Waipori / No.4 Dam to No.4 Powerstation, IV-V
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.
