre, before easing to class III boulder gardens. At the flows necessary for this run to go, the water is brown and pushy, and you can hear boulders rolling along the river bed underneath your boat!
To get to the put-in; drive east from Reefton on SH7. The road crosses the Inangahue several times, stop at the bridge with an obvious class IV rapid immediately upstream of the bridge. Put in here.
The take-out is harder to find. Return towards Reefton for about 6km. On the left there is a grassy flat where the gradient of the river has obviously eased. It is worthwhile marking the take-out with something visible from the river.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/taranaki/kaiauahi-stream/kaiauahi-stream","Taranaki","Kaiauahi Stream","Kaiauahi Stream","III+","3.25","","","","Hill Rd","SH3","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/bay-of-plenty/kaituna/awesome-gorge","Bay of Plenty","Kaituna","Awesome Gorge","III","3","2km","","25 mins","below Trout Pool Falls","Sharp Left Hand Bend. Orange Spray Paint on River Right. Take out on the right. DO NOT MISS THIS TAKE OUT!","There is an awesome gorge run on the lower Kaituna - surprisingly enough - called Awesome Gorge! It starts out from the Trout Pool falls as a meandering stream and then slowly picks up pace through a few class I-II rapids that give you a good taste of what is to come. The river backs off slightly at an open area that commercial sledgers use as a take out. Look for the tyre steps and the farm just past the pylons. Beyond this it picks up pace as the gorge narrows. The corners get tighter and suddenly, like your sphincter, the gorge tightens right up and you're into a 300m section of continuous class III white water. There are no eddies. Once you exit the fast-paced section you round a couple more corners before Awesome Gorge Falls. This is a 3m blind drop - run it just off river left with a good boof over the hole at the bottom - hopefully.
About seven more corners of fast moving water and you are at the take out. Look for the bright orange paint. You do not want to miss this.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/bay-of-plenty/kaituna/gnarly-gorge","Bay of Plenty","Kaituna","Gnarly Gorge","V","5","","36m/km","","Bottom of Awesome Gorge run","","Below Awesome Gorge take out you are immediately into the meat of Gnarly Gorge which is a continuation of Awesome Gorge style of paddling but much narrower, steeper and faster with hidden trees and more waterfalls. You must seek quality local beta before you try this one.
Paddlers have been regularly portaging the ""Gnarly Gorge"" section using the track on river right through the pine forest. It is about a 30 minute walk downstream to the next pool. Be aware the river right is all private land and it is up to the individual to get permission for access. River left for most of the length of ""Awesome and Gnarly"" is ""Scenic Reserve"" but there are very few tracks.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/bay-of-plenty/kaituna/okere-falls","Bay of Plenty","Kaituna","Okere Falls","III-IV","3.5","1.1km","36m/km","30-60min","control gates by the Kaituna River Bridge on SH33","last drop above Trout Pool Falls (don't miss it!)","A long time classic in the Central North Island the Kaituna is famous for its waterfalls, park " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/bay-of-plenty/kaituna/smokey-falls","Bay of Plenty","Kaituna","Smokey Falls","III-IV+ (V)","3.725","24km","15m/km","5-6 hours","At end of Gnarly Gorge section","Maungarangi Road bridge","
Includes rapids Number 1, Number 2, Number 3, Smokey Falls, Happy Ending.
The last gorge below 'Smokey Falls' has been accessible for a number of years from the Ash farm on Maungarangi Road. this is a class II-III paddle out to the flat water.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/kakapotahi/upper-kakapotahi","West Coast","K","Upper K","IV+-V","4.6","1.5km","10m/km","4-8 hours","Top gorge","Kakapotahi Road Bridge on SH6","The spring floods of 2001 had much to answer for in the Kakapotahi. A large chunk of rock fell out of the wall into the tunnel rapid in the upper Kakapotahi and rendered it unrunnable. The river continued to be paddled by running right at the tunnel and portaging the choked off drop to below the tunnel. Who knows when the river will change again and be - well, all good?The beautiful upper Kakapotahi is a fantastic kayak run, one of those places kayaks were just made for. It has seven drops, all of which are difficult to scout and have some consequences for blowing the line. Finding someone with prior experience is a good idea, especially if the river is pushing the upper end of the flow limit. About twelve cumecs is optimal and it requires rain to get to this level. The two middle drops are the crux. Run Postman" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/kakapotahi/mid-gorge-to-sh6","West Coast","K","Mid Gorge to SH6","IV (IV+)","4.02","9km","10m/km","4-8 hours","Mid Gorge","Kakapotahi Road Bridge on SH6","
The lower Kakapotahi has proven itself as a lasting run for intermediates and experts alike. Best with a good fresh of water but it can be paddled at most levels. After the class IV descent to the river there are some good class II rapids to warm up on before the river sidles into an innocuous looking gorge (aren" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/karamea/venus-creek-to-gauge","West Coast","Karamea","Venus Creek to Gauge","III+ (IV)","3.3","52km","6.5m/km","2-3 days","Venus Creek","When the river opens onto farmland","
The Karamea is magic. Located in the heart of Kahurangi National Park, the huge surrounding valleys, limestone walls and enormous earthquake slips hint of powerful forces at work in the landscape, conjuring an aura hard to beat anywhere. The whitewater is fun, but don" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/karangarua/upper-karangarua","West Coast","Karangarua","Upper Karangarua","V","5","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/kawarau/dogleg","Otago","Kawarau","Dogleg","III+","3.25","7.5km","4m/km","1-3 hours","Rafters","Dog Leg camping area, Rafters Road","
Fun surfing, enders, splats, pivots, wave wheels and eddy line cartwheels at a variety of places, in a variety of flows on one of the biggest rivers in New Zealand. Summer flows may get as low as 100 cumecs, spring and flood flows may easily reach 600-700 cumecs. Whatever the flow there always seems to be something to do.
After the put in the gorge closes in around you and an ominous roar heralds your arrival at the top of Smith's Falls. Find a wave, or if your life insurance is up-to-date catch a ride in the big hole on the right side. Beware of plummeting bungy jumpers off the second of the Twin Bridges. Violence may ensue if you try to get out on their platform unless it's a dire emergency - exit here at your own peril.
The best surfing on Do Little Do Nothing is at about 165 cumecs, on the 3rd wave back where you can cross over to river right or recycle behind the rock on river left. The front wave is good at flows >300 but hard in short boats. A long stretch of canyon with excellent eddy lines leads into the final and crux rapid, Dog Leg. Out of control surfing in the first part of Dog Leg is not to be missed-but often is as the waves are fast and difficult to catch. Head left around the island and look for waves and a ledge hole on the left. The take out is on the right just beyond here and getting out here is a good idea as Nevis Bluff lies just a few kilometres downstream and there are no more take outs.
Camping at the take out is lovely, and there are some premium spots among the trees. At this stage it is free so let's look after it. We can keep it that way by cleaning up after ourselves and using the toilets provided. If you plan to stay a while and use an open fire please bring your own firewood. After two decades of use people have pruned, cut and savaged the resident trees to a seriously depleted state. New wineries have been sprouting all around the area so make sure you pay a visit or three.
To get to the put in: drive on SH6 between Queenstown and Cromwell. About 4km east of the Arrow River bridge is a gravel turning area with a road leading down to a carpark. A track leads to the river. Rafters clip their rafts onto a steep " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/kawarau/nevis-bluff","Otago","Kawarau","Nevis Bluff","VI-","5.75","1km","25m/km","60 seconds (to the b","At the top of the rapid","Victoria Bridge on SH6","
This run is stupendous!! As a sure sign of the times and the speed of change in this sport Nevis used to be the pinnacle of NZ whitewater but has become a regular run for Queenstown locals and visiting hard people. It still continues to change and it is difficult to say whether it has become easier or not - it's still big and it's still impressive. Have fun and be safe.
Nevis Bluff came into existence when the Kawarau river carved its way around a particularly tough piece of bedrock. As people moved through the area early in the twentieth century the road was established and the bluff had to be dealt with. Blasting and road cutting saw huge amounts of rock tossed into the river creating the rapids we know and love as Nevis Bluff.
The rapids have a chequered history: in 1980 a young paddler from Nelson, Chris Moody, attempted the rapids in an old fibreglass kayak. This attempt might have been successful had his trusty old boat not broken up around him. He apparently swam the rapids and finished up with the cockpit coaming hanging like a hula hoop around his waist.
In the 1981 South Island Recreational River Survey, Graham Egarr noted: ""the rapids are unnavigable and exceedingly dangerous"". Then in 1983, US kayaking guru Rob Lessor made an attempt. Having seen the rapid and heard the rumours, he was dressed in two life jackets as he pushed into the current. He did, however, put in below the first drop, thus eliminating the first two moves. The rest of his run was successful.
In July 1984 the gates at the Kawarau Falls bridge were closed for an assessment of the recreational, visual, and environmental impacts of hydroelectric development involving lowering the Kawarau's flow. The flow was reported to be 40 cumecs (lower than any recorded natural flow). Greg Bell and Gordon Raynor paddled the whole rapid and Tony Marcinowski put in after the first drops. It is interesting to note that these paddlers, talented as they were, had chosen to prepare for the run in the fashion popular at the time which was probably attributable to their success:
""Probably a kind of sixth sense telling me I was in a strange location bade me regain consciousness. A primeval survival instinct prevented me from yet opening my eyes. I was too frightened to move lest I disturbed the timpanist in my brain. My mouth felt like a small creature of the night had used it first as a latrine then as a mausoleum. Slowly, I opened my eyes; a big white thing stared down at me; I'd seen one before, but not from this angle. Over a bit further I spied a shower cabinet and some toothbrushes. Terrific - I had spent the night in the bathroom. Slowly, I arose and made my way to the lounge. I extricated my watch from a cup of cold tea - it was still early. The next thing I heard sounded very much like a bellowing hippo ""C'mon-let's go paddling""....."" - NZ Canoe, Rafting magazine No.31, 1984
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/kawarau/roaring-meg","Otago","Kawarau","Roaring Meg","III","3","5km","5m/km","1-3 hours","Carpark 800m upstream of the Roaring Meg Power Station","The secret roadside area 5.2 km along the road","
If boils and whirlies make your heart go pitter patter then get your teeth into this one. A fun run at any level with good surfing at regular intervals and locals have a regular Tuesday evening descent (6pm) throughout the summer months if you need to meet people or find a girlfriend/boyfriend.
At flows upto 200 cumecs there is a user friendly playhole at the put in. After the slalom site the whirlpools spiral down the gorge through a number of unnamed rapids. The only one of note is halfway down the run - a large hydraulic named Man Eater. I have seen proof, however, that this hydraulic is non gender specific. Around 170 cumecs it can only be run hard right. Between 170-250 it is huge crashing wave and can be surfed if you have what it takes. From here down enjoy the scenery and the endless seams to bury your tail in.
Take some time to reflect that this slackening water which now runs into a lake once flowed on to the famous Sargood's Weir. Sargood's Weir was one of the biggest, best rapids in the country. There were not many solid class V big rapids (200-500 cumecs) in the world. We had one of them. It exuded power, technicality and lack of emotion. Paradoxically it demanded of its suitors awe, fear, but most of all respect. It remained unpaddled until 1980 when Mick Hopkinson, then on holiday from the UK, paddling a fibreglass slalom boat successfully ran the rapids. Rob Lessor from the USA claimed the second descent in 1983. Then in 1984 Mick Hopkinson with partner in crime, Dirk Passchier, returned again. Dirk claimed the first 'Kiwi' descent of Sargood's. Through the late 1980s it became 'the rapid' for any aspiring hardperson and saw a number of descents. The intensity of use increased when the plans were published which showed that the lake from the Clyde Dam was going to flood the area to immediately above Sargood's Weir. People were keen to paddle the rapid before it died. When it finally drowned a slow and lingering death in 1992, Mick, who had paddled the rapid eighteen times, mourned its passing like a lost friend - indeed it was. May this murder of an international resource never be allowed to happen again.
To get to the put in: find the Roaring Meg Power Station on SH6. the put in is 800m towards Queenstown down a gravel road which descends a short distance to a large gravel carpark. A track leads to a gap in the gorge walls and the short clamber down to the river.
To get to the take out: from the power station drive about 4.5km down SH6 to a gravel road on the right cutting back down to a gravel parking area. There are some grey road marker posts numbered along this side of the road. The road is just after the 39 marker. If it is your first time on the run go down to the river so you can identify the exit point when you get there.
Class III+: >350 cumecs
Now the scene of much hooting and hollering as aspiring hardpeople cut their teeth on their first class IV+ big water, the Citro" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/kawarau/sargoods-weir","Otago","Kawarau","Sargood's Weir","V","5","","","","","","
There were not many solid Class V BIG rapids (200-500 cumecs) in the world. We had one of them. It exuded power, technicality and lack of emotion. Paradoxically it demanded of its suitors awe, fear, but most of all, respect. It remained unpaddled until 1980 when Mick Hopkinson, then on holiday from the UK, paddling a fibreglass slalom boat successfully ran the rapids. Rob Lessor from the USA claimed the second descent in 1983. Then in 1984, with partner in crime Dirk Passchier, returned again. Dirk claimed the first 'Kiwi' descent of Sargood's. Throughout the late 1980's it became 'the rapid' for any aspiring hardperson and saw a number of decents. The intensity of use increased when the plans were published which showed that the lake froim the Clyde Dam was going to flood the area to immediately above Sargood's Weir. People were keen to paddle the rapid before it died. When it finally drowned a slow and lingering death in 1992, Mick, who had paddled the rapid eighteen times, mourned its passing like a lost friend - indeed it was.
May this murder of such an international resource never be allowed to happen again.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/kawarau/kawarau-falls","Otago","Kawarau","Kawarau Falls","I-II","1.5","","","","","","From lake, under road bridge, to ?. Watch out for weirs beneath bridge at Kawarau Falls." "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/northland/kerikeri/kerikeri","Northland","Kerikeri","Kerikeri","I","1","","","","","","RUS 1112
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/taranaki/kiri/kiri-river","Taranaki","Kiri","Kiri River","IV+","4.25","","","","Carrington Rd","Kirihau Bridge","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/kokatahi/crawford-junction-to-bridge","West Coast","Kokatahi","Crawford Junction to bridge","IV-V (VI-)","4.55","13km","2m/km","6-8 hours","Crawford Junction","Bridge at the pick-up point","Since 1996, when Bruce Barnes and I did the first descent and both nearly died in Carnage Gorge, this river has kicked more guru ass than the spotted guru ass-kicker from planet Kick Ass. Hence its reputation as a tough run. BUT - in the manner of changing nature, debris movement in the Kokatahi seems to have mellowed it a lot since its heyday! That probably means only one thing " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/landsborough/kea-flat-to-clarke-bluff","West Coast","Landsborough","Kea Flat to Clarke Bluff","IV (V)","4.2","35km","8m/km","Usually2days","Via helicopter to Kea Flat.","Clarke Bluff","
For kayakers, the Landsborough is possibly New Zealand's most scenic and most wild river. It flows from north to south along the Main Divide, linking Mount Cook and Westland National Parks with Mt Aspiring National Park. Seen from the river, which for the most part runs through classic tussock and beech flats, dense silver beech forest blankets rugged gullies and ridges as far as the snow line. Beyond, impressive ice cliffs and snow fields overspread numerous snow-capped peaks.
Flanked by mountains rising thousands of feet above the valley, the whitewater is challenging enough, given the Landsborough's remote and wild nature. At medium or low flows, most of the trip is Class III or easier, with a handful of more difficult rapids, all portageable.
The boundary of the Hooker-Landsborough Wilderness Area runs from McKerrow Creek, along the true right bank of the Landsborough, then up to the Solution range opposite Barron Ck at the beginning of Toe Toe Flat. From Zora Creek the 'What The F**k Are We Doing Here' Gorge contains about six waterfall-type drops, all named by the first raft trip. From Hinds Flat down, several Class III and IV rapids exist.
With access to the upper river restricted by the Hooker-Landsborough Wilderness Area, a good approach is to chopper from Clarke Bluff (G37 230864) and put down at Kea Flat, overnighting at Fraser Hut. From Kea flat it's Class II or III, with occasional surf spots and many straightforward chutes past boulder banks. Fraser Hut is barely maintained, so bivvy bags or tents are recommended. Be careful about camping in the wide open fields around Fraser Hut - the locals regard it as a landing strip for hunting parties...
Most of the whitewater action is within the Upper Gates Gorge. Things get interesting with Hunt's Hole, a Class IV double-drop with a river-wide hole. This is followed by a long gentle left-hand curve with huge schist boulders at the bottom (The Squeeze, Class IV) which can get very challenging in high flow. The crux at most flows is Hellfire, Class V, a left turn with a series of rock sieves and a huge boulder midstream about 3/4 down. A couple of grade III rapids remain, including a hard right turn called Surprise Corner, before the river eases to Harper Flat and out to the Clarke. From the Clarke confluence near Strutt Bluff, it's about 45 minutes of flat paddling through braids to the Haast and SH6.
The amount of water dumped on this part of New Zealand is legendary. In flood, the Landsborough becomes monstrous and epics have occurred in the past. Getting in and out of the Landsborough valley by anything other than a helicopter is a major exercise, so parties should be well equipped and experienced. A favourable forecast is an absolute pre-requisite, and packing a mountain radio is a sensible precaution. The regular high flows modify the riverbed, so always scout the major rapids.
A useful campsite before the trip is at Pleasant Flat, about 5km south from Clarke Bluff on SH6. To avoid the flat paddle at the end groups with 4WD or rentals may be able to negotiate a track from the bridge over the Haast river to near Strutt Bluff. The nearest pub is at Haast, where you can also visit the superb DoC visitor's centre.
The Lee River is the Wairoa's main tributary and is also worth a run at higher flows, especially in the upper reaches. Access to the Lee is from the River Terrace Rd, turning left at the road turnoff by the Wairoa/Lee confluence to follow the Lee Valley Rd along the river's true left bank. The Lee is an easier version of the Wairoa, with similar ease of access and scouting from the road. Upper limit is at the Cement Works, where there is an access track to the river about 100m downriver from the locked gate at the end of the public road.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/lee-stream/lee-stream","Otago","Lee Stream","Lee Stream","IV-IV+","4.1","9.5km","30m/km","4 - 7 hours.","Bridge","Outram Glen","Urban Country Crossover best describes Lee Stream. Only 40 minutes drive from Dunedin to the put-in, Lee Stream offers a complete adventure close to town. Horizon lines, steep rapids, hard portages, all in a tight gorge with fantastic native bush around. At the upper end of the flow it gets very pushy and powerful.Lee Stream was first paddled in the early 1990's by Dunedin locals Keith Riley et al, and then went untouched for several years before being rediscovered in 2006 by Craig Adams et al.
From the put-in the river looks fairly innocuous, but soon picks up. The first portage is just a few hundred metres downstream; portage on the left around a tree-choked rapid. The gradient increases through 'Head High Tackle', a sump which is unpaddleable at lower flows. Scout on the left, and if necessary portage high on the left. The gradient maintains its steepness throughout, climaxing in Pencil Sharpener and Pencil Dick Falls, a tricky lead in to a 4m waterfall.
The last rapid is Slide Into Depravity. At low flows the first slide can be run, but avoid it at higher flows as the rest of the rapid is in the Make My Day class. Portage around the Depravity on the right. From there it's a short paddle to the Taieri confluence and down to Outram Glen.
To get to the take-out, drive North through Mosgiel on Gordon Rd. Continue towards Outram for about 9km to the bridge over the Taieri River. Immediately after the bridge turn right onto a gravel road at Outram Glen. Turn left onto a smaller gravel road and drive for about 10km to the trestle bridge over Lee Stream. Put in here.
To get to the take out, drive back to the carpark at Outram Glen.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/leith-stream/leith","Otago","Leith Stream","Leith","III (IV+)","3.22","3km","","1/2 hour","?","?","Watch out for clocktower weir..." "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/lewis","Canterbury","Lewis","?","III","3","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/lochy/lochy","Otago","Lochy","'The Lochy'","IV","4","12km","20m/km","4 hours","River flats, 1.5km down stream from Billy Creek, just above footbridge","State Highway 6 ","The Lochy has some picturesque beech forest scenery, and nice class IV boating with a couple of portages around sumps. The water is cold and clear. The run takes about four hours from the river flats to the river mouth at the farm station and finishes with a 3.5km paddle across Lake Wakatipu to the car (shuttled there before going to the airport).
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/macfarlane/blackfoot-creek-to-landsborough","West Coast","MacFarlane","Blackfoot Creek to Landsborough","V","5","","200m/km","","","","First descent Jan(?) 2012 took 15 1/2hrs over two days, by Andy Moffatt, Ari Walker, Brian Urmson, Kerry Hoglund, Paul Siratovich, Tom Botterill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7DiC54bsbg
http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-43.966656,169.447205&z=14&pin...
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/mahitahi/mahitahi","West Coast","Mahitahi","Mahitahi","IV+ (V)","4.3","","","","","","Additional data has been suppressed as part of the South Westland Exploratory Paddling initiative.
Catchment: 877000
Egarr_Comments: 3
Egarr_Code: 4.3
Egarr_Vol: 46
Egarr_Page: SI
Egarr_Rec: 40
Egarr_Scen: 2
RUS_Code: 2264
Egarr SI, p23.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/makarora/makarora","Otago","Makarora","Makarora","I","1","","","","","","RUS 2411, class unknown
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/wanganui/makatote/sh4-to-upper-manganui-valley-bridge","Wanganui","M","SH4 to Upper Manganui Valley bridge","III-IV","3.5","14.5km","18m/km","3-4 hours","below Makatote Road bridge","Upper Manganui Valley bridge","The imposing viaduct spanning the Makatote just south of National Park township distracts all but the most obsessive kayakers peering into the river valley. The small river trickling below SH49 does nothing to hint at the hidden charms downstream. Don" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/makawhio/jumbo-creek-to-sh6","West Coast","M","Jumbo Creek to SH6","IV-IV+","4.1","15km","30m/km","3-5 hours","Near confluence of Jumbo Creek & Makawhio (aka Jacobs River).","SH bridge at Jacobs River.","
The Makawhio is another classic West Coast helicopter river, more moderate than many and long overlooked. In early 1999, Erik Bradshaw, Jon Hunt, Katherine Macey and Tony Ward-Holmes had eyeballed the river but had to wait a month for the rain to stop before they could get in there. The steep walls and stunning waterfall off the side of Mt Herman provide the big-country scenery and set the scene for the day.
The trip starts in a beautiful gorge at the confluence with Jumbo Creek. Smooth rock and elegant water-worn formations provide a surreal background. The first big rapid and portage, Stop Sign, is completely shut down by the rock of the same name. When this rock eventually gets moved there will be an awesome series of class V drops. You can put in before the end of Stop Sign, but beware of the last small drop with its slow but sure re-circulation - it is perfectly shaped and offers no easy exit, as Katherine found out.
Good fun class III+ to IV+ water then follows until a lake. Everything is to scout and/or walk if need be. The lake is reminiscent of the earthquake lakes on the Karamea, and like the Karamea lakes, it too has a complex slip rapid at the end of it. The entrance drop has yet to be run, the rest adds up to class IV. Below that the river slowly eases.
To get to the PUT IN: drive 30 minutes south of Fox to the small town of Jacobs River. Fly from here by contacting the Sullivan" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/manawatu/makuri/makuri-gorge","Manawatu","Makuri","Makuri Gorge","IV+","4.25","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/manawatu/manawatu/manawatu-gorge","Manawatu","Manawatu","Manawatu Gorge","II","2","","","","","","
History re Manawatu esp. floods http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/M/ManawatuRiver/ManawatuRiver/en
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/manawatu/mangahao/mangahao-gorge","Manawatu","Mangahao","Mangahao Gorge","III-IV","3.5","18km","9m/km","4.5-8 hours","Mangahao Reservoir No.2","Mangahao Road bridge west of Hukanui","If you want to catch up with long-lost paddling friends or look for an elusive paddling girlfriend or easily find a new boyfriend, just turn up at one of the spring or autumn Mangahao releases when the river becomes the busiest in the country. It's an excellent place for hearing the latest gossip, but removes any feeling of wilderness this run would have without all the people.
The Mangahao is dammed twice in the Tararua Ranges and its flow is diverted to Arapeti Stream, then west to Mangaore Stream. The Whitewater Park below the Mangahao Power Station makes use of this water, but use of the main Mangahao River is limited to when King Country Energy releases water twice a year by agreement, or when heavy rain forces them to spill water.
Having survived the very tight and winding road to the put-in, find a park and catch up with old friends. If you want you can even charter a helicopter from the take out thus avoiding the heinous shuttle. Escape to the river, which starts as a single channel in a deep bush-lined valley. A few kilometres down is the first gorge with a couple of rapids in the easy class IV range. The crux rapid in the first gorge is a series of drops through a narrow section culminating in a final rapid with some fun hydraulics. A large tree wedged at the bottom provides the objective danger in the rapid. There are some good play spots in this section, but you'll have to join the queue.
Once clear of this gorge there is a long stretch of relaxing and enjoyable class II-III water with fabulous scenery. A few harder class III+ rapids shake you out of your reverie, including boulder gardens requiring active manoeuvering to stay out of trouble. Two or three may make it to IV-, depending on the flow.
Gradually these rapids give way to easier water and the hills lay back into pastoral land. The river becomes shallow, braided class I and II. The take out arrives just as you decide you really didn't want a flat water training session for the day. Often there are stalls set up selling hot dogs, beer and other essential post-river delights. One of the trickiest parts of this run is ensuring your shuttle driver knows how to get from the put in to the take out.
To get to the put-in: go to the small town of Shannon on SH7 south of Palmerston North. Follow the signs to Mangahao Power Station. Drive past the station and Whitewater Park up the gravel road which climbs over a saddle. It descends slightly to Tokomaru No 3 Reservoir, skirts this and climbs again twisting and turning like a slippery eel. Eleven kilometres from the power station you arrive at Mangahao Reservoir No 2 and the put-in.
To get to the take-out: head back to Palmerston North on SH7. Find any signs which point to Aokautere or Pahiatua Track. Follow this windy road over the Tawarua Ranges. As the road flattens onto the lowlands near Makomako, look for a junction and right turn to Marima. Once at Marima follow signs to Kopikopiko via Kopikopiko Road. This road turns to gravel a couple of kilometres out of Marima and stays this way to the bridge. The take-out is in a paddock on the river left just upstream of the bridge. Good luck.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/manawatu/mangahao/mangahao-slalom-site","Manawatu","Mangahao","Mangahao Slalom Site","II-III+","2.6","0.5km","","90 seconds to full day.","directly below power station.","On river left by concrete block exit. Don't miss the take out its a hassle find other good eddies.","National whitewater Slalom Site. It has gates set up, toilets and flood lights for paddling in the dark! But you need a access card from Bivouac in Palmy to use the toilets or lights.This river has a small, steep catchment and is therefore quite flashy. While the Wairua is still flooding over its banks this little gem will have been up and returned to its normal flow. From the put-in the river is tends to be rather boney; if it isn't then the gorge section will be very interesting.
For the first 1.5 km the river contains boulder and gravel rapids with some 1 to 2 metre drops at the ends. Just as you're thinking to yourself, there is not enough water in this river, the banks close in, constricting the flow into a smaller bedrock channel for the next 2 km. This section contains the hardest rapids, becoming pool drop with a few longer class III rapids. It is quite confined in places but can be mostly boat scouted although a quick check down some of the longer shoots might improve safety and ease your nerves.
When the Waiokumurau stream comes in from the right you are through the hardest section. The gradient eases and the river widens again returning to the boulder and gravel rapids but this time with greater volume. These rapids keep up the fun for the next 5.5 km down to the take out. When you leave your shuttle vehicle at the take-out take time to familiarise yourself with the surroundings as it might be easy to miss from the river.
To get to the put in: From Whangarei take SH14 to Mangatapere, here turn right towards Tetoki, follow this road through the village until you get to Twin Bridges. Here turn left just before the bridge and follow the road up the valley for a further 11 or 12 km. Leave a shuttle vehicle where the river leaves the road for the last time . Continue along this road until you get to a T junction at Waimatenui, turn right and follow it down hill to the bridge. Park at the bridge and get in on the down stream side on the left hand side of the left channel after a brief excursion through the bush.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/northland/mangakahia/middle-mangakahia","Northland","Mangakahia","Middle Mangakahia","II","2","12km","4m/km","","","","RUS 1118
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/bay-of-plenty/mangakarengorengo/ngamuwahine-bridge-to-mclaren-falls","Bay of Plenty","Mangakarengorengo","Ngamuwahine Bridge to McLaren Falls","III (V)","3.24","3km","","1-2 hours","Ngamuwhahine Bridge","Above McLaren Falls","Mangakorengorengo has been a classic Bay of Plenty flood run for the locals. With a large catchment area, this gem does not need much rain to get flowing. Make sure to catch the gauge before hand, low flows are not boat friendly thanks to the coarse bedrock.
From the Ngamuwhine bridge, it is a short paddle to the confluence to Mangakorengorengo (Make sure to use the turn-style/step the farmer kindly installed). The river splits into two channels: both are class III+, most people go river right to paddle of a super clean 3m waterfall. Scoutable on river left. Below the waterfall is about 100m of class III.
Shortly after the class III is some more grade III, watch out for a loud roar as you approach the Abyss (V). Most people stick river left to find an eddy, if not there are eddys on river right above the drop. Scout river left and decide to run it or not.
Below the Abyss is some class II-III action for a kilometre, once you get to the flat section. Watch out for fords, swimmers have gone under these before. Not fun.
Immediately after the ford is a nice class III+ rapid, most people go river left and hard river right to avoid the hole at the bottom on river left. Scoutable on river right. After this is 300m of fun class III, where you will a steep rapid. Make sure to follow the deep water and stay up right. It can be quite shallow. From here, negotiate some more class II-III water till you see the McLarens falls Power Station. Paddle downstream as far as you dare, don" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/wanganui/manganui-a-te-ao/top-gorge-run","Wanganui","Manganui-a-te-Ao","Top Gorge Run","III+-IV-","3.6","8.5km","11.5m/km","2-3 hours","Hoihenga Bridge","Ruatiti Domain","
The Manganui-a-te-ao ('the great stream of the land') has the dubious distinction of being the the only remaining Central Plateau river that's not been diverted into the Rangipo Hydro Scheme. It is important that it stays this way.The river, like its many tributaries, has cut a very deep path through the ash layers that make up the local terra firma. These deep slot gorges provided railway builders with plenty of headaches by forcing the construction of large viaducts across their depths. Other streams in the vicinity offer interesting paddling in high flows. Of note is the Makatote which has a stunning class III+ run from the viaduct down to the Manganui-a-te-ao.The highest put-in on the Manganui-a-te-ao is the old Hoihenga Bridge. A track on river right leads down to a small beach. Once you push off you are into what is known, awesomely, as the Top Gorge. This is the crux of the Manganui experience and is excellent in flood levels. The rapids are a series of large waves and hydraulics. Now and then they crash into a wall at the bottom, but there is usually a good pool at the bottom of each rapid. At very high flood levels the rapids reach class IV.Below Myers bridge (a small footbridge which can be reached on the river right side if someone needs to leave the river) the river widens and the rapids ease to fun class II-III down to the bridge at Ruatiti Domain. A slalom race is held each year on the rapids at the domainn. Between Ruatiti and the bridge at Makakahi is mostly class II water with some long flat stretches. If you miss the bridge at Makakahi then you are stuck with the trip all the way down to the next road access at Pipiriki on the Wanganui River.To get to the Put-in: turn west of SH4 about 4km north of Raetihi township and follow signs to Ruatihi. At a road junction near the Orautoha school, the road splits and becomes Pukekaha Road and Ohura Road. Follow Pukekaha Road for about 3.5km to a fork. Take the left fork to the Hoihenga bridge, The last 100m down to the bridge is steep and slippery, so your average car is best left at the top of the final zigzag.Take-out: go back to the Orautoha School. Follow Ohura Road for just over four kilometers to the bridge at the Ruatiti domain.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/mangahao_national_white_water_centre","Wanganui","Mangaore","Mangahao National White Water Centre","III","3","","","","","","Near Shannon (see http://slalomnz.org.nz/Sites.aspx).
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/waikato/mangaotaki/mangaotaki-bridge-to-sh3","Waikato","Mangaotaki","Mangaotaki bridge to SH3","II+","2.25","","","","Mangaotaki Bridge.","State Highway 3","The Mangaotaki River has it" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/waikato/mangaotaki/sh3-to-mokau","Waikato","Mangaotaki","SH3 to Mokau","III","3","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/wellington/mangareia-stream/mangareia-stream","Wellington","Mangareia Stream","Mangareia Stream","III-IV (V)","3.55","2km","","2 hours","Waipipi Stream, just upstream from the confluence with Mangareia Stream","","
A hidden gem that" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/mangles/blackwater-creek-to-buller","Tasman","Mangles","Blackwater Creek to Buller","II-III (IV)","2.55","6km","6m/km","1-3 hours","200 metres below Blackwater Creek Bridge","Mangles/Buller Confluence","
A great run for beginners and has become one of the hot destination play runs when the water is high. You" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/taranaki/mangorei-stream/mangorei-stream","Taranaki","Mangorei Stream","Mangorei Stream","III-IV","3.5","","","","Morgans Rd","Kent Rd","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/bay-of-plenty/mangorewa/pyes-pa-to-maungarangi-road","Bay of Plenty","Mangorewa","Pyes Pa to Maungarangi Road","III-IV+","3.7","34km","10m/km","5-8 hours","Pyes Pa Road or through Lemprieres Farm, 1601 Te Matai Road. Phone 07 573 8034","Maungarangi Road, off SH33 near Long Ridge Park","
Mangorewa River
The Mangorewa River crosses the old coach
road that links Rotorua and Tauranga. Mostly it's no more than a trickle of
water linking a series of swimming holes in a stunning gorge. But - after a
decent nights rain the river turns into something resembling a half pipe for
kayakers.
From the Pyes Pa Rd put in, the river
starts out shallow and fast with a smooth flat bottom and a range of easy
waterfalls. One larger fall, about an hour from the put in, is normally
portaged. After this fall the gradient starts to pick up a little, the walls
close in,and the river starts to look like the Kaituna. Most rapids can be boat
scouted or easily from the bank but there are a couple of blind gorges which
offer no chance of scouting and care must be taken to avoid logs.
About 10km down the water volume increases
because of natural springs in the river. The water gushing from the rocks on
both sides is quite impressive and also allows this section of river to be run
year round. It is possible to gain access through Lempriere's farm. It will
cost about $40 per team to get a ride down the farm on the tractor and you must
call before arriving.
Just below the springs are the two biggest
falls on the river. The first is at the bottom of a steep rapid. In low flows
you may want to portage on the left, in higher flows it can be run on river
right. The second fall is 100m downstream. This is an exciting one because
there is no chance to scout or portage!! But a good boof off the right side
will see you safely in the eddy.. A few more small drops keep the interest up
until the gradient eases right off. After this keep an eye out for a large
water gauge on the left side of the river. The track is on the right side of
the river just opposite this and takes you 200m up through pine forest and onto
a farm and Maungarangi Rd. If you miss this you can paddle to the Kaituna
confluence, turn up it a short distance and get out at Long Ridge Park.
To get to the put in: from Rotorua head
around the lake through the small settlement of Ngongotaha. About 5km north of
the township is the turnoff to Tauranga on Pyes Pa Rd. Follow this road for
about 16km until it drops into a deep gorge - this is the Mangorewa.
To get to the take out: there are a couple
of options and it doesn't make much difference. Either take Te Matai Rd through
to Te Puke then head back south. Or go back to SH33 past the Kaituna River and
head north on this. You are looking for Maungarangi Rd off SH33 about 2km south
of Paengaroa. Once on this road go 900m down to Long Ridge park just before the
Kaituna River bridge. Access the river via the park.
Rapidly gaining the status as one of the runs to do in the area, the Manuherikia has been popular with Otago paddlers since its first descent in 1985 by a UCCC team who had read a report that it was class II. A small, tight gorge, it needs more than normal flow, but thanks to the Otago flow phone system you won't have to waste time driving to the river to check it out.
Initially the gorge is narrow and water flat. The rapids begin after 3km. A diversion tunnel on the right after 5km heralds the beginning of the gorge proper. Between the beginning and end of the tailrace are a number of steep, technical class III-IV rapids. All are easily portaged on the tailrace. They continue 2km past the tailrace outflow. Two steep and technical class V rapids follow each other in quick succession, both with high objective danger from rock sieves and undercuts.
Optimal flows are between 15 and 50 cumecs; at over 50 cumecs the water is very turbulent and becomes solid class V. Below the gorge relents before issuing onto Central Otago farmland just after the Chatto Creek confluence. From here to Keddel Rd is a half hour of flat water. It is possible to take out at Chatto Creek and walk 4km along the old railway line to the Chatto Creek pub.
To get to the put-in; 1.5km south-west of the small settlement of Omakau on SH85 is a short gravel road to the Ophir bridge. Put in there.
To get to the take-out; drive east on SH85 towards Springvale. Look for Keddel Rd. Turn down this and follow it 1.5km to the river.
The Manuherikia features in a 2013 video by Rory Allardice http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_e78hYENPM
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/southland/mararoa/south-mavora-lakes-to-kiwi-burn","Southland","Mararoa","South Mavora Lakes to Kiwi Burn","II-III","2.5","6.5km","8m/km","1-2 hours","The first swingbridge at South Mavora Lakes","Kiwi Burn swingbridge","The Mararoa flows from the two Mavora Lakes between Lake Te Anau and Lake Wakatipu and empties into the Waiau River. It is a beautiful area and the river trip no less. Camping at the lakes is stunning and I suggest taking mountain bikes for exploring further up the valley.From the put-in at the lake it's a fantastic float alongside honey-dew beech forest and through clear pools where trout cruise beneath underwater ledges. The forest gives way to a short gorge as the rapids pick up, climaxing with three drops. Rumour has it that these can get to class IV in very high flows, but in anything other than a big flood they are class III. The rapids settle as the gorge eases and the river breaks into farmland down to the next short gorge under the Kiwi Burn swingbridge. This small section is used often for beginner teaching sessions and novice slalom races. Take out and walk up the track to the carpark.
To get to the put-in: turn off SH93 (between Lumsden and Te Anau) at signs to Mavora Lakes. Twenty six kilometres of gravel road takes you to the lakes and camping areas. Park near the the first swingbridge and put in.
To get to the take-out: drive about 5.5km down the valley and look for a DOC sign on the left side, opposite a gate, indicating access to the Kiwi Burn area via a swingbridge. Head down a farm track for 800m to the parking area near the bridge.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/maruia/creighton-road-to-sh65","Tasman","Maruia","Creighton Road to SH65","II-III+","2.6","17.5km","5m/km","3-5 hours","end of Creighton Road (off SH65)","Ruffe Creek bridge on SH65","The Maruia on a hot sunny day is great as a scenic, relaxing trip away from the hubbub of the popular Buller runs. It makes a great beginner/intermediate trip if a few of the harder rapids are walked. If the weather forecast is excellent and you have a hot date it makes an excellent over night adventure too. The Maruia drains the southern Spenser Range and wends north alongside SH65 between Springs Junction and Murchison. The Shenandoah Mountains rise up to form a barrier that swings the river away from the road. The river moves west then back east to rejoin SH65 a few kilometres above Maruia Falls.
The run begins as easy class II riffles for a few kilometres until well away from the road. The beech forest crowding down to the water's edge is stunning. This, combined with crystal clear water and an abundance of fish and game, means that the most common visitors to the area are hunters and anglers. The few harder rapids are in the steeper areas with big boulders in the river. The paddling here is very enjoyable, and at very high flows the large waves that are kicked up keep you guessing at what's over the lip right to the finish. Towards the end the river enters a short gorge typical of the region. Once clear of this a kilometre or so of class I water will see you at the take out and road.
To get to the put in: find Creightons Rd off SH65 about 18km north of Springs Junction. Drive 2km down this gravel road to the barn and gate at the end of the road. A small stream runs alongside the road just by the gate. Follow this stream 150m to its confluence with the Maruia. Make sure that any vehicles left at the put in are well off the roadway, and ensure all gates and fences are left as they are found. Access is via a paper road.
To get to the take out: the take out is on the northern side of Shenandoah Saddle on SH65. The easiest parking area is at Ruffe Creek, where the Maruia returns to the road. There are small tracks through the bush to the river.
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/mason","Canterbury","Mason","?","V","5","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/matakitaki/middle-matakitaki","Tasman","M","Middle M","II+","2.25","5km","7m/km","1-4 hours","Matakitaki Valley Road by second set of telephone lines","Matakitaki Valley Road just after the road turns to gravel","Almost a park " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/lower-matakitaki","Tasman","M","Lower M","III+-IV-","3.6","3.5km","8m/km","40-60 minutes","150 metres below Earthquake Rapid on left","main road bridge SH6, outside Murchison","
Here;s another quality short run made possible by the 1929 earthquake that sent a huge slip into the river and dammed it. Technical maneuvering through boulder gardens at the start of the run creates a slightly different run than many others in the region. A lot of wood shifts around so always be wary if it" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/matiri/matiri-gorge","Tasman","Matiri","Matiri Gorge","III+-IV","3.65","7.5km","8m/km","1-3 hours","Matiri Valley Road end by the DOC sign.","600 metres below the last rapid at a small opening to the road.","
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/matukituki/rob-roy-stream-to-raspberry-creek","Otago","M","Rob Roy Stream to Raspberry Creek","III","3","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/matukituki/raspberry-creek-to-camerons-flat","Otago","M","Raspberry Creek to Cameron's Flat","II","2","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/moawhango_run","Waikato","Moawhango","Moawhango run","III","3","","","","","","
Not much info on this. Dammed in 1978.
http://www.fishandgame.org.nz/SITE_Default/SITE_your_region/SITE_Welling...
This is one of the North Island" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/hawkes-bay/mohaka/pakaututu-to-sh5","Hawke's Bay","M","Pakaututu to SH5","II","2","","","","Pakaututu Road bridge","McVicars Road","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/mohaka/te-hoe","Hawke's Bay","M","Te Hoe","III","3","","","","","","
RUS 1617
" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/hawkes-bay/mohaka/poronui-to-pakaututu","Hawke's Bay","M","Poronui to Pakaututu","II","2","","","","Poronui Station","Pakaututu Road bridge","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/waikato/mokau/totoro-gorge","Waikato","M","Totoro Gorge","II-IV","2.9","","","","Directly below the Wairere Power station","","Rapids include Little Huka, Little Aratiatia.
Catchment: 407000
Egarr_Comments: ""Ideal water
Egarr_Code: 27.02
Egarr_Vol: NI
Egarr_Page: 32
Egarr_Rec: 4
Egarr_Scen: 4
RUS_Code: 1218
The Nth Branch (gauge 1.5-1.8) is a great development trip and stepping stone to more difficult coast runs. The rapids are plentiful and not too hard, the scenery is superb and it is an honest day of paddling by the time you get through the normal Mokihinui run. If you aren" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/mokihinui/mokihinui-forks-down","West Coast","M","M","III-IV","3.5","18.5km","6.5m/km","3-5 hours","Mokihinui Forks","Second ford after Seddonville up the Mokihinui Valley","
The Mokihinui (mo-key-he-nui) was a feared river for travellers along the coastal trails from the Arahura greenstone areas. Crossing in times of flood cost lives and the trip was fraught with other dangers. An ingenious solution to these dangers gave the river its name.
A large war party from the North Island was journeying down the coast to the greenstone areas. As they traveled they were repeatedly attacked from the rear by some of the local tribes. To avoid splitting the invading party the chiefs ordered a number of kahikatea trees felled and trimmed. These were tied together with flax into a big (nui) raft (mokihi) so that the whole party could cross at the same time. The raft was left and in later times repaired and added to by travelers going up and down the coast. It remained in use for many years.*
Any time the river is running clear it contains five or six rapids that reach class IV. All are easily portaged. The scenery is spectacular, starting at the wide open Forks and an old earthquake dam caused by the " "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/gisborne/motu/motu-falls-to-sh35","Gisborne","Motu","Motu Falls to SH35","III-IV","3.5","88.5km","5m/km","2-4 days","2km past Motu Falls","SH35 bridge","
Jump at any opportunity to get on a trip down the Motu. Bush and gorge scenery, good camping and enjoyable whitewater all feature on one of the North Island" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/motueka/woodstock-to-ngatimoti","Tasman","Motueka","Woodstock to Ngatimoti","II","2","","","","","","Areas of bedrock and shingle chutes, willows on banks. Put-in at Woodstock Bridge, take-out at Ngatimoti Bridge." "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/mungo/mungo","West Coast","Mungo","Mungo","V","5","","","","","","" "http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/nevis/nevis-crossing-to-kawarau-river","Otago","Nevis","Nevis Crossing to Kawarau River","IV-VI","4.9","16.5km","25m/km","5-12 hours","Where the Garston-Bannockburn road crosses the river at Nevis crossing","On the Kawarau river, 1.5km downstream of the Victoria Bridge (Citreon put-in).","
Draining the Garvie and Hector mountain range the Nevis River drops steeply through amazing Otago countryside on its 16 km journey to meet the Kawarau river.
If you are a competent, confidant class V paddler and like your creekin' on the steep side of very then this is the river for you. Make sure you pack your elbow pads!! It is the best in the region and offers some of the sickest, consistent hard boating in the country. There are so many drops and rapids on this wee gem that to even attempt to give a blow by blow account of each rapid would be ludicrous!
Don't be fooled by the mellow start. You get about 2.5 km or so of boogie water to warm up on and get the blood flowing before a manky rapid just above the obvious Slot Gorge which is a mandatory portage. Portage on the left and jump in from the ledge. Watch the jump, there are shallow rocks!
This is really the start of the Nevis River proper, a couple of rapids later - the game is on. The next 5km contain everything from ledge drops 2 - 10 m, long combination rapids and tight technical drops. Through this next section expect a lot of primo, boat scoutable stuff that you can pretty much bomb your way down eddy to eddy, though as per usual, check anything you cant see the bottom of. There is still some groveling to do but many many classic drops. Most of it goes apart from a couple of choked out boulder jumbles with easy portages.
Of note is one rapid called Double Drop with a fast lead in finishing with a sweet boof at the bottom. This rapid heralds the next section you are about to drop into. Be careful through here as it is sieve city. Make sure you can always see your next eddy as one rapid starts leading into another through this steep section. When you arrive at another BIG obvious horizon line then you are getting through it. Here you will see the river literally drop away from underneath you at Lunch Rapid, a class VI teaser, there is a line and it has been run, but this bad boy definitely rates high on the chunky scale; a tricky lead in and super tight line all to a must make move to avoid landing on a big rock from way up high. Portage on the left and this is usually a good time to grab a rest and get yourself sorted for the final onslaught downstream.
Below the portage you have 700m or so of continued steep before a quiet wee stretch for 200m which leads into the last STEEP section. The river drops like a staircase through here and when you reach a set of long steep rapids, one finishing with a 15 footer (great photo op), you are through the worst of it. From here the gradient begins to ease though you still have lots to keep you on your toes. Once you pass under the Nevis Bungy bridge you are home free and the Kawarau soon appears. You may be able to take out right at the confluence on the left side of the Kawarau but sometimes the gate is locked and you have to paddle through Citroen to the take out there.
Having someone who knows the run will cut your time down a lot. Expect anything from four to ten hours depending on your team. If you have the skills and are feeling good then you won't be disappointed. Watch out for the sieves!"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/nevis-river/upper-gorge","Otago","Nevis","Upper Gorge","II-III","2.5","2km","","1 hour","Commissioner's Creek","Schoolhouse Creek"," This is a short, fun little gorge in the stunning scenery of the Nevis Valley. The river runs through a fun rock garden with some nice features. To get to the put-in, drive from Cromwell, through Bannockburn and over Duffers Saddle to Nevis Crossing. Continue up the valley, cross Schoolhouse Creek and you'll soon reach Commissioner's Creek. The ford over Schoolhouse Creek can be deep, watch out for it. Ngakawau joins the long list of river names which get pronounced several different ways. Be wary of anything which involves a "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/bay-of-plenty/ngamuwahine/ngamuwahine","Bay of Plenty","Ngamuwahine","Ngamuwahine","III-IV","3.5","","","","","","The Ngamuwahine crosses under SH29 10km north of the Wairoa put in has a fun class IV run when there is water around. Put in about 2km up Ngamuwahine Rd and take out at the SH29 bridge of the same name or link to the Mangakarengorengo and on down to the Wairoa for the "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/hawkes-bay/ngaruroro/kuripapango-to-whanawhana","Hawke's Bay","Ngaruroro","Kuripapango to Whanawhana","II-III (IV)","2.55","39km","7.5m/km","4-10 hours","Ngaruroro bridge at Kuripapango","Otaumuri Stream junction, river left"," Wilderness and worth it. The Ngaruroro is a small, remote and little-known river with its headwaters in the northern Kaweka Ranges. The trip is possible at any time of year, but fresh rain improves speed of travel and whitewater quality. The section below Kuripapango is known as the lower gorge. With extra water it's a very long day of wilderness class 3+ water. Wilderness is the operative word here, and it's a great trip if you take your camping gear and stay out a night. A few campsites can be found on terraces on the first 8-10 kilometres, though the most commonly used site is half- way down the run (approx. 20 kilometres) on the right bank just below the derelict Lyndsays Lodge on the left. Run to the bottom of the rapid and catch the first right eddy and beach. It is a private tarpaulin and kanuka 'hut' which sleeps 10. There are also campsites around the hut (NZ Topo U21 Kereru ref 951863). From Kuripapango the water is mostly class II-III boulder gardens for the first 15 kilometres or so. The river then enters a nine-kilometre rocky gorge. This gorge contains the crux of the paddling - steep pool-drop rapids that reach class IV in high water. A narrow passage with a large rock known as The Barricade lies at the top of the last and hardest rapid. The river eases to class II as far as the Taruarau confluence, with many campsites, and class I to the Whanawhana take out. Users beware that a southerly wind will slow you down considerably. Take extra clothing as the wind can be chilling, especially if any of your party has taken a few inadvertent dunkings. To get to the PUT IN: from either the Taihape or Napier/Hastings side get onto the Taihape-Napier road. It is a long drive whichever side you come in. Kuripapango is about halfway between Napier and Taihape. About 200 metres west of the Ngaruroro bridge is a grassed rest area with a 4WD track leading down onto a lower terrace. You will find a walking track leading down the last 50 metres to the river. To get to the TAKE OUT: head east on the Napier-Taihape road until Otamauri. Turn right at the junction at Otamauri and follow the gravel road to the junction with Matapiro road. (The roads turns to tar seal at this junction.) Turn right onto Whanawhana Road and drive about 1.5 kilometres to the bridge over Otamauri Stream. A track on the right side of the stream leads down to the river. It is essential that your driver goes down to the river and places some sort of marker to indicate the take out! Proximity to Auckland is one of the best (or wors) features about K' Gorge. Whatever the case this stretch of water has won the hearts of many, and despite its short length and limited whitewater, it remains immensely popular. The Ohinemuri runs through the spectacular Karangahake Gorge beside SH2 between Waihi and Paeroa. The Gorge has been popular for decades with adventure seekers from the city as it has a river to paddle and some spectacular rock climbing on the cliffs above. With its huge boulders mid-river, K' Gorge is unlike many waterways in the north, providing not only interesting whitewater but also a playground for practising eddy turns and other stuff. This run is worth a visit if you're passing and there's been plenty of rain in the last 48 hours. From the Owharoa put in, the first few kilometres are easy class I-II water. The action begins just above the township of Karangahake with a drop into class IV-IV+ (only in flood) bouldery rapids. This is the start of a kilometre of fun whitewater down to the take out. To get to the put-in: Owharoa Falls is about one kilometre east of the township of Waikino. Park and find the easiest way down to the water. If you don't want to paddle the top section there are many other possible put in spots as you drive down the gorge. The take out is where the walkway through an old tunnel comes out on the road, about 800 metres east of Karangahake. Flow phone: 08-322 5334 The Okuku River is one of the best technical class IV runs in Canterbury. Similar in character to the Upper Waiau and Ashley rivers, the Okuku only flows in extended periods of SE rain in Canterbury, the heart of winter, or during snow melt in August/September. Despite the usually low temperatures, and the need for a 4WD vehicle plus driver, the Okuku is well worth the effort. A scenic run with several nice gorge rapids, the river builds up to where the south branch joins in to produce an excellent last 7.4 km stretch which drops at 13.5 m/km and contains several class IV - V rapids depending upon river flow on the day. Soon after the start from the Okuku Pass road put in is a nice class III rapid which gives the paddlers an indication of what lies ahead. The next 8 km is a mixture of class II/III rapids with some good play spots. The river is reasonably flat and wide at this point, and paddlers should encounter a stock fence that runs across the river. Be wary because in high flows the fence can be difficult to see "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/oparara/top-bridge-to-quarry","West Coast","","Top Oparara Road Bridge to Quarry","IV-V","4.5","12km","28m/km","4.5-8 hours","Top bridge over the Oparara River","Past the quarry sit, 4 kilometres up Oparara Road."," The Oparara is a river fit for inclusion in Lord of the Rings. Weird runes in the water, limestone sculptures dripping from the over hanging roofs of caves, mosses and vines damp and hanging in the misty forest densely packed alongside the river. The river trip had been similarly shrouded in mystery after early reports and attempts gave rise to stories of bush bashing, boats used as bridges to cross fissures, paddles lost in sinkholes and trolls living in the bottom of drops. Five years passed between my first and second trips. I was anxious that perhaps I had seen it wrong. Alas - it remains as it was. A great day out, still adventure kayaking and totally worthy as long as you take pleasure in the overhanging caverns and arches, phenomenal rainforest, bizarre tea coloured water and the fantastic bedrock shapes through the run. Oh and there is some good white water in there and quite a bit in the last section. Expect a gradient of 12m/km to Fenian Creek and 28m/km from Fenian Creek to the take out. The Oparara was first run in March 1993 in a standard summer flow. The team reported a scratchy but interesting trip. Other parties established the flow parameters through the 95/96 season. The river needs rain, but like many things in life, moderation is the key - including moderation. At the top bridge over the Oparara, look underneath at the concrete footings. If the water is lapping at the bottom edge of the concrete this is about optimal flow. The tolerance seems to be about 20 centimetres either way from there. Much higher or lower and you may be doing more tramping than you bargained. Since 1998 the bottom section has become the standard. Walk up to Fenian Creek from the take out and you can go with quite a lot more water than you"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/bay-of-plenty/opato-stream/manganuku-to-near-wairata","Bay of Plenty","Opato Stream","Manganuku to near Wairata","II-III+ (IV)","2.7","4.5km","14.5m/km","1-2 hours","Manganuku campsite","At the monument"," Opato River To get to the put in: From the settlement of Matawai drive 24km through To get to the take out: Drive a further 4.5km to a monument on the left A fun section close to Wellington. The Para Para has a four kilometre trip in a beautiful gorge and you can fly. This little class IV number needs water (8 - 15cumecs) but has the normal Golden Bay fare of plenty of three metre falls into clean pools with portages around log jams and rock sieves. It even has the normal gradient of 50m/km. The first 500m is class I to an old dam. Portage this on the right and the first drop/logjam on the left. After a few bedrock type drops the river changes into steep technical rockgarden rapids. There are a few short portages interspersed with classic drops with plenty of air. Towards the end is a long steep section with a three metre waterfall. Just after this is the last short gorge with a complex drop. Portage by jumping onto the centre rock then launching. The other option is to portage over the cliffs (1/2 hour). The rapids continue to the road end. Take out here or continue to the estuary and the main road. From Takaka drive to the Parapara bridge. Wait for the helicopter. If you drive up the river left side to where the road joins the river you will get an idea of the flow unaffected by the estuary. Drive another couple of kilometres on the main road until Plain Rd. Turn left on Plain Rd and drive 3km to a road junction. Turn left and drive through a gate (there is a phone number to call before crossing the land). Follow this road down past two gates and stop at the hay shed if you don"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/pearse/upper-pearse","Tasman","Pearse","Upper Pearse","IV-IV+","4.1","0km","0m/km","1-3 hours","Walk in from the Pearse Valley road end.","At the road end, or in higher flows down to the waterfall."," The Pearse offers a bit of steep close to Nelson. With a bit of a fresh, the top gorge goes and is a short but very tight gorge with some fun small drops and steep short rapids. At higher flows the gorge can be quite intimidating, but the lower stretch of the river offers some fun III+ for more intermediate paddlers, or makes it a good length river trip if doing both sections. From the put in, the top gorge goes straight into steepish boulder gardens. There are small pools between the rapids. There is potentially one portage at the end of the top gorge at lower flows. The portage is heralded by a difficult to boat-scout drop on river left. At most flows it can be scouted by clambering on rocks at the right. From here make your choice. If you are not paddling the drop, launch in on river right and skirt the sieve-y drop to boof off a small gap in the rocks. After a flat bit, the top section ends with three quick and fun short rapids/drops just before the road end. If there is a good amount of water at the road end, the lower section is well worth doing. It has even-gradient rapids for the most, apart from a drop in the middle that may require scouting and a waterfall at then end. The bottom waterfall can be paddled at very high flows, or otherwise use the rock-slide on river left. The Pearse traps timber, so tread carefully. The top gorge will be a mighty handful at very high flows and will be continuous, hard to scout and dangerous. Although short, it can be very difficult to get out of. To get to the put-in; from the Motueka River West Bank Road turn onto the Pearse Valley Road. Drive to the end. This road is usually negotiable with a two wheel drive, but on occasions can become too rutted or muddy and you may have to walk further. At the road end, cross the river and hike up an excellent track. Ignore the longish section of flat water - it gets better at the top. After 30 minutes you will get to the high-point in the track with a bench built into a small cave in the rock face. From here, walk five more minutes and bash down the second tiny creek you cross to the river. To get to the take-out; depending on flows, the takeout is at the road end, or if enough to do the lower section the recommended take out is at the waterfall next to a large tree with parking spot - about three kilometres from the road end or half way down the road. If you want more hardcore action take your over night gear, get that dropped at Scone Hut and get flown 2-3 kilometres upstream to the edge of the Wilderness area (helo not allowed beyond this) From here down it is steep, low volume creeking class IV-V with a couple of crux class V"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/perth/five-finger-stream-to-old-sh6-bridge-site","West Coast","Perth","Five Finger Stream to old SH6 bridge site","IV","4","","18m/km","","Five Finger Stream","Old SH6 bridge site"," The scenery is stunning, the water is blue and the paddling totally absorbing. The lower section from Five Finger Stream has also become one of the established intermediate runs on the Coast. Relax into class III+ water for a few kilometres past Nolan"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/perth/scone-hut-to-below-five-finger-stream","West Coast","Perth","Scone Hut to old SH6 Bridge Site","V","5","13km","40m/km","4-6 hours","Scone Hut","Old road SH6 bridge on Whataroa River."," Outrageous is the only word to describe the first few kilometres of the Perth River. It has become one of the "
"http://rivers.org.nz/upper_pohangina","Manawatu","Pohangina","Upper Pohangina","IV","4","","","","",""," http://nzkayaking.cabspace.com/gallery.html#videogallery Conditions from the lake outlet to Poutu Falls are reported as very grovelly. Poutu Falls is a clean 10 metre drop into a plunge pool - definately worth the 20 minute walk in. The stream enters a nasty technical gorge below the falls with lots of trapped wood. Arguable whether the invested energy portaging is worth your fun, people have hiked out before. The Pukaki river drains Lake Pukaki into Lake Benmore but now only flows a few times each year according to a schedule negotiated with Meridian Energy under consent CRC905321.7 as part of the massive Waitaki hydro scheme. The run is typically short, fast and furious with occasional one-shot waves in a wide river bed. Easy access means you can do multiple runs so it's a good opportunity to trial some different kayaks. Many people choose to put in below the initial river-wide weir of boulders at the end of the pool below the spillway. This has been the scene of an entrapment in the past. Road to takeout is rough, will suit vehicles with decent ground clearance. This section of the Rangitaiki below Aniwhenua is a great novice section and one of the favourites in the region. It has been kept alive by river users and environmental groups who banded together in 1995 to fight a proposal by Bay Of Plenty Electricity to dam the river to the base of the falls. When dam is releasing it is possible to paddle from the base of the dam down to the falls. The Rangitaiki is a great run for paddlers looking to cut their teeth (not literally) on lots of class III water with the added bonus of one class IV drop. It has lasted the ravages of time and while many people have moved on it is still where many North Island paddlers run their first class IV rapid. Besides, the run has lovely scenery and plenty of continuous class II-III action. Having diced with high speed logging truck death and possibly got lost on the drive to the put in (don't blame me) unwind through the first 200m of flatwater to the top of the old slalom site - scene of NZ's world cup slalom event in 1991. The first of the rapids take you past Rock A (avoid this one as it has killed people before) and Rock B (feel free to find a Rock C) then eases briefly before Fantail Falls and Jeffs Joy. These can be inspected by exiting on the right and groveling down amongst the toetoe (native grass known for slicing you to shreds) to the viewing platform. Things happen quickly once you drop down the steep ramp of Fantail Falls. Make what ever eddies you can but don't expect to fit a crowd in them. The final plunge over Jeff's Joy is a high speed rush and a rock wall will pass by in a blur, or you'll be upside down and not see a thing. Jeff's Joy was named after Jeff, surprisingly enough, whose surname has eluded me for years. Jeff was a tyre-tuber of great repute who worked in the forest around Murupara. He accompanied one of the first trips down the river in the early 1970's. Apparently he tubed the top section and by the time he got to the final drop (now named after him) he was unconscious from the beating he took on the way. His mates duly revived him and he lived to tell the tale and have a rapid named after him. Good on ya mate. The big pool below Jeff's is a good place to regroup and collect any gear and repair any damaged egoes. From here it is a kilometre of class II-III to the "
"http://rivers.org.nz/motutua_rapids","Bay of Plenty","Rangitaiki","Motutua Rapids","IV","4","","","","",""," The river starts with a narrow but fairly easy rapid under the bridge and opens out for a km or 2. The river is wide, shallow and swift over a shelf-like bedrock bottom but starts to steepen and narrow as it goes over a couple of smallish drops. It stays pretty narrow after this (portaging and inspection is difficult and sometimes painful due to the dense vegetation and the gorge - however, inspection is pretty important in places). The Rangitata Gorge has a long history as a Canterbury test piece. Like most NZ rivers things have changed over the years and the legendary hydraulics that used to devour fibreglass and UCCC paddlers more eagerly than a kid with a McDonald burger have changed, gone or been replaced. Higher skill levels and better kayak designs now make the Gorge a fun outing and attainable for strong intermediates. Like many Canterbury rivers the upper section meanders in braids as the river twists its way out of the Alps towards the sea. If there"
"http://rivers.org.nz/node/545","Canterbury","Rangitata","Lower Rangitata","II","2","16km","","4 hours","Waikari Hills Station, or the take-out for the Rangitata gorge ie across the river from the Rangitata Diversion Race Intake.","Lynn Stream"," Alternate put-in is Irrigation intake at Klondyke but this makes for a long shuttle unless you are continuing to Arundel bridge. Alternate take-out is the Outdoor Pursuit Centre at Peel Forest. If there was one single river with every ingredient for the evolutionary recipe of trip into epic into story into legend, it is the Rangitikei or 'day of striding out'. Take one reasonably accessible yet wild river flowing through a spectacular, deep gorge. Add several challenging drops and one extremely cool play hole. Attach a large catchment that causes the river to rise and fall dramatically in short periods of time. Put a lodge, hot showers, a big open fireplace and a bar at the take-out. Job's on. The Rangitikei is a classic that has been paddled for years by scores of kayakers, though its early paddling history was filled with the carnage of fibreglass boats. The first explorer to the gorge was Cliff Barnett who, in 1953, attempted the run in an open canoe. It wasn't until the early 1960s that two men from Palmerston North entered the gorge in a home-made, stainless steel canoe. It took them two seasons to get right through! The first complete kayak descent was in May 1974 by Max Grant (of 'Max's Drop'), Peter Sutcliffe and Dennis Oppatt. The first six kilometres on the river is an excellent class III warm up for the harder stuff to follow. Pop Up is a fun little play spot guaranteed for loops and cartwheels. The first real water is a short drop, called Storm, which runs through a small gorge and into a wall at the bottom. This is followed by more easy water through the very obvious Narrows to the Lunch Spot, named because it is in fact a lunch spot, not a rapid. Technical and bony in low flows, still technical and pushy in high flows, the gorge rapids proper follow in quick succession. New Rapid is constantly changing and is well worth scouting because it hides a couple of nasty pin spots. Then come The Gates, Slip Rapid, Max's Drop, Dog Leg, Fulcrum, Etc, Foamy, Foo Fang Falls, See Thru, Picket, Rodeo, Rockslide, Waimarino, Cascade Creek, Toi Toi Creek and Slalom Rapid right outside the Lodge. Of these Fulcrum and Foamy offer the crux of the paddling. There is a compulsory test at the end of the run to check if you have all the names right and in the right order! If it's your first time down you'll probably want to scout some rapids as the line is not always obvious. More experienced paddlers should be able to boat-scout everything. Check in with Brian and Nicola Megaw at River Valley Lodge before you go on the river. They have been running the Lodge and rafting the river since 1986 and are tuned into changes of rocks, trees and water levels in the river. This is not a good run to choose as your first class IV outing! Don't be misled by the average gradient. Most of the drop is in the last 1.5km. Above 50cu the rapids become very pushy, and time to correct any mistakes is reduced markedly. The river has been run at very high levels (>50cu) and makes for a great expert trip. The Megaws, Sages and River Valley Lodge staff are very hospitable. They will drive a shuttle if arranged in advance. This saves the hour-long return trip to pick up cars when you could be sitting outside the Lodge with a beer or two. The Lodge offers camping, accommodation, golf, food and the all important bar. River levels are best obtained on-line at http://horizons.govt.nz/ and the conversions are done by the nice folks at River Valley http://rivervalley.co.nz While it isn't updated daily, it changes whenever the flow changes. If not online, call 06 388 1444. To get to the take-out: From Taihape follow the signs to River Valley along Wainui Road and Otuarei Road. If coming from the north drive 18.1km from the southern end of the Army Training Camp at Waiouru to a turn-off signposted to Moawhango, Napier and River Valley. Follow this sealed road for 9.5km to another junction, turn left and keep following signs 23km to Pukeokahu and River Valley. To get to the put-in: from the entrance of the River Valley farm road drive 13.5km east on the gravel road to a grassy flat where the road meets the river. Catchment: RUS 1423, class unknown RUS 1429 RUS 1430, class unknown This short but exciting stretch of the Routeburn descends beside the popular walking track of the same name. It is a smal river, and in normal flows more of a rock crash than a kayaking trip. However the river becomes a viable option when the rain falls. The run is tight and technical from the start. After the first kilometre a steep section drops 20m in 500m. Scouting for logs trapped amongst the boulders will be necassary, which detracts a little from the run, but the paddling is fun and the surrounding forest and scenery adds to the trip. To get to the take-out; follow the Glenorchy-Routeburn road from the small settlement of Glenorchy. Cross the Dart River and turn right onto the Routeburn-Kinlock road to a parking area and track to Lake Sylvan. To get to the put-in; continue up this road to the top carpark and put in by the swingbridge. This section can be split in two or done as one depending on the level of challenge required. If you put in at the Papuni (upper) take out then you get an hour or so of road side class III down to Puhoro Bridge and from there to Erepiti Bridge it is class II - III. To get to the take out: Head west from the town of Wairoa towards Waikaremoana on SH38 until you get to Frasertown. Turn right and continue until you get to the Ruakituri Valley Rd and Te Reinga Falls. Continue up the Ruakituri Valley Rd to the Papuni Rd turnoff (just before the golf course). Turn into Papuni Rd and after a short while a farm road on the left will take you down to a bridge at Puhoro. To get to the put ins: Continue up the valley until you cross a ford and come to Papuni Station This section can be split in two or done as one depending on the level of challenge required. If you put in at the Papuni (upper) take out then you get an hour or so of road side class III down to Puhoro and from there to Erepiti Bridge it is class II - III. To get to the take out: Head west from the town of Wairoa towards Waikaremoana on SHY38 until you get to Frasertown. Turn right and continue until you get to the Ruakituri Valley Rd and Te Reinga Falls. Continue up the Ruakituri Valley Rd to a bridge across the river at Erepiti (just past the golf course and the Papuni Rd turnoff). This is the take out. To get to the put-in: head back to the Papuni Rd turnoff and turn into Papuni Rd. After a short while a farm road on the left will take you down to a bridge at Puhoro. The Ruakituri is a blend of Mangahao/Rangitikei with good gradient over papa slides and through tight boulder gardens. It flows south east from the mysterious Urewera National Park and meets the Wairoa River just above Te Reinga Falls. The upper section, from Mangatahae Stream to Papuni Station, has been used by Hawke"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/wellington/ruamahanga/mt-bruce-to-masterton","Wellington","Ruam","Mt Bruce to Masterton","II","2","","","","","",""
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/shotover/deep-creek-to-edith-cavell-bridge","Otago","Shotover","Deep Creek to Edith Cavell Bridge","IV","4","12.5km","13.5m/km","3-5 hours","Deep Creek on the Skippers Canyon Rd","Below Oxenbridge Tunnel above Edith Cavell Bridge at Arthur's Point"," From the gold rushes of the 1860s to the tourism boom of the 1990s, New Zealand's richest river has been exploited for over a century. Signs of this are apparent along the whole journey. The late 1800s saw gold fever hit the Shotover region, or Molyneux as it was then known. Much early river diversion and tunnel digging was done at this time. Legends abound of the hardy souls who toiled through freezing winters waist deep in the frigid water searching for the elusive strike. Temperatures get so cold that in the winter there are some 'seeps' from the walls that have been visited by ice climbing enthusiasts from Queenstown. Gold is still being extracted ounce by ounce from the river, but most capital return comes from the surface of the river these days. The Queenstown tourism machine works the river's scenery, whitewater and history mostly through rafting and jet boating. Horse riding, historic sightseeing, parapenting, mountain biking, scenic flights and a plethora of other activities complete the menu for visitors to the region. These bring in far more gold than the river could ever yield. The main gorge carves through outcrops of schist, while fine mica gives the river its silty colour. This stuff is gritty, gets through everything and is hard on contact lenses. The water is very cold, even in summer, so it's wise to wear a winter set of gear on this river. After waving 'auf wiedersehn', or 'sayonara', to the rafters at the Deep Creek put in, the water is class II for most of the gorge with fun play holes and awesome scenery. The action is in the final 1.5km through a section of rapids called The Mother, which doesn't announce itself in any particular way. Watch for a narrowing in the gorge, the disappearing horizon line and a small fin of rock. This is Sharks Fin and it is a shadow of its former appearance due to river changes and the formation of a new rapid just downstream called Miners Revenge. Scouting through The Mother is easiest on the left with an obvious trail used by rafters. The rapids are difficult to differentiate but the rafting promo pamphlets (they must be true!) say they go in order of: Sharks Fin, Miners Revenge, Germans, Anvil, Toilet and Pinball. Then down to the Oxenbridge Tunnel or Mother-in Law. The Oxenbridge Tunnel was chiselled, cut and blasted from solid rock by the Oxenbridge brothers in an attempt to redirect the river and expose whatever treasures may have lain in the riverbed. It was an idea that didn't work but paddlers now must contend with the brothers' legacy. Paddle into the black hole in the cliff. If you can't fit, the river is too high! (If this is your first time on the river ask the rafters if they are running the tunnel.) Once inside, aim for the white blob of light and brace on the right. Water boils up from the right wall and tends to push you into the undercut left wall. Keep your boat pointed straight. People have broached in this tunnel and swum out without their boats. Always keep in the back of your mind that the light at the end of the tunnel could be an oncoming train! Upon exiting the tunnel you're on the runway to the Cascade, another artificial rapid. The only stipulation on this one is to stay upright. The rocks below water are sharp and will slice you and your gear very nicely. To get to the take out from Queenstown: head to Arthur's Point via Gorge Rd. Immediately before crossing the Edith Cavell bridge turn left onto a gravel road. Follow this for 600m to the bottom of Cascade rapid. To get the put in: head back across the bridge. Continue east for a couple of kilometres to the junction signposted: Coronet Peak, Skippers Canyon. Turn left and climb for 4km. Turn left at the next sign to Skippers Canyon. Turn left again onto the gravel road. This road is very rough and windy. Rental cars are not insured on this road--bad luck. After 9.5km of slow driving, allowing rafting vehicles to pass whenever they want, you will arrive at the Deep Creek put in. If it was anywhere else with easy access this class II+ section of the 'Shotty' would be one of the most used runs in the country. As it is, the road adds a little spice to a day in the upper valley. Try to avoid rainy days as the road gets very slippery. Many have been stuck. Camping is great at the MacLeod's put in area. Stay the weekend and mix the kayaking with the superb mountain biking further up the valley. To get to the take out: drive up to Deep Creek, (see Shotover Gorge run) continue for about 6.5km to the Skippers Canyon Bridge. Drive down to the river level downstream of the bridge. Park, but leave room for the trucks and buses that turn around at the river. Catchment: 752745 An easy section often used for family float trips, kayak instruction and, unfortunately, jetboats. For safety's sake contact Skippers Canyon Jet before getting on the river by phoning 03 442 9434, (this number is also on a sign at the Skippers Saddle where there is good cell coverage) or drop into their base on the way to the river. Skippers Canyon Base is signposted approx. 2km past Deep Creek. They have a blackboard there to leave a message if no one is around. The Slate is a tributary of the Aorere. Normal flow is three cumecs so it needs a good rain. 15 - 20 cumecs is optimal but there is no easy way of knowing. But it"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/stanley/lake-stanley-to-forks-hut","Tasman","Stanley","Lake Stanley to Forks Hut","IV-IV+","4.1","4.5km","","2-5 hours","Helicopter to start of gorge below Lake Stanley.","At the Waingaro confluence."," The Stanley is a little done addition to the Waingaro helicopter trip. When we did it in 2008 the helo pilot reckoned we were only the second group in, but who knows? There needs to be a reasonable amount of water around for the Stanley to be on. It is a very small creek, and as your second day will likely be on the Waingaro you need water to hang around for the second day as well. The best and, depending on flows, possibly only place to start is at the end of the braids down from Lake Stanley. You will have seen nothing of the rapids on the way in due to the tight gorge. However almost immediately the whitewater starts and it doesn't stop until at the Waingaro Forks Hut. The run is tight and quite steep boulder gardens. There are only small drops, but the rapids are steep and can be relatively long. It is a fun creek though and requires some technical boating in some parts. Portaging is generally not a problem. There is one very tight little gap that had wood in it when we ran it that did require a gnarly wee portage in steep bush, but the rest is relatively open. It would be a very big day to run the Waingaro as well in one day. A better option is to spend the night at Waingaro Forks and take a wee tramp up-river to do some of the nice looking whitewater above the hut. To get to the put-in: fly to where the helicopter can first put down below Lake Stanley. To get to the take out: Ultimately the end of the Waingaro run, but a good first stop is the Waingaro Forks hut (4 bunks). The Stony River flows from the foot of Bells Falls in Egmont/Taranaki National Park. It is fed from a large sphagnum moss swamp nestled between the Pouakai range and the main peak of Taranaki and finishes its journey in the Tasman Sea just south of Okato. There are three sections the locals use with a few put in options: The lower section is from Wiremu Rd to SH45 and it is class II-III+ without many pools and takes 3.5-4 hours. The upper section is shorter but more intense. It needs some good water but is great when it goes. The river flows very fast and eddies are few and very small. The upper upper section (Boulder Run) put in is about an hour walk up the Stoney River Track at the first point the track comes back to the river. It's steeper than the lower sections with bouldery class IV and a big drop near the top that needs more water to be run. You want slightly lower flows so either take out at the usual put in for the upper Stoney or carry on down and double your fun quotient. There is a gauge on the bridge at Mangatete Rd, if it"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/taranaki/stony/wiremu-road-to-sh45","Taranaki","Stony","Wiremu Road to SH45","II-III+","2.6","","","3.5-4 hours","Stony River Bridge","South of Okato on SH45"," For now, see nz/taranaki/stony/upper-stony The Styx has become one of the most run rivers on the coast. It"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/styx/grassy-flats-hut-to-styx-bridge","West Coast","Styx","Grassy Flats Hut to Styx Bridge","IV+-V","4.6","12.5km","40m/km","3-5hours","Grassy Flats Hut","At the cars or continue 300 m to the top Styx bridge."," The Upper Styx makes for a great day out and can handle quite a lot of water. Recent seasons and increasing fuel costs have seen it become one of the more popular runs because the helicopter shuttle is so short. As you float away from Grassy Flats Hut and falsely bid farewell to any trampers (they"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/hawkes-bay/taharua/red-hut-to-mohaka-confluence","Hawke's Bay","Taharua","Red Hut to Mohaka confluence","3.4","3.4","2km","30m/km","30 minutes","Red Hut","Hut down stream of Taharua/Mohaka confluence"," Good news, the shuttle is realy short and easy but the access is not. You must get access from Porinui Station, as they control the gate the area. Also, a 4WD would be handy; otherwise some walking is in order. Poronui Station PH: +64-7-384-2080. First series of rapids including the crux are just below the Red Hut. Scouting on river right is recommended, as boat scouting is difficult. First rapid is an easy slide, which leads into a class IV+ rapid. This is comprised of a slide and a couple of 1-2m drops, that have quite a narrow line. Flat pool for about 200m follows. Next rapid is an easy slide, followed up with a sticky drop on river right. Portage/scout on river right. Following this is a shallow boulder garden with some small drops which leads into the confluence to the Mohaka River. After that is a few hundred metres to a class III rapid. Directly after that is the take out at the hut. To get the TAKE OUT: Take the Napier Taupo Highway (SH5) east of Taupo for 25km. Take a right onto Taharua Road. Drive down the 20km till you get to an automatic gate, continue driving to till you get to a bridge crossing Taharua River. Take the left turn just before it. Once you get to the Red Hut, continue down the 4WD track, and make sure to take the turn down the right hand side track to a hut on the Mohaka River. There should be a class III rapid next to the hut. To the PUT IN: Put in is at the Red Hut, next to the Taharua River. The Upper Taieri Gorge is a renowned tourist attraction and is followed for much of its length by the line used by the Taieri Gorge Excursion Train. It flows through classic barren central Otago landscapes between sculptured schist walls. The run is very flow dependant and needs to coincide with annual release of shuttle drivers as the drive is quite long. Despite this the Taieri is a great run and worthy of a trip if the opportunity arises. Easy rapids for 6km lead down to the Castle Hill or Pumphouse rapids, class III-IV depending on the flow. More continuous rapids follow, but gradually ease for a few kilometres. A large triangular boulder on river right warns Hole in the Wall is approaching. This straight forward 2m drop is run down the middle, in high water go where ever. Boxcar Rapid (you'll see why) lies below the Deep Stream confluence. This class IV rapid is the hardest on the trip. Big waves feed into holes at the top and a diagonal strainer wall at the bottom. After one more rapid the river eases to the take out upstream of the bridge at Hinden. At higher flows the Taieri has some excellent play waves and hydraulics. My first ever trip was at 120 cumecs and some of the waves were excellent. The river can easily take double this flow and still be fun. To get to the put in: from Dunedin drive via Mosgiel to Outram on SH87 and then on towards Middlemarch. About 50km from Outram and 7km before Middlemarch, turn right onto Pukerangi Rd and drive about 3.5km to the road rail bridge over Sutton Stream. Wander down to the river just upstream of the road/rail bridge down a gully to some willows. To get to the take out: Drive back towards Outram and look out for a left turn signposted King George Memorial Drive. Drive along this to another left turn marked Hinden Rd. Drive down to the bridge, cross it and drive a few hundred metres upriver to an obvious parking area by the river. Otago University's answer to stress management. The lower Taieri gorge trip is good whitewater within half an hour of Dunedin. My first trip on the lower was just after doing the upper and driving all the shuttle. It was bound to be a long day. The locals were more than a little surprised at how fast we went. Their normal runs on the lower Taieri were for playing and took hours. We were off the river in an hour fifteen on the dot. It helped that there was a couple hundred cumecs pushing us downstream and a cold Speights was calling. The run begins at the Mullocky Stream confluence after an easy 20min walk down a forestry road. Easy water for 1.5km leads to the class III-IV Pipeline Rapid just downstream of the pipeline it takes its name from (original people these kayakers!) At most flows there is enough playing and fun to be had to kill an afternoon of lectures (how time is measured in Dunedin) just in Pipeline. Trinity Rapid is just downstream then another 1.5km to Rock Garden on a right bend beneath a prominent bluff. Bum Rock is a bizarre spot and locals amuse themselves by seeing how many different ways they can paddle through the "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/taipo/upper-taipo","West Coast","Taipo","Julia Creek Hut to Mid-Taipo Hut","IV+ (V)","4.3","23km","35m/km","5-8 hours","Julia Creek Hut","Taipo bridge on SH73"," The Taipo, meaning monster or taniwha, was so-named because it claimed the lives of many Maori who traveled through the area. One story also claims the name was coined because the water was so cold it felt as though a monster had grabbed the loins of those crossing. The Taipo is a great adventure river run. It offers stunning scenery and location, excellent whitewater and good length. The lower 3 kilometres through the short, scenic gorge has been used by kayakers and rafters for several years and is a good day out if you are new to the Coast and at a loss for something to do. Kayakers began flying up the valley to Tumbledown Stream in 1993. They returned with stories of amazing water and wild experiences. Bruce Barnes et al went higher to paddle from Julia Hut and produced a mega-classic. Above Julia Hut the river divides and the lack of volume will restrict exploration to times when there is plenty of water in the main river. From the first breakout at Julia Hut the action is fast and busy "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/taipo/lower-taipo","West Coast","Taipo","Mid Taipo Hut to Taipo River Road Bridge","II-III","2.5","13km","13m/km","4-5 hours","Mid Taipo Hut","Taipo River Bridge on SH73"," At Mid Taipo Hut the gradient eases markedly into 13 kilometres of class II-III boulder gardens through open valley flats to the last gorge and the road bridge. If flows are very high (>3.4 gauge) this section on its own is a lot of fun and gets into class IV at flows around 4 on the gauge. To get to the take out: find the Taipo River Bridge on SH73. Drive east from the bridge for 1 kilometre and look for a road on the right marked Taipo Valley Access. This rough, steep road climbs over the first gorge. Unless you have four wheel drive, park at the top of the hill and walk down to the river. The Takaka is one of the most popular Golden Bay runs. It has an intermediate lower run with road access and good play spots. The first few kilometres have the biggest rapids and some good playholes and eddy lines. Boat caddies can drive along the river and deliver the appropriate boat for the ultimate ride. After Sam"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/takaka/asbestos-hut-track-to-cobb-dam","Tasman","T","Asbestos Hut track to Cobb Dam","IV-V","4.5","5km","40m/km","2-4 hours","300m after big slip on Asbestos Hut track","Cobb Dam"," The Takaka River has its headwaters on the table lands north of Mt Arthur. It has been paddled from the Grid Iron Shelter but there is an unrunnable section above the Asbestos Mine.Once on the river, or creek depending on your definition, get your brain into tight and rocky mode. About an hour of boat scoutable rock gardens leads into the first of the "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/takaka/junction-wave","Tasman","Takaka","Junction Wave","II","2","","","","",""," A wee wave in the heart of town. Who would have thought you can surf only half a km from the Wholemeal? From the main street of Takaka, turn into the Junction Hotel carpark, thread your way through the slalom course , turn left at the end and drive on past the fishing access sign. The car park is another hundred metres odd, so close you can be seen changing from the supermarket. Best at 30 cumecs but there is something there between about 20 and 40. This is a fun way to cool down on a hot day, or provides locals with a bit of park and play before or after work. See Taking on the Takaputahi, NZC 98.3. Mandatory portage below Boulder Mile. Egarr (1989, p139) suggests put-in from end of Takaputahi Road, near Toatoa. ""From the put-in the river flows clear and peaceful for some distance, with mossy banks in a scenic gorge. Some log-jams may present problems, as will the occasional rocky drop. Some distance downstream the gorge suddenly narrows into a canyon with numerous log-jams and steep bouldery chutes, often with long, deep pools between. Some four hours downstream from the put-in you will reach Boulder Mile, where a jumble of boulders in the river from slip debris will make for very slow going. Numerous rock sieves and logs will oblige you to inspect each run as you proceed downstream. Once clear of Boulder Mile, which takes about two hours to negotiate, you will have another 30 minutes to the Motu confluence."""
"http://rivers.org.nz/jacksons_to_kumara","West Coast","Taramakau","Jacksons to Kumara","II","2","","","","",""," Watch out for railway iron and wire ropes used to stabilise the left bank. Logs have been a fatal hazard on this river (incident 19951021). The Tarawera River begins at the eastern end of Lake Tarawera under the shadow of the mountain of the same name famous for its cataclysmic eruption in 1886 which buried the pink and white terraces. The river drains the popular lake and heads east to the coast through some impressive volcanic geology and via the township of Kawerau. Kayakers have been using the river for years but mainly through Kawerau where the slalom site is situated. The upper river has received more attention in the last few years and offers some enjoyable paddling. The geology poses some interesting problems. In the top section the river suddenly disappears amongst some rocks and reappears 500m downstream as a 30m waterfall gushing out of a crevice in the rock face. The river flows underground because of a series of lava flow cliffs which blocked the river about 11,000 years ago. The porous rhyolite is cracked and creviced and the water has found its way through in these. From the lake outlet the river offers 3.5 km of class II-IV boating before the sump and falls. It would definitely be a zero to hero move to link this unlikely line! Catchment: The Tarawera The geology A short walk up to the base of the falls The Tarawera The geology From below the last (small wooden) road It is possible to paddle all the way to the This seldom-run Hawkes Bay river needs a bit of rain or snowmelt to bring it into condition. It is a long day out in remote country, or stop overnight in the historic Shutes Hut. To get to the take out from Napier, go along the Taihape road, turn left into Matapiro road. After 23km, turn left onto Whanawhana road. At the bottom of the hill, turn left just after a bridge and park next to the river. Have a good look at the Ngaruroro river, as it is wide and braided here and the take out is not obvious from the river. To get to the put-in, head back to Matapiro road and turn left. This leads back to the Taihape road, turn left and head over the hills through the Kaweka Forest park. The put in is a few kilometres after reaching the farmland of Timahanga station. The river heads straight into a narrow bush sided valley, with plenty of class II and III rapids to warm up on for the first few hours. Farmland on the right means that the first bedrock gorge is approaching. This contains several good class IV drops that all go in normal water levels. After the river exits the gorge, you will pass under a farm bridge on Timihanga station before heading back into the wilderness. A few km further on the confluence with the Ikawatea is passed and the river enters the second gorge. This is much longer and contains a number of bouldery class IV rapids as well as a few constrictions - again everything goes in normal flows. Things gradually ease off down to where the Taruarau flows into the Ngaruroro. Provided there is a good flow in the Ngaruroro, the 20km down to the takeout should be about two hours of class II, braided at the end. There is a cableway about 30 minutes upstream of the takeout. If you want to spread the trip over two days, there is a DoC track that crosses the river on the way to Shutes hut (DoC, 4 bunks) partway through the lower gorge at BJ37 829 223. About 5km below the confluence look out for a cairn on a beach and orange track marker on the left. Opposite and downstream of this the track continues on the right bank, Shutes Hut being about 20 minutes walk from the river. RUS 2514, class unknown The Tauranga Taupo (TT) flows west out of the Kaimanawa Forest Park and joins Lake Taupo about 10km north of Turangi. p95 NZWW 5th edition. The Tawarau is part of a convoluted catchment of rivers north of Piopio. The Mangaohoe joins the Tawarau which joins the Marakopa at Te Anga and flows to the coast at the small holiday settlement of Marakopa. Confused? It is all easy once on the river. I hope! A trip on this river has a real wilderness feel as it runs through native forest for almost its entire length. Towering limestone cliffs, some right out of the river, escort the river on its journey to the sea. The Mangahoe/Tawarau trip needs some rain to be at its best. From the put in paddle 400 metres to the start of the first gorge. Get out where the fence meets the river on the left side and walk 10-15mins along the formed track (which goes the length of the run). Below the gorge there are two sieves that are easily portaged at river level. Between here and the Tawarau confluence are a series of small, fun ledge drops. The water doubles at the confluence and the scenery keeps getting better. Not far downstream from here is a good play hole which makes a great lunch spot. From here the action picks up. The first rapid is a 100m long channel only 2m wide followed by a double drop with the first drop pushing hard into an undercut rock. Another narrow drop into a pool puts you right above Dagger Falls, a three metre drop with a sizeable hole. After Dagger falls is Bob's Fall's which has a powerful hole and is capable of recirculating swimmers and gear for some time but is easily portaged on river right. From here it is only a short paddle to the takeout where the river flows through a massive sieve. Walk down the farm track to the waiting shuttle driver at the end of Speedies road. If you decide to portage this rapid do so on the left and from the base of this rapid to the Marakopa confluence there is some class IV water. Once at the confluence another 10minutes will see you at the Te Anga Tavern. To get to the put-in: From Piopio, turn west at the cross roads in Piopio signposted to Mairoa. A short distance past the Mairoa Hall the road forks, turn left (signposted Ngapenga) and follow this gravel road to Were Rd. drive to the end of the road and the put-in. To get to the take out: Back track to the Waipuna Rd and follow this until you reach the Waitomo/Te Anga Rd. Turn left and drive 20mins to Speedies Rd at Te Anga. There is good paddling for the poor shuttle driver beside Speedies road and great accommodation at Waitomo caves village. The creek has a long history of coal mining and the local miners have a typical disregard for the river, so tend to throw their rubbish in it at times. Watch for steel. The drops are fun, and you can easily walk back to the top and do it again. And again. And again... To get to the put-in; drive north of Greymouth for 15km to where the road crosses Ten Mile Creek at a hairpin bend. Park and walk down the gravel road to immediately above the rapids. "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/toaroha/upper-toaroha","West Coast","Toaroha","Upper Toaroha","IV+","4.25","6km","45m/km","2.5-3 hours to the portage. Cairn on right side marks the best creek for carrying up to the track. Portage 40-90 minutes, then descend MacMillan Ck to normal helicopter landing zone","Top helo spot.","Above Toaroha Canyon (about 1 km below swingbridge)."," The Upper Toaroha has been paddled right from its source at the lake. Andy England says it is stunning bush and weird slabby steep stuff - go figure!! Failing that option putting in anywhere up the river the helicopter is able to land still makes for a fun adventure kayaking day. It"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/toaroha/lower-toaroha","West Coast","Toaroha","Lower Toaroha","III-IV","3.5","5km","20m/km","1-3 hours","Below Toaroha Canyon.","When the river hits farmland and the 4WD track drops onto the river flats."," The Toaroha, a tributary of the Kokatahi River, has been popular with Coast boaters for some time. Flowing out of the Alps, it cuts through a gorge in a small area of schist bedrock east of Hokitika. After rain the Toaroha is a fast, rolling run, pushing into class IV/V, and during normal flows it offers superb class III-IV boulder gardens. There are three options: walk for 50 minutes along an old tram track for an enjoyable run with good playing. For a longer and harder run - fly to the bottom of Toaroha Canyon. See the Upper Toaroha for a longer full day trip. Any helicopter costs in the Toaroha are reasonable as it is on the doorstep of the Hokitika operators. If you do fly in - the fun thing to do is get your boats dropped as high as you can then portage, ferry, and paddle your way upstream to the last waterfall drop out of Toaroha Canyon. This fun little huck is a blast and good for picture taking and a great little adventure trip to add to your investment in flying. To get to the take out: from Hokitika follow signs to Kokatahi. At the road junction at Kokatahi turn left onto Upper Kokatahi Rd. Follow the road for 11 kilometres crossing the Styx River on the way. Take the first right after the Styx bridge, signposted Toaroha Valley Access. Follow 3km of gravel road which crosses the Kokatahi River after 1 kilometre. Follow this road to where it drops down to the lower river terrace (leaving all gates as found) and park off the road somewhere. The 50 minute walk in: follow the farm road and look for track markers heading away from the river, up into the bush. Follow this track until it splits and is signposted to the low water track. Head down to the river and put in where you want. Includes Toaroha Falls (20m). Dave Kwant http://vimeo.com/57430011 (Dave Kwant, 2 min) and http://www.kayaksession.com/wild-and-hidden-places-a-kiwi-classic-kayak-... This section is controlled by the Tongariro power Scheme and is normally shallow in sections, but is still an enjoyable paddle. It is more suitable for beginners when there is more water (with heavy rain or during the Poutu release days). The river is wider and with less gradient than the upstream sections, and despite being close to the road, is scenic with plenty of bush and views of Mt Pihanga. It's a good idea to paddle in the middle of the day because this is a very popular section for anglers, who use it heavily in the morning and evening. Be courteous to other river users and paddle on the opposite bank from anglers when possible. To get to the put in: find the Poutu Stream bridge on SH1 about 7km from Turangi. On the southern side of the bridge is a turnoff. Drive 2.3km of gravel to the roadend and carpark at Blue Pool. To get to the take out: Park on the northern side of the State Highway One bridge in Turangi. This is a beautiful section of river that has been popular for years and has much to offer at a range of levels. The best time to be here is during a fresh or one of the three planned 30 cumec releases during the year. Boisterous boulder riffles provide all the excitement needed for a class III trip when the water is low (15-30 cumecs). Take time to enjoy the surrounds as you crash down the 60-odd rapids in this stretch. Surfing and playing between 35-120 cumecs is excellent and the whole river running experience is improved with more water. The rapids don"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/waikato/tongariro/rangipo-dam-to-tree-trunk-gorge","Waikato","Tongariro","Rangipo Dam to Tree Trunk Gorge","III-IV","3.5","6km","16.5m/km","1 - 3 hours","Below Rangipo dam","River left, above Tree Trunk Gorge"," The Tree Trunk Gorge run is the hardest of the three Tongariro sections with steep rapids coming at you fast and furious. The rapid names, like Mother-in-law's Nightmare (The Bitch), Oppat's Ordeal, General Disaster and Kirkham's Mistake, speak of the common disasters that used to occur regularly on this run through the 80"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/waikato/tongariro/tree-trunk-gorge-to-waikato-falls","Waikato","Tongariro","Tree Trunk Gorge to Waikato Falls","III+","3.25","","","","Below Tree Trunk Gorge","Kaimanawa Rd"," A slightly easier run than its upstream cousin "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/waikato/tongariro/tree-trunk-gorge","Waikato","Tongariro","Tree Trunk Gorge","V","5","","","","","",""
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/totara/monteith-creek-to-gravel-pits","West Coast","Totara","Monteith Creek to gravel pits","III-IV","3.5","10km","15m/km","2-4 hours","500 metres past gate when back alongside river.","At the farm road crossing the river - walk up farm track to road (you might want to go down and get an ID at the river before you leave)."," The Totara had done its best to avoid my advances with camera and notebook. I had missed the peak flows on numerous occasions. The day when it finally happened the river and valley put up such a violent struggle I almost gave up. Bruce said it would be good when he finished school (when all rivers reach peak flow) and arranged to meet at me 3.15pm. We got away about 4.30pm, just as the heavens opened with massive thunder claps and rain. Driving up the winding valley road the boats decide to leave us and jumped off the racks into the bushes. Having recovered and chastised our personified craft we drove into one of the many fords on the road - only to have a puncture upon exiting. Rain was falling hard enough that it was easier to strip right off to change the tyre. Tyre changing is an easy task - if you have a wheel brace that fits. Farm houses on the coast are great places because they have most things. The nearest one was six kilometres back down the road but our energetic and very wet runner did find a selection of wheel braces. The tyre changed, with scenes from "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/bay-of-plenty/tuakopai-river/tuakopai","Bay of Plenty","Tuakopai River","Tuakopai","IV+-V","4.6","5.5km","80m/km","2-3hours","Tuakopai Bridge on state highway 29","Next Bridge on state highway 29"," Tuakopai River (Tuakopae depending on map or bridge sign) The Tuakopai or Tuakopae, depending on whether you look atthe map or bridge sign, has become a popular creek to run when its raining hardand in the right place. It has the potential for extreme injury so creek boatselection is crucial. The first descent was made in 2004 by local hard menBlair Anderson, Don Johnstone, Greg Thomas and Matt Horder they poked, hopedand found the now famous Douglas Falls, Spa Falls and a handful of others. The first of many waterfalls happens right after you leavethe bridge. Run right and it has a clean pool at the bottom. Portage theford/weir just after this it has a lot of exposed steel. The river thenmeanders through dense native bush with many mini rapids for about 15 minutesbefore the skateboard action starts again. All the rock slides and drops arerunnable but you must scout toconfirm there are no new log jams The first significant waterfall is Corkscrew and is a greattwisting drop. At higher flows run over the rocks on the right. A few moreslides and drops lead down to the mostvertical clean drop on the run - Spa Falls, because the bottom pool is only the size of two spa pools! Scout on theright and you can run right or left. The lead in is shallow and you must get agood boof - spa pools are not very deep and people have hit the bottom here. Just around the corner is the famous Douglas Falls. Therehas been a log stuck in the bottom for a while rendering it unrunnable. Douglas Falls can be run on the left and with the log butrequires a sideways landing and of course not quite flat or vertical Theleft side offers a slightly easier portage. both sides are available with theeasier on the left. It has been run before but has also claimed two seriousinjuries - a broken leg and a crushed spine. Portaging is fine! The next waterfall is Pace. This is a fun waterfall andlocals enjoy taking off without giving any information just to see the facialexpressions of the hapless followers. Just enjoy the ride and remember nobodyhits the bottom or any other rocks! After the confluence with Kaukaumoutiti Stm the flow doublesand river triples in width. When the rapids start again you are into an 800msection of solid class IV+ water with Curtain Falls about a third of the wayalong. Run hard left, or for simplicitys sake down the middle. After Curtainit's all over and you float down to SH29 bridgewhere you can get out or carryon down and join the Te Ahuru which joins the Mangakorengorengo and the Wairoafor a huge day out! To get to the take out: Either do the longer runs into theMangakarengorengo or Wairoa and use their descriptions. Or from The McLarenFalls turn off on SH29 head south about 5km to the Kaukaumoutiti Stm bridge. To get to the put in: Continue south on SH29 for a fewkilometres until you reach the Tuakopae Bridge The Turnbull has been out of action for a couple of years because of access issues. By virtue of being back in the guidebook doesn"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/hawkes-bay/tutaekuri/mackintosh-to-lawrence","Hawke's Bay","Tutaekuri","Mackintosh to Lawrence","IV (IV+)","4.02","11km","","","Mackintosh track","Lawrence Road"," We did this run thinking it was a first descent but have since heard it may have been done before. The reason for the lack of traffic was due to the two drops marked on the map which would be pretty serious if they were actually there. As it turns out, the good old topo map wasn"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/southland/tutoko/to-tutoko-road-bridge","Southland","T","River Flats to T","IV+","4.25","2.5km","","1.5-2 hours","See the description.","Tutoko road bridge"," Dr James Hector, a geologist for the Otago Provincial Government bestowed the name Tutoko on this stunning mountain and river valley.during his explorations in 1863. Chief Tutoko and his family lived at a small pa in Martins Bay at the time hector was trying to find a pass out of the Milford area. He had explored the upper Cleddau only to be, ""repelled by a wall of mountains."" The most popular option is the lower section (see beta box). This offers the best of the Tutoko experience. Tight class IV boulder gardens, all boat scoutable and in a gob smacking locale. It is possible to walk into the upper reaches of the river which, reportedly, has much more class V and more portages "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/bay-of-plenty/waiari/waiari-gorge","Bay of Plenty","Waiari","Waiari Gorge","II-III","2.5","","","","",""," River is Waiari Steam. Put-in and take-out off Te Matai Road. The Waiatoto drains the Volta Glacier system on the western side of Mount Aspiring National Park. The main reason for a Waiatoto trip is to enjoy the unbelieveable wilderness of south Westland with a group of friends and enjoy it with some good food and wine. There is some fun whitewater too! Most trips start at the Bonar Flats. A short gorge between this point and the next flats - Donald Flats - contains some classic class III boulder hopping that adds hydro interest to the scenery. The river is easy and becomes braided in the section down to the Drake River confluence. The crux of the Waiatoto whitewater comes in the next five or six kilometres to Ferny Flats. Most of the action is at the start of the gorge and is in the class IV range (harder with higher flows), with portaging options if necessary. Once clear of the gorge proper the river widens into long, pleasant class II-III bouldergardens. There may be some boulder chokes in this section if the water level is very low. Be wary of tree hazards especially in the easy water. In 1978 a huge rockslide fell into the source lake and sent a biblical sized wall of water, ice blocks and debris down the river, wiping out a number of huts and forging new channels through mature forest. The tree stumps date back to this event. Many parties spend the night on the Axius Flats at the Te Naihi River confluence where the fishing is superb. From Axius Flats to the Palmer River confluence there"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/waiau/lower-waiau","Canterbury","Waiau","Lower Waiau","II-II+","2.15","14km","4m/km","2-3 hours","above Waiau Gorge Bridge, river left","Waiau River Bridge on Leslie Hills road"," A classic beginner"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/waiau/upper-waiau","Canterbury","Waiau","Upper Waiau","III-IV+","3.7","45km","11m/km","2-4 days","Maling Pass (helicopter, 4WD or walking)","SH7 after the Hope confluence"," It doesn"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/waiau/hope-to-hanmer","Canterbury","Waiau","Hope to Hanmer","II-III","2.5","","","","Hope Bridge on SH7","Hanmer river confluence"," Put-in on Hope River. Paddle past Waiau confluence. The Waiho is a less intense excursion than the neighboring Fox River just over the hill. This frigid stretch of water is rafted by companies based at Franz Josef and is a good section to try if you have never paddled the other ice-capades on offer. It certainly makes a good warm-up (??) for the Fox if you are unsure about your ability to handle intense cold and increased difficulty. The rapids are fun in a weird sort of way - rafting companies must have the greatest marketing strategy in the world to entice people to pay to float down this icewater hydroslide. Mostly even gradient wave chains will roll you down from the put in to the bridge. Higher flows will see the same style of rapids, but much bigger and more confused water will ensure your frontal lobes won"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/waikato/waihohonu/sh1-to-waihohonu-intake","Waikato","Waihohonu","SH1 to Waihohonu intake","III","3","3.5km","16m/km","1-2 hours","Waihohonu bridge, SH 1","Waihohonu Intake strcture"," The Waihohonu, which literally means "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/marlborough/waihopai/powerhouse-to-avon-valley-road","Marlborough","Waihopai","Powerhouse to Avon Valley Road","II-III+","2.6","8km","7.5m/km","1-2","Waihopai Power House","Avon Valley Road"," When the water is there the Waihopai is a very good little run and people travel from far and wide in Marlborough to catch some surfing and fun playing. Squirly water through a narrow canyon with nothing harder than class III+ starts the run from below the Power House. In lower water a small drop adds a good feel to the canyon and run in general. I remember the day I first ran this little drop as a student in Blenheim. A team of us had psyched up for ages and portaged every other time. Finally it went "
"http://rivers.org.nz/near_putaruru","Waikato","Waihou","Near Putaruru","II","2","","","","",""," http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10405750Don't know much about this. Mostly placid through farmland, but a dangerous gorge with a natural dam near Putaruru.URL is a place-holder until we can identify the regular section(s). The lower section between Post Office Creek and Piano Flat has long been used by the Southland Canoe Club and is a good but short class-II run with a handful of rapids, heaps of eddies, clear pools and nice scenery. To put in for this run, park at the small clearing 300m before the Post Office Creek bridge, then it"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/southland/waikaia/west-branch-waikaia","Southland","Waikaia","West Branch Waikaia","V-V+","5.2","5km","80m/km","3-8 hours","Gorge / stream confluence","Canton Bridge"," Quite within his bounds, Keith Riley says this is one of the most exciting pieces of whitewater in the country, the only detrazction being the 2-3 hour walk to the put-in. Fortunately, Keith et al didn't check the gradient before they left or they'd probably never have gone. Dropping at over 70m/km for 2km, this STEEP run out-steeps the steepest on the Coast so far (except for Falls Creek now!). It has countless drops, all big and clean, with not much space between them. Yet all are surprisingly runnable, portageable and scoutable. The gradient eases considerably after the east branch confluence. From there to the take-out at Canton Bridge is about an hour. The entire trip takes about 5 hours with just above normal flow (0800mm) being ideal. To get to the west branch: from the Canton Bridge, slog up the hill on the right-hand side. Head across the tussocky plains making a bee line for the gorge/stream confluence. The topography makes it fairly clear where this is, but don"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/southland/waikaia/canton-bridge-to-piano-flat","Southland","Waikaia","Canton Bridge to Piano Flat","IV-V","4.5","12km","60m/km","3-8 hours","Canton Bridge","Piano Flat campground"," Central Southland is not renowned for its classic whitewater runs, perhaps due to their complete absence"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/hawkes-bay/waikaretaheke/piripaua","Hawke's Bay","Waikaretaheke","Piripaua","II-III","2.5","","","","",""," Whitewater NZ assists the Hawkes Bay Canoe Club and Genesis Energy to organise releases on the Piripaua section of the Waikaretaheke River. Please register by completing the form at http://nzrivers.wufoo.com/forms/register/ This section does not have enough water for kayaking except for those dates when releases are provided by Genesis Energy. Approximately 15km from Waikaremoana towards Wairoa the river suddenly drops over a bedrock shelf creating a hydro slide rapid that culminates into a 2m horseshoe shaped waterfall. The lead in to this waterfall is tricky and not without consequences. Strainers on either side block most of the downstream flow and will need proper scouting and safety. Once the trees are negotiated with you will have about 7m left to sort your line out down the waterfall. What the drop lacks in height and volume it could make up for carnage. The boil-line appears about a creek boat"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/waikato/waikato/huka-falls","Waikato","Waikato","Huka Falls","IV-V+","4.61","0.5km","","","Upstream from Huka Falls","Lake Aratiatia"," One for you waterfall huckers out there. Get hard, be brave and try some new trick off the edge if you dare. It is a fun outing and most people catch the falls at low flows (35-80cumecs) for their first time. The lead in is quite manageable and there is plenty of time to hit the left line at the finish. It is possible to flat land the drop and keep your face dry "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/waikato/waikato/aratiatia","Waikato","Waikato","Aratiatia","V-VI","5.5","","","","Aratiatia dam","Rapids Rd"," Aratiatia is just downstream of Huka Falls. Water is released twice a day and gives wanna-be suitors a good chance to see how the rapids form and what level of challenge they are prepared to take on. It is a serious proposition and requires strategically placed throw baggers at a couple of places. The technical/commitment crux comes at the weir halfway down. This ghastly hydraulic has seen some very hyperactive paddling from those caught in its backwash. Establishing an acknowledged grading of Aratiatia is difficult "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/waikato/waikato/ngawapurua","Waikato","Waikato","Ng","II+","2.25","","","","",""," The site of the 1999 World Freestyle Championships, the Nga Awa Purua wave is best at 180 to 240 cumecs. Phone 0800 820 082 Permission is needed for access on Tauhara North No. 2 Trust land downstream of the ""Hay Barn"". Also called Fulljames after Walter Leslie Fulljames Contact for access: Permanent slalom course, close to Taupo. The Waikawa stream is probably the best creek in the region when it's been raining steady and the rivers are on. If its over 900mm then its going but 900mm is low so expect some scrapy class III-IV action at those kind of flows, but it gets better as water levels go up. When the river is charging around 1,600mm and over expect a non-stop run with a big water feel even though the river is only four or so meters wide at most points and still often only a couple of feet deep. Once at the take-out check out the ford; if the water is not flowing under the ford then dont bother driving up to the put-in. Be sure to leave a couple of cars at the bottom if its high, you won't be able to resist lapping the run. On the shuttle up to the top you can check out most of the river from high up for wood, seems to attract very little. From the top carpark walk up the track alongside the river for five minutes till it drops down to meet the river at a big fork. The river starts off with fast moving grade II-III water before it drops into some cool class IV rapids which are a quick warm up for the Car rapid, a 250m stretch of what could be described as a class IV+ rollercoaster. Hold on tight and be sure not to swim if it's high. In low water most of the rapid can be scouted river left (keep a eye out for the rapid's namesake). After this rapid the action eases off a bit with a couple more classy III-IV's before easing off to flatter water.Watch for branches in the last of the paddle out, then take out river right directly above the ford. The gradient is 42m/km for first 2km then 5m/km for last kilometre of flat water (class I). To get to the take-out: On SH1 in Manakau on the eastern side of the road turn onto North Manakau Road then drive approximately 3.5km till you see a sign for the Waikawa stream recreational reserve. Park down in the gravel car park by the river. To get to the put-in: Drive back out of the reserve then carry on heading up the road until the end of the tarmac. There should be a gate onto a gravel road, pass through making sure to leave the gates as they were, and carry on right till the end. From here walk the five minutes along the track to the put in at the river junction. RUS 1113, class unknown The Waima is another of Northland's secret gems! Key things to note without giving away the adventure of paddling the river: You can walk back up derelict old road following the river to get back to put in if only have one car (approx 1.5hr walk). After wide open, braided flows near Bealey the river carves through a spectacular gorge through the Torlesse Range. The river passes through a number of massive rock cliffs down through the Carrington Gorge, which ends with Hamilton Rapids, where the gorge opens out a little with rocky beaches. The river continues down past rocky bluffs and scrub covered hill sides to Broken River, where there is another narrow gorge section. Thereafter the river widens out, passes down through the wide Horseshoe Bend and then into Otarama Gorge down to Woodstock and further on down to the Gorge Bridge across from Sheffield. The run from Mt White Bridge down to Woodstock or the Gorge Bridge is one of the classic overnight kayaking or rafting trips in New Zealand and is Class II-III. The Gorge is spectacular and the water not too difficult (Hamilton rapid is Class II-III depending on flow) although in very high flows e.g., 1500 cumecs or so, the river takes on the big water character and features rivalling those of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado of the USA (25 foot high waves) and becomes Class IV-V! The river is frequently rafted and is also catarafted and has been floated in dinghies. This stretch is also used in the Coast to Coast multisport race and after downriver racing paddlers the main users of the river are jet boaters. WWCC Brass Monkey Race is held here. Faces reduced flows if CPW scheme proceeds. The reach from the Gorge Bridge to the SH1 Bridge (or subsets of it) is widely used by jet boaters and down river racing paddlers, particularly for training. Willows on river banks can be a hazard at times as can river protection works and most of the rapids are relatively straight forward although significant turbulence sometimes occurs where braided channels re-join. The Waingaro is a tributary of the Takaka. It"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/bay-of-plenty/wainui/wainui","Bay of Plenty","Wainui","Wainui","V-V+","5.2","8.5km","60m/km","5-6hrs","Tim Rd by farm","Wainui Bridge on SH2"," The premiere steep creek run in the North Island, with 20m waterfall. Rapids: B's rapid, Freight Train, Double Drop, Little Brother, Big Guy, The second run, known as Hells Gate starts below Wairata, off SH2. The rapids are all class I-II+. Although the river flows alongside the road it still has a wilderness feel about it with plenty to offer novice and intermediate paddlers in play boats. Both runs gain a half to full class rating when in flood. To get to the put in: find the turn off to Koranga and the Moanui Valley off SH2 about 9km east of Matawai, (or 60kmeast of Opotiki). Turn onto this gravel road. In less than a kilometre the road forks. Take the right fork and follow signs along Moanui Valley Rd. This road winds down alongside Moanui Stream. Follow this to its end, park where you see a sign informing you of Urewera National Park access in a large turnaround, this is the put in. To get to the take out: With plenty of water in the river you can paddle to the Waioeka River/SH2 junction at Wairata. If the water is low, or you just can't be bothered, it is possible to cut the trip shorter by turning off SH2 at Wairata and driving about 4km up the gravel road to any point available for exiting the river. One of the best full river trips in the region. Flowing through the remote backblocks of the East Cape, the upper stretches of the Waioeka River have some quality continuous whitewater. ""It's definitely well worth the effort"" says local boy and hard man Zak Shaw. High praise for this little known river on the boundary of Te Urewera National park. The whole run can be done in a long day or split into a two day trip if you want the journey experience. To kayak the upper section put in on Koranga Stm (one of the main tributaries) from the road end to Moanui Station. The Koranga itself is fun with steep and tight rock garden rapids, all of which can be boat scouted. The most difficult rapid is about 1km above the confluence. Once at the Waioeka Forks the action eases for an hour or so of open shingle rapids. The river then picks up with numerous rocky rapids and chutes all within the class III realm. The best take out is on Waitara Rd. To get to the put in: find the turn off to Koranga and the Moanui Valley off SH2 about 9km east of Matawai, (or 60km east of Opotiki). Turn onto this gravel road. In less than a kilometre the road forks. Take the right fork and follow signs along Moanui Valley Rd. This road winds down alongside Moanui Stream. Follow this to its end, park where you see a sign informing you of Urewera National Park access in a large turnaround, this is the put in To get to the take out: With plenty of water in the river you can paddle to the Waioeka River/SH2 junction at Waitara. If the water is low, or you just can't be bothered, it is possible to cut the trip shorter by turning off SH2 at Waitara and driving about 4km up the gravel road to any point available for exiting the river. RUS 1111 Another quite interesting paddle is the Waipapa River near Mangakino which doesn"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/waipara/source-lake-to-arawhata","West Coast","Waipara","Source lake to Arawhata Road Bridge","IV+ (V)","4.3","20km","24m/km","2-3 days","Source lake or below Cabin Pass rapids of there is not enough water.","Arawhata Road Bridge"," The Waipara is a beautiful, isolated valley which drains the Bonar Glacier in Mount Aspiring National Park. The river takes you from the ice filled neve lake to the Tasman Sea (if you paddle the last section from the road bridge). The very long walk out in untracked valley if things go wrong and the sheer isolation provide a great sense of commitment and add to the ambience of the Waipara River. First paddled during 95/96 by Sean Waters, Jo Kippax, Rich Kersel and James McKeown in a three-day session only after convincing the helicopter pilot to keep flying higher, even though he told them they would die. They flew to the lake and began from there. Five years passed before a team went in for the second visit and paddled out in two easy days. The Cabin Pass rapids leading out of the lake need a spring melt or a little rain. Best described as "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/waipori/no-4-powerstation-to-waipori-falls-road-bridge","Otago","Waipori","No.4 Powerstation to Waipori Falls road bridge","II","2","2km","6m/km","1 hour","At the camping space on the true left.","At the road bridge"," The Waipori River drains Lake Mahinerangi and flows down through a series of dams to join the Taieri River on the Taieri Plains near Dunedin. When water is released in the upper stretches of the river, it creates steep, technical water in an attractive gorge surrounded by native bush. For the trip to be possible, the hydro company has to be spilling water from its No. 3 Dam, or when there has been heavy rain. The river can easily be split into three different sections or run together, whatever you want, or are capable of. The third and lower section is a pleasant beginner's trip of mostly class II with one short class III rapid, The Cascade. Take out at the road bridge. To get to the take-out from Dunedin, drive south along SH1 to the Taieri River bridge. Continue for about 4km and turn right onto the Henley-Berwick road. From Berwick (about 5km), follow signs towards Waipori Falls. A gravel road leads up the valley to the road bridge. To get to the put-in, continue for about 2 - 3km. Look for the entrance to a camping area on the right, on a sweeping left hand bend. The Waipori River drains Lake Mahinerangi and flows down through a series of dams to join the Taieri River on the Taieri Plains near Dunedin. When water is released in the upper stretches of the river, it creates steep, technical water in an attractive gorge surrounded by native bush. For the trip to be possible, the hydro company has to be spilling water from its No. 3 Dam, or when there has been heavy rain. The river can easily be split into three different sections or run together, whatever you want, or are capable of. The second and crux section starts below the No. 4 Dam. A side road leads down to the dam through a locked gate. The technical paddling begins about 500m into the section with a rapid containing boilder chokes and probably logs. The next hard rapid, marked by a small side stream on the left, has two drops in quick succession, with a powerful hydraulic at the bottom of each. There are a couple more class IV rapids before the take out at the No. 4 Power Station. This section was paddled regularly by Dunedin locals throuightout the 1990's, but has fallen out of favour. As far as I know, it hasn't been paddled since around 1999 - 2000. Treat it as a new run, and watch out for the trees! To get to the take-out from Dunedin, drive south along SH1 to the Taieri River bridge. Continue for about 4km and turn right onto the Henley-Berwick road. From Berwick (about 5km), follow signs towards Waipori Falls. A gravel road leads up the valley, initially on the true left and then on the true right. The road begins to climb away from the river after about 9km at the No. 4 Power Station. To get to the put-in, continue for about 5km, to the No. 4 Dam. The Waipori River drains Lake Mahinerangi and flows down through a series of dams to join the Taieri River on the Taieri Plains near Dunedin. When water is released in the upper stretches of the river, it creates steep, technical water in an attractive gorge surrounded by native bush. For the trip to be possible, the hydro company has to be spilling water from its No. 3 Dam, or when there has been heavy rain. The river can easily be split into three different sections or run together, whatever you want, or are capable of. The first section begins below the No. 3 Dam, near Waipori Falls village with 500m of class III-III+ rapids. The river then eases to class II and III. Two Douglas Fir trees on the left bank herald the approach to a short class III+ - IV rapid, where the river divides around a rock island. The left is the usual channel. Take out if you want at the No. 3 Power station below a two-arch bridge after about 3km. To continue, paddle down the lake for 1.5km to the No. 4 Dam, which is portaged on the right. This section was paddled regularly through the 1990's by local Dunedin paddlers, but then fell out of favour for a number of years. It was run again in 2005 by Glenn Murdoch and Mike McWhirter who experienced loads of trees in the river which necessitated scouting for routes through trees. Take it easy, and watch out for the trees! To get to the take-out from Dunedin, drive south along SH1 to the Taieri River bridge. Continue for about 4km and turn right onto the Henley-Berwick road. From Berwick (about 5km), follow signs towards Waipori Falls. A gravel road leads up the valley, initially on the true left and then on the true right. The road begins to climb away from the river after about 9km at the No. 4 Power Station. To get to the put-in, continue for about 7km, past the No. 3 Station to the Number 2A Station and No. 3 Dam, just near the entrance to Waipori Falls village. Park outside the No. 2A Station, carry down to the left of the powerhouse, and put in on the true right below the No. 3 Dam (about 400m down from the powerhouse). RUS 1114, class unknown A tiny Hawke's bay gem, runnable again after the flood in January 2011 washed the willows out. This run is short, roadside and has the bonus of Hukawai falls near the start. If you are driving along SH5 with boats and a few hours to spare, then go for it. Most of the run is continuous boulder gardens with a couple of mini bedrock gorges. The first bridge has Hukawai falls hidden just below around a bend. This is a 2m slot drop that is better in higher water, or take the chicken chute left. Inspect and portage left. Keep an eye out for trees - at the time of writing (March 2011) there were two that required portage. the first would possibly be good to go in higher water. There are usually plenty of blue ducks around. This run has benefited from the January 2011 flood clearing out much of the wood. The run starts with 3-4km of easy water before turning away from the road into the scenic gorge. The pace picks up through Foreplay rapid, and continues through another half dozen named rapids. Most things can be boat scouted, but there are ample opportunities to inspect and portage in normal water levels. At the time of writing (March 2011), there were no trees that required portaging but as always, keep an eye out. As a child I watched in total horror as my father attempted to run a rapid on the lower Wairau in his newly built fibreglass kayak. The water was awesome (class I), the danger extreme (nil), and excitement intense (true). Needless to say he tipped out and the boat disintegrated around a rock, which only added to my already overloaded sense of awe about this weird sport. Different sections of the Wairau River in Marlborough have been used for years by kayakers. The lower reaches below Renwick are good first timer territory and many of Blenheim"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/marlborough/wairau/hells-gate","Marlborough","Wairau","Hell's Gate","III-III+","3.1","3km","","1-2 hours","Coldwater Creek","Bridge"," Put in near Coldwater Creek for a 3km section of steep, technical class III that pushes class IV in high flows. Below this section the river is flat and braided down to Schroders Creek. The river can be scouted from the road on the drive in. The rapids are a series of 100m to 200m long class III boulder rapids which get pushier and faster as the flow rises. The water is usually crystal clear. A big flood turns everything into a continuous wave train with some meaty holes. The flows in late spring are most likely to stay in the best kayaking range, which is 30-60 cumecs on the Dip Flat gauge. The flow here is 30-40% of the Dip Flat level. The river"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/southland/wairaurahiri/lake-hauroko-to-coast","Southland","Wairaurahiri","Lake Hauroko to Coast","II+","2.25","","","","Lake Hauroko","Waitutu Lodge on the South Coast"," Usually get transported from takeout by jetboat back up the river. See Hump Ridge Jet (http://www.wildernessjet.co.nz/) or Wairaurahiri Jet (http://www.wjet.co.nz/wjet/default.asp). RUS 2315 The Wairehu Canal is part of the Tongariro Power Scheme and runs between Lakes Otamangakau and Rotoaira. Genesis Energy built the playhole as mitigation for the scheme and it has been open for use by kayakers since April 2010. To find out the flow, call the Genesis flow phone: 07 386 8113 and press 2. Listen for the flow in the Wairehu canal. Please read the sign at the site which displays the "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/wairoa/upper-gorge","Tasman","Wairoa","Wairoa Gorge Road to Andrews Road Bridge","III-IV","3.5","11km","10m/km","2.5 to 4 hours (depending on flow and put in)","a number of put in sites along Wairoa Gorge roads","take out on river right immediately before bridge at Andrews Rd, approximately 6km upstream from the Wairoa-Lee confluence (Grid Ref N28 179736)"," The Wairoa River flows directly out of the rugged Mt Richmond Forest Park to emerge behind Brightwater. Within easy driving distance from nearby Nelson (30 minutes), the Wairoa provides a popular after-work run for local paddlers when the flow is right. About two days of consistent rain turns the Wairoa into a superb technical class III whitewater run with great play spots and dynamic eddy moves. Not recommended at flows less than 60 cumecs. Access to both the take out and put in is via the Wairoa Gorge Road on river left. Which of the four put in options you choose should depend on group experience, flow, time available, state of road and how much you prize your vehicle. The first of the put in options is at the boldly signed Wairoa Gorge Recreation Reserve, 16km from the Brightwater pub, and immediately below the confluence of the left and right branches. A further two put ins are accessed from the Old Mill Rd at the Andrews and Anslow Rd fords. These roads turn off from the Old Mill Rd at 2km (Andrews) and 4km (Anslows) above the confluence. Even higher put ins are available but note that road access above (upper) Andrews Rd ford can be marginal, particularly in wet conditions. All options provide class III water with more technical rapids below the confluence. The choice is yours and will depend on flow and time available. The river can be scouted from many spots along the road. Trips from above the highest ford can take up to five hours. At very high flood flows (250+ cumecs) many of the more technical rapids wash out, leaving a formidable class III+ to IV big water run with typical flood features of very fast moving current, unusual hydraulics, few eddies, and the occasional tree. A more conservative put in below the lower ford at this flow would be prudent and the run should be contemplated by more experienced paddlers only. At very high flood flows there are few places to inspect the harder rapids on the section below the confluence and it is a good idea to run it with someone who knows the river. Flows from the TDC river gauge are taken below the Wairoa/Lee confluence. The flows given above are based on this combined flow reading. The Wairoa Gorge is accessed from the small township of Brightwater. Head down River Terrace Rd behind the Brightwater pub, following directions to the Wairoa Gorge Rd. Access to the Wairoa"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/tasman/wairoa/lower-gorge","Tasman","Wairoa","Andrews Road Bridge to Max's Bush","II-II+","2.15","7.5km","10m/km","2 to 4 hours","Andrews Road Bridge, approximately 6km upstream from the Wairoa-Lee confluence (Grid Ref N28 179736)","Max's Bush"," When conditions are right there are a number of other trips in the area to keep you wet. Lower Wairoa Gorge: paddlers seeking a less demanding trip can put in at the take out for the Upper Gorge section and take out directly above the weir at Max's Bush. This take out is approximately 1.5 km below the Wairoa/Lee confluence on river left. At 80-200 cumecs this section from the bridge consists of the occasional class II+ rapid. The Wairoa (meaning "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/northland/wairoa/wairoa","Northland","Wairoa","Wairoa","I","1","","","","",""," RUS 1116, class unknown Flow One of the best runs on the coast and thus one of the best in the country and is a step up from the Arahura and Whitcombe Rivers - it even has a lovely wander through lush forest near the end. The normal put in is just above Moonbeam Hut. A short warm up and class IV boulder gardens lead down to "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/waitaha/morgan-gorge","West Coast","Waitaha","Morgan Gorge","V","5","1km","","2-3 hours","Start of gorge","Waitaha Valley road end on Hokitika side of the river."," All but the first 300m of the gorge can be seen from the helicopter; be sure to fly over the gorge and pay attention. The rapids are segmented, and vaguely recognizable from the air. What you can't see (the first 300m) is very committing, tight vertical walls, but manageable, pushy class III white water exists here. Most of this you can see from the swing bridge at the entrance. Once through the committing section, the walls open up slightly and there is room to get out on the bank/in the river bed to scout/portage. Rapids also get more serious from here down. Some must be paddled, some must be portaged. The atmosphere is fairly intense. Everything seems enclosed, and the water seems confined and powerful. The rapid at the exit of the gorge is a good indicator of the style of kayaking within the gorge. This rapid is accessible at the end of the Morgan Gorge portage. The river bed seems somewhat mobile, and there have been differing descriptions of rapids over time. Treat every descent as a first. Check out video by Dave Kwant http://www.kayaksession.com/wild-and-hidden-places-a-kiwi-classic-kayak-... If K gorge is up, Waitawheta is most likely up, even though the catchments of Karangahake Gorge and Waitawheta are different. Make sure to check the K gorge gauge. First 1km is manageable class II, as the river steepens and the rapids disappears around the corner, the Waitawheta action begins. There's a short gorge, with two notable double drops. Make sure to eddy out above the gorge on river left and scout on river left too. First drop is fairly straight forward, second drop is usually run river right. There's plenty of time to eddy out between drops. About 100m downstream there is a river-wide 3m drop with a small cave line on river right. Enter the cave if you dare. If in doubt, run the 3m drop as far right as you can. A couple of class II-III boulder gardens follows, with large pools at the bottom. After, the river splits briefly into two. Both sides have been run, right side is steeper and slightly more difficult. Note: following rapid is runnable but sieved out. A swimmer wouldn't be too happy here. Last major rapid is right before the confluence, the river swings from right to left between two bedroom sized boulders. Scout river right. To get to the put in: From Karangahake Gorge Carpark head west towards Waihi for 5kms, take right turn onto Waitawheta Road. Go about 1km, and take a right onto Kennedy Road. Take another right turn onto Dickey Flat Road, and follow the gravel road to Dickey Flat DOC Camp Ground. Map: http://www.nztopomaps.com/-37.498287,175.782967,12,Hybrid,100 The Wakamarina was the home of one of the biggest gold rushes north of the Shotover and Clutha. The story goes that in 1860 a woman washing clothes in the river one day noticed something shining on the bottom of the river. Nothing happened for a few years until the governor of the area offered a large fee to whoever could prove that the Wakamarina had gold enough for a claim. And so it began, with sizeable amounts of gold extracted from the quartz veins which run through the area. The "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/marlborough/wakamarina/road-end-to-mountain-camp-creek","Marlborough","Wakamarina","Road end to Mountain Camp Creek","II-III+","2.6","7km","6m/km","1-3 hours","Wakamarina Valley road end","bridge at Mountain Camp Creek"," In normal flows it is a scenic cruise down some scratchy, rocky rapids with fantastic deep blue/green pools making up the in-between bits. If you want more action in the Wakamarina, wait until rain has fallen in the upper catchment and lifted the level. Then the rapids fill in and provide and exciting ride with plenty of moderately-sized pressure waves, hydraulics and tricky corners. The difficulties rarely push past the class III+ range. To get to the take-out: drive to Canvastown on SH6 between Blenheim and Nelson. Drive up the Wakamarina Valley road to Mountain Camp Creek. About 500m further on, a road leads down to an old bridge. Park by this road. It is possible to paddle all the way to Canvastown or another take out at Mutton Creek. To get to the put-in: continue upvalley to the end of the road. There are a number of alternative put-ins, and you can access the river virtually wherever you can see it. The character of the Wanganui is different from other West Coast rivers, dropping sharply out of the Alps, but easing off without flowing through any gorges. From just above the Lambert/Wanganui junction is a great class III intermediate trip and an excellent proposition for a first helicopter trip. The gradient drops right off to 9.5m/km and enjoyable class III water, except for one class IV-V rapid. This rapid (Slip Rapid) is about 4 kilometres from the Lambert/Wanganui junction and is easy to spot from above. Run the rapid or portage on the right side. A soak in the hot pools in Hot Spring Stream (on the left 2 kilometres before the take out) is a great way to finish the trip. Walk 100 metres up the stream on the true left and dig out a pool to sit in. The quarry site on river right indicates the take out. To get to the take out: from Hokitika drive south for 45 - 60minutes. A road heads off to the left just as you are about to cross the Wanganui River. Follow this for about 3 kilometres. As you get to the river there is a good parking and helicopter landing spot. The character of the Wanganui is different from other West Coast rivers, dropping sharply out of the Alps, but easing off without flowing through any gorges. From just above the Lambert/Wanganui junction is a great class III intermediate trip and an excellent proposition for a first helicopter trip. Those flying higher will be treated to some excellent, technical boating that at first glance looks unlikely, but comes together with a bit of thought. There are too many rapids to point out any one line so I will leave it up to you to adventure, or misadventure, at your own leisure. After five kilometres of steep water the gradient drops right off to 9.5m/km for the rest of the trip and enjoyable class III water, except for one class IV-V rapid. This rapid (Slip Rapid) is about 4 kilometres from the Lambert/Wanganui junction and is easy to spot from above. Run the rapid or portage on the right side. A soak in the hot pools in Hot Spring Stream (on the left 2 kilometres before the take out) is a great way to finish the trip. Walk 100 metres up the stream on the true left and dig out a pool to sit in. The quarry site on river right indicates the take out. To get to the take out: from Hokitika drive south for 45 - 60minutes. A road heads off to the left just as you are about to cross the Wanganui River. Follow this for about 3 kilometres. As you get to the river there is a good parking and helicopter landing spot. To get to the put in: fly to the where ever you want to start. The West Akas is a lesser known local Wellington kayak run. Unless you have access to the Valley View forest gate key and know where you are going then it is best to bite the bullet and walk the 3km motorbike track alongside the river to the put-in (river left). The run starts at McGee's bridge and soon enters a series of rock gardens with several nice but small drops. This steeper section culminates in a narrow chute which needs to be scouted for logs. After this the gradient drops away and the river is Class II. The run is not worth the walk at low flows (less than 0.9m on the Akatarawa Cemetary gauge). It is defin itely an option at higher flows and is well worth the walk. If it's a nice day and the river is up you can float on down to the usual Karapoti put-in on the true Akatarawa River or even continue right down to the Hutt River confluence (Twin Bridges). "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/wanganui/whakapapa/whakapapa-dam-to-owhango","Wanganui","Whakapapa","Whakapapa Dam to Owhango","III-IV","3.5","23km","14m/km","4-6 hours","Whakapapa intake","Whakapapa bridge at Owhango"," The Whakapapa, like many of the rivers radiating out from the Central Plateau, is a hidden treasure. It is well worth marking the two release days per annum on your calendar (http://www.rivers.org.nz/events/) and getting a team together for it. Plan an alternative river trip in case the release doesn't occur, which will be the case if there isn't a fresh in the river to bring the flow above the required sixteen cumecs. (Look for rain from the north-west in the weather forecast). Read about The Inaugural Tongariro and Whakapapa Releases. The Whakapapa also runs when the rain is falling hard enough. Luckily it rains often and when it does the intake tunnel can"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/wanganui/whakapapaiti/sh47-to-whakapapa-dam","Wanganui","Whakapapaiti","SH47 to Whakapapa Dam","IV","4","9km","20m/km","1-2 hours","Road bridge on SH47","Whakapapa Dam"," V, >50cu From the SH47 bridge, there isn't a lot of time to think about much except how cold it is in the water, and how warm it was in the car. The water is continuous class IV, even-gradient rapids all the way to the confluence with the Whakapapanui. From here to the dam is much bigger, but less technical. The Whakapapaiti is a faster, more technical run than its eastern cousing the Whakapapanui. Speed, and the river's continuous difficulties, combine to add an extra point to the classification, hence class IV. At some points channel decisions have to be made - and quickly. Once at the confluence with the Whakapapanui the speed eases but the volume increases, as does the size of the hydraulics. Have fun. Whatever the flow at the Whakapapa Dam, the Whakapapaiti will have 40% of it - for example, if there are 50cu at the dam, the Whakakapapaiti will have roughly 20cu. So it needs slightly higher flows to make it worthwhile. To get to the put in: find the Whakapapaiti bridge on SH47 just west of the SH48 turnoff to the Chateau. Scramble down the bank to the river. There is a parking area on the river left side of the bridge if you are leaving a vehicle. To get to the take out: head east on SH47 for about 8km, look for a sign to Whakapapa Intake. Follow the road 8km to its end at the dam. Catchment: Two rivers combine to make the Whakapapa River - the Whakapapaiti and the Whakapapanui. Of these, the Whakapapanui is the easier, more spectacular and scenic of the two. Like most Central North Island rivers they are rain dependent because of their small catchment area. Below 20cu the rivers are very scratchy. But don't be put off. This area offers world class boating when rain is falling, and believe me it falls a lot. Above 50cu be prepared for a no-holds-barred rollercoaster with few places to decide that you don't want to be there! The rapids come in quick succession and boat scouting is the only feasible method of inspection. Most require boulder dodging to get the right line to avoid the inevitable wall at the bottom. What you find at the start of the run is indicative of everything down to the confluence with the Whakapapaiti. If disaster strikes in the first few rapids, gullies provide ways of escape up onto farmland on the right side of the river. At the confluence the river becomes wider with bigger and, at times, challenging hydraulics. One large square rock forms a particularly weir-like hole in which some have spent a good deal of penalty time. Once at the dam, take-out on the left and carry around it. Put in again and ferry across to the carpark. To get to the put in: find the Whakapapnui River on SH47 (about 5-6km from the junction with SH48). Park about 600m west of the actual road bridge by a fence and a gate. Walk to the end of the trees. Climb over the fence in the corner where a piece of 6 x 2 timber has been attached to the fence. The track disappears steeply downhill under the flax bushes. This track is probably the most dangerous part of the trip. There are numerous stories of people slipping, letting go of their boats and watching them careen down the track and out into the river - to be found later in the day. At least you"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/waikato/whakapapanui/tawhai-falls","Waikato","Whakapapanui","Tawhai Falls","II-III","2.5","","","Very short!","Above falls, after walking in from roadside car park, SH48.","Below falls"," The scenic Tawhai Falls are located 2.5km from the junction of SH47 and SH48 on the road to Whakapapa ski field (SH48). Look for the signpost on the left as you head up to the Chateau. Change and walk in along the tourist track for approx 10 minutes. The line is pretty obvious. The falls used to be run commercially in inflatables (may still be?). The rest of the river looks quite nice and rocky but class is unknown apart from 2 serious features where the Whakapapanui joins SH47. "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/bay-of-plenty/whakatane/upper-whakatane","Bay of Plenty","Whakatane","Upper Whakatane","I","1","","","","",""," RUS 1812 The Whakatikei River run is short but intense when in high flood. The Hutt River needs to be very high (>= 3m on Te Marua Gauge) for the Whakatikei to be ""on"". Enter a small side stream at the end of Bulls Run Road and pick your way past the trees etc and enter the Whakatikei after approx 1km. Don't rush - try to play a bit as you paddle down or it will all be over before you realise. After 2-3km of class II+ the gradient picks up with approx half a km of good class III rapids which are boat scoutable. On entering the Hutt River be aware of the extra power of the main stream as it thunders into the walls at the confluence. Paddle across the Hutt River and take out at Poets Corner on river left. Make sure you keep a good eye out for logs. As far as I know, the section above the one described here should contain some class II-III water but has not yet been run by any current local paddlers. Access to the upper section is difficult. There is a possibility that GWRC may dam the Whakatikei for water supply. "
"http://rivers.org.nz/to_colliers_bridge","Waikato","Whangaehu","To Colliers Bridge","III","3","","","","",""," Polluted by volcanic activity? Put in at Tangiwai bridge? At the quarry on Whangaehu Valley Rd (E2720025 N6182735) park up and descend an old creek (steep) on the upstream side. Pick your way down through rocks and cutty grass then across a muddy swamp and you are at the river's edge, phew! You can leave a car at the Te Tui farm entrance (E2719770 N6177085) or do a longer trip right down to Collier's Bridge. Allow 2-3 hours to Te Tui farm take-out and expect an hour of uphill boat carry. The river is continuous Class III at most levels with 2 new rapids that should be scouted. These have formed since the recent lahar came through. The first is a river-wide feature which has a sticky hole on river right at higher flows (boof on river left) E2717940 N6181580). This is about 1/3 of the way down. Later on 2/3 of the way down and after a right hand bend is a very steep drop with a rocky outflow which will cause damage to anyone upside down etc. Scout this from river right and/or run a less spectacular line on hard left (E2718730 N6179420). Make a point of bringing your own drinking water as the W originates from the Crater lake on Ruapehu and is naturally acidic as well as passing by the Karioi pulp mill. Enough said. The Whangaehu is great for new Class III paddlers with lots of rapids but nothing too intimidating apart from the 2 rapids mentioned above. In November 2007 there were a number of trees and logs in the river - probably left over from the lahar. If you are fit and have plenty of time it is best to run the Whangaehu from the Quarry right down to Collier's Bridge rather than taking out at Te Tui. This will avoid the big slog out at Te Tui. If you have less experienced paddlers then they can put-in at Te Tui as the lower run is easier with less frequent rapids (see Te Tui to Collier's Bridge) The Middle section of the Whangaehu is slightly easier but actually longer than the upper Quarry run. It is best to run both sections at once as this avoids the long uphill take out at Te Tui. Less experienced paddlers can join in at Te Tui. Before heading down the paddocks from the Te Tui fram entrance you should seek permission from the local farm. The NZMG ref at the farm entrance on Whangaehu Valley Rd is E2719770 N6177085). The Middle section has plenty of bouncy rapids and some rocks to avoid. The river winds its way around numerous corners so it will take a while. It is easier than the upper run but it is longer. Notice the mud on the tree stems around 8 metres above the river level and imagine the power of the lahar that deposited that mud! Keep an eye out for trees and logs which are moving around since the lahar. On our last run in November 2007 we saw 2 deer in this valley! When you get to Collier's bridge run the river past the bridge then exit on river left about 200m downstream. There have been slalom's here in the past so keep an eye out for wires!"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/wanganui/whanganui/upper-whanganui","Wanganui","Whanganui","Upper Whanganui","I","1","","","","",""," RUS 1411, class unknown RUS 1412 RUS 1413 RUS 1414 Barrowman Flat is a great put in for intermediate paddlers or as one of your first trips on the coast. From here to the take out is mostly class III+ with two or three class IV/+ rapids that are portageable. Two magnificent schist gorges ensure that your scenery dollar is well spent. The second is one of the most spectacular on the Coast and makes the trip worthwhile on its own. Low flows (40 - 70 cumecs) are the best time to be in there as intermediate paddlers and your day will be more enjoyable the less water you have. At higher flows (>90 cumecs) expect some pushy class IV/+ water and less relaxation. The first major rapid (which is the technical crux) is often portaged on the left side (there is a trail the rafters use). The second crux is in the last gorge. At higher flows there is a great auto boof on the right. At lower flows the hole on the left side is quite trashy. The portage on the right can be a bit of adventure and is a good introduction to West Coast adventure boating. A rope is a good thing to have. To get to the take out: find the Whataroa River bridge on SH6, turn eastwards on the gravel road on the southern side for 2km to the old bridge site. There is a large parking area, and camping is allowed. Make sure you have a ready stock of insect repellent because the sandflies are rather aggressive. "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/whataroa/butler-hut-to-barrowman-flat","West Coast","Whataroa","Butler Hut to Barrowman Flat","IV+ (V)","4.3","16.8km","28.5m/km","3.5-6 hours","Butler Hut","Old SH6 bridge site."," The huge north face of Mount Elie de Beaumont provides a stunning backdrop for the first couple of kilometres of the upper Whataroa, the only problem is there"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/bay-of-plenty/whirinaki/whirinaki","Bay of Plenty","Whirinaki","Whirinaki","III","3","","","","",""," RUS 1816 The Whitcombe is one the most popular trips on the Coast. The record to date is 47 paddlers flying to the Cropp put in during a busy day in early 1999. It carries more water than your average Coast steep creek so feels like a "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/west-coast/whitcombe/cave-camp-to-cropp-river","West Coast","Whitcombe","Cave Camp to Cropp River","IV-VI","4.9","26.5km","45m/km","8 hours, both days","Cave Camp","Second cableway, Hokitika River"," If Henry Whitcombe and Douglas Lauper could be transmogrified through time to anywhere in the Whitcombe River on a summers day they would not believe their eyes (I guess a helicopter would be enough to do the trick). This river of hell, which took them fourteen long days to descend in 1865, is now the home of two classic kayak runs. The upper section from Cave Camp to the Cropp River confluence was added to the list during the 98/99 season by Arnd Schaeftlein, Andi Uhl, Mike Abbot, Andy Phillips and Allan Ellard. The journey begins just below the massive east face of Mount Evans with its big waterfalls and hanging glacier. Things start gently enough and provide plenty of time to warm up. This is good because when the river begins to speak you need to be listening. If speaking is class IV/V then the Whitcombe shouts, and sometimes at the top of its lungs. This is not an easy day out. The first gorge from Cave Camp drops at over 100m/km and has many big drops stacked on top of each other. Many are runnable, some will be in the future. Like many of the very hard runs flow levels are critical to the possibility or impossibility of the bigger drops. It"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/wilkin/upper-airstrip-to-makarora-river","Otago","Wilkin","Upper airstrip to Makarora River","IV-V","4.5","13.5km","26m/km","5 - 8 hours to Kerin Forks","Upper airstrip, Wilkin Valley","Makarora River"," The Wilkin provides a fine adventure with a stunning mountain backdrop in relatively civilised surroundings. The lower reaches have been floated for years but the upper section was done first in Easter 1995. Helicopter is the best option for getting in though fixed wing can also get there. If going by helicopter it"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/otago/young/youngs-fork-to-makarora-river","Otago","Young","Youngs Fork to Makarora River","IV+","4.25","6.5km","11.5m/km","3 hours","River flats below Youngs Fork (2.5 hours walk)","Makarora River"," The Young has a short scenic gorge between the Young Forks and Ram Flat near the Makarora and makes an excellent half day trip to do on the way to, or from, the coast. Below Ram Flat the river meanders easily out to the Makarora. The gorge is relatively open with a track running alongside on the left. Once you have ferried across the Makarora if the Young looks low and clear don"
Listen for the recording for the Ohinemuri River at Karangahake. You are interested in the first 3 numbers (ignore the metrics used):
< 126 stay home
126 - 130 good intermediate flow
130 - 134 starts getting pushy
135 - 140 good solid flow for advanced paddlers 140 - 145 expert level - or volunteer for shuttle duties
145+ serious stuff - river will be over the road! Cops unhappy.
K' Gorge flow level can also be checked on the internet at http://www.ew.govt.nz/enviroinfo/riverlevelsandrainfall/riverlevelsmap/6...
the Waioeka Gorge towards Opotiki, watch out for the Manganuku campsite, put in
below the bridge.
side of the road. From Opotiki drive towards Gisborne, the monument is 2km past
the small settlement of Wairata.
To get to the falls. Park at a small clearing on SH1 (opposite the get out for the Tongariro access 10 section. Car theft is a big issue so perhaps camouflage your car with some bush (the exotic kind) or leave someone behind.
Follow the overgrown track going into the forest (used to be 4WD) until you get to a gravel road. Follow this road to the left for about 15 minutes until you hear the falls (it really is pretty obvious). There are some bushwacked tracks on the left going into the bush and down the gorge. Once you find yourself at the pool at the base of the falls skirt around the bush (or paddle) to the right. There's a well used track leading up to the top.
Aniwhenua Falls makes for an exciting put in and kayakers have been plummeting off the edge for years. Things have changed a little after recent floods and there is a ledge you can hit when there is 2.5 cumecs or less running over the falls. Otherwise take lots of pictures and enjoy this kindergarten huck.
Below Aniwhenua the river flows between fantastic walls of ancient volcanic ash. The water is mostly class I-II and when flows are good the rocks are well covered producing great little waves for aspiring surf hogs and there are plenty of pools and eddies making this a popular teaching run.
To get to the put in: from the township of Murupara head east 2km to the turnoff signposted Whakatane, Te Teko, Kouriki. Follow this road for 3.5km to another junction. Turn left and follow Galatea Road for just over 20km. Turn left at a road sign posted Aniwhenua Power Station, cross the dam and turn right. Follow the road to its end by the Power Station just below the falls.
To get to the take out: drive back to Galatea Rd and turn left. Follow this road for about 9km. There is a jet boat launching ramp at Mangamako Stm that has off road parking and is probably safer than the "
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/bay-of-plenty/rangitaiki/jeffs-joy-run","Bay of Plenty","Rangitaik","Jeff's Joy Run","IV","4","11.5km","9m/km","2.5-5 hours","end of the access road","at the rafting finish area","
Just after the last rapid I described, there was a logjam which we had to portage. Not too difficult. Not far below this, the river went into a very narrow channel (2m wide) which lasted about 200-300m. The rapid was relatively easy - maybe grade 3, but committing and with logjam potential - inspectable. Below here, there may have been another narrow rapid before widening briefly. Following this was another very long, narrow, fast hydroslide style rapid which, due to high banks and dense vegetation was not really portageable or scoutable - we took a risk and paddled it blind. As it happened, there were no logjams and it was a nice long narrow grade 3+ rollercoaster (perhaps 4 because of degree of commitment) rapid. After this, the river slowed behind the intake dam which is the get out. There is a risk of logjams anywhere on this section of river, and in places, they could be very hard to avoid. It is a unique and fun section.
Map series 260 (1:50,000) Map No V18. Get in is on Ngapuketurua Rd Bridge and get out is at the Rangitaikie canal intake. Turn off Ngapuketurua Rd left into Kiorenui Rd and then left again when you hit the canal to get to the take out.
Egarr_Comments: ""high quality trip
Egarr_Code: 49.02
Egarr_Vol: NI
Egarr_Page: 50
Egarr_Rec: 5
Egarr_Scen: 5
RUS_Code: 1428
The Mother-in-law option follows the natural bed of the river to the left of the tunnel. It has a sharp drop at the top that pushes hard into rocks downstream. Once clear of this drop it is all over.
The great thing about this run are the numerous ledge-type reversals that provide excellent play spots for those wanting to flip-flop around for ever or just learn to sit in a hole. The river is deep in the gorge and has a great wilderness feel until you reach the Skippers Canyon Bridge and are bombarded by falling bungy jumpers.
If considering the section from Skippers Bridge to Deep Creek (class I), it is worth contacting the jet boat drivers at the Skippers Bridge. The drivers are in radio contact with each other and will let everyone know there are kayakers on the lower section. This will save the fright and possible trauma of meeting a high speed craft, much bigger than you, unawares.
To get to the put in: from the Skippers Bridge area drive nearly 9km of narrow winding road to a short dirt road on the left which leads into an area of willow trees.
Egarr_Comments: {Egarr has 1 entry}popular with less experienced
Egarr_Code: 107.03.02
Egarr_Vol: SI
Egarr_Page: 81
Egarr_Rec: 5
Egarr_Scen: 6
RUS_Code: 2421
Put-in below Stanley Gooseman Bridge at Jacksons. Take-out at Kumara.
Egarr_Comments: slalom course; above Kawerau..a popular trip; pressure waves
Egarr_Code: 111
Egarr_Vol: NI
Egarr_Page: 100
Egarr_Rec: 4
Egarr_Scen: 5
RUS_Code: 1817
River begins at the eastern end of Lake Tarawera under the shadow of the
mountain of the same name famous for its cataclysmic eruption in 1886 which
buried the pink and white terraces. The river drains the popular lake and heads
east to the coast through some impressive volcanic geology and via the township
of Kawerau. Kayakers have been using the river for years but mainly through
Kawerau where the slalom site is situated. The upper river has received more
attention in the last few years and offers some enjoyable paddling.
poses some interesting problems. In the top section the river suddenly
disappears amongst some rocks and reappears 500m downstream as a 30m waterfall
gushing out of a crevice in the rock face. The river flows underground because
of a series of lava flow cliffs which blocked the river about 11,000 years ago.
The porous rhyolite is cracked and creviced and the water has found its way
through in these.
provides a put in for a class II-IV run. Be careful as there are many trees in
this section. There is one class V (P) rapid which has yet to be run and a 3m
waterfall which is scoutable from the road between the last bridge and the road
end.
River begins at the eastern end of Lake Tarawera under the shadow of the
mountain of the same name famous for its cataclysmic eruption in 1886 which
buried the pink and white terraces. The river drains the popular lake and heads
east to the coast through some impressive volcanic geology and via the township
of Kawerau. Kayakers have been using the river for years but mainly through
Kawerau where the slalom site is situated. The upper river has received more
attention in the last few years and offers some enjoyable paddling.
poses some interesting problems. In the top section the river suddenly
disappears amongst some rocks and reappears 500m downstream as a 30m waterfall
gushing out of a crevice in the rock face. The river flows underground because
of a series of lava flow cliffs which blocked the river about 11,000 years ago.
The porous rhyolite is cracked and creviced and the water has found its way
through in these.
bridge on the way to the falls is a popular beginner class II trip and the
normal put in with many fast exciting rapids and riffles. Get out at one of the
concrete bridges.
town but it is mostly flat. The class II-III slalom course runs the length of
the rugby fields on the edge of town.
"
"http://rivers.org.nz/nz/canterbury/tasman/tasman","Canterbury","Tasman","Tasman","I","1","","","","","","Put in - Bridge 21km 4 hours Bridge - DoC track 7km 1.5 hours DoC track - Ngaruroro 7km 1.5 hours Ngaruroro - Take out 20km 2 hours
Trip report in Waikato Kayak Club, Sept 2006.
http://www.waikatokayakclub.org.nz/newsletters/archive/2006/WKC_Sep06.pdf (PDF, 450KB)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=13&ll=-37.824565,17...
Put-in http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-42.587674,172.452816&z=13
Take-out: http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-42.579427,172.783522&z=14
(http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/18811.detail).
Forest & General Security Ltd,
63 Miro St
Taupo
Phone 07-376 5333.
Things ease off for a while and the remains of a hut can be seen on the right bank. After the hut, 6km of easy water leads to the final two rapids (Nothing Flash and Ace) and then it is a further 3km to the Mohaka river. The end of Jock Sutton road is across the Mohaka by a gravel bank.
When they are diverting water from the power station over the falls. About 20-30mm of rain and it starts rocking. When the rock in the pool at the bottom of the falls is covered it's good to go. Optimal play flow: -11 to -13 on the gauge It wouldn't have done any harm if the water level was higher than it was, and we had no idea where the rock was anyway (it was covered). We did the river at between -10 and -10.5 on the gauge. Apparently -11 to -13 is the best play flow (a bit lower then when we did it.
Put in
At the end of Wairua Falls Rd, take Maungatapere Rd, west of Whangarei. Follow the bush track going down to a patch of grass at the bottom of the falls.
Take out:
Either don't bother and just paddle up/walk alongside the canal (2 km), or instead of turning down Wairua Falls Rd, take the next left (at a town called Titoki I think) After 5 mins of less you will see a copse of around 10 Gum trees on your left, as you approach a big bend in the road to the right. You can park your car here on the power station grounds. Carry on to the following driveway (no vehicle access) and walk down to the riverside power station building to check out the white gauge.
Character
This section offers technical boulder-garden style rapids through a bushclad valley, with opportunities for breaks between the rapids. Keep an eye out for playwaves, most of which have to be caught on the fly. When in spate the water is very brown but also very warm - an excellent winter option! A couple of rapids towards the end throw up something a little different such as a wall to avoid, but boat scouting will probably be fine for all of them, as long as river reading skills are good enough to pick the likely holes (which tend to be frequent, large, and appear out of nowhere).
To get to the take out: From Paeroa Head 4-5km towards Waihi on State Highway 2. You'll see the big Karangahake Gorge Carpark, where Karangahake gorge and Waitawheta confluence meets.
Flow: http://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/riverlevelsandrainfall/cgi-bin/hydwebse...
Yahoo -it's been raining hard and has been for a few days. Organise a couple of strategic 'well' days at work and get to the Whakapapaiti.
Egarr_Comments: numerous waterfalls
Egarr_Code: 046.01.01
Egarr_Vol: NI
Egarr_Page: 45
Egarr_Rec: 2
Egarr_Scen: 4
RUS_Code: 3091