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Mangles / Blackwater Creek to Buller, II-III (IV)

Wed, 2006-05-17 21:58 — jonathan
0
Mangles
Info
Portage?: 
No
Class: 
II-III (IV)
Level: 

class II+ (III): 1-40 cumecs, class III-IV: 50-150 cumecs

Gauge: 

visual

Length: 
6km
Gradient: 
6m/km
Time: 
1-3 hours
Put in: 
200 metres below Blackwater Creek Bridge
Take out: 
Mangles/Buller Confluence
Shuttle: 
5.9 km
Maps: 
M29
Character: 
single braid, small bedrock gorge, scenic
Hot tip: 
try to stay out of the river in low flows to give the fisherpeople a chance

A great run for beginners and has become one of the hot destination play runs when the water is high. You’ll be pushed to find a park at the put in on a weekend high water day!

The Mangles is a welcome break from the wide open spaces of the Buller and the range of easy rapids, practice pools, very relaxing scenery and liberally spread put ins and take outs make it one of the more popular teaching runs.

The suspension bridge up the Mangles Valley provides an easy put in or take out for a shorter trip on either section if required. Access is on river left where there is a stile over the fence on river left side.

To get to the take out: from Murchison drive north until you cross the Mangles River. Turn left immediately after the bridge and park in the picnic area. To get to the top put in: turn up the Mangles Valley road on the southern side of the river off SH6. Drive 5.9km and you will spy and old wooden bridge across the river (do not walk on it). Park here but make sure to leave enough room for large milk trucks to zoom by. Walk down the track just upstream of the bridge.

Fill: 
89%
NZ Whitewater 4th Edition 2006: 
p141
Credits: 
Graham Charles

This section appears in New Zealand Whitewater, 4th edition, 2006 on p141.

New Zealand Whitewater, 4th edition, 2006
No incidents reported.
Mike Birch's picture
Mike Birch on Sat, 2011-10-08 14:49

An email from Mick Hopkinson on 6 Oct 2011:

Heads up. The Mangles is a mess. Lots of trees down with branches
trailing in eddies. The main channel at the bottom of the narrow gorge
by the Matterhorn Rock is BLOCKED BY A LARGE FALLEN TREE.
CERTAIN DEATH IN MEDIUM TO HIGH WATER.

Disclaimer

Canoeing and kayaking are activities with inherent risks. Whitewater NZ takes no responsibility for the accuracy of this guide, nor for any risks or dangers that canoeists or kayakers may encounter. Any users should fully research the current river conditions and ensure they are fully equipped and have the appropriate skills, before embarking on any river trip, per Whitewater NZ Code of Practice. While every effort is made to ensure that details are correct, it is possible that this information is no longer accurate. If you find discrepancies or errors, please let us know at guide@rivers.org.nz.