Our purpose is to preserve New Zealand's whitewater resources and enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely.

moving to Kerikeri

Submitted by slomartin on Thu, 2014-09-18 20:57

Access, Touring & Hazards

Hi,

I'll be moving to Kerikeri with my family in December (no idea how much later the kayaks etc will catch up with us though), and was wondering if anybody here was from around there and willing to show a newcomer around/keep a friendly kayaker some company?

I'm not really after youtube material level rivers, and plenty happy to potter round whatever local stream there is, even if its a grade I, and anything up to a III/IV provided it's relatively forgiving- with kids and advancing age and injuries my roll has gone from fairly reliable but rarely practiced to highly dubious at best, so possibly need a bit of easy water first to work on the roll and get it back up to speed again. :) going by this site, I assume there's not much around Kerikeri and what there is tends to be flat(ish)? can live with that, as long as I get to paddle occasionaly, but would rather not be out exploring complete unknowns on my very own, regardless how flat and easy they might be.

would also be quite keen to try kayak surfing and be well happy for any company for a sea kayak tour as well if anybody's up for that.

thanks,
martin

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Submitted by slomartin on Tue, 2014-10-14 22:03.

Nev,

Wonderful, thank you! I did try to find some more local to Northland kayaking groups, but must've stuffed up on the search terms, as I couldn't find much. Would you also be part of the friendly locals on the northland white water kayaking group or?

What you describe sounds perfect and more than ample for my diminishing skills and humble requirements. Looking forward to a lot of exploring of options. not really keen on waterfalls and/or flood runs, but apart from that sounds really fun.

I don't think I'll worry overmuch about dry rivers as I think that by the time our boats catch up with us, we get sorted etc, we'll be close enough to winter, and I can use the time to find the friendly locals, find the options, and possibly take some time to get back up to speed again on rolls etc. :)

Best I go post a note on the facebook page.

thanks once again, you've just about made my week if not more.

cheers,
martin

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Submitted by Nev Wilson on Tue, 2014-10-07 11:27.

Hi Martin, Kerikeri will surprise you with some fun paddling. Your problem will be your arriving at the non existent paddling season. Winter is the rainy season and most rivers in the North need some rain to make rapids float-able not scrape-able. Take a walk along the Kerikeri river walking tracks when you arrive to check out whats on offer at your back door. There are some solid waterfalls but stretches in between make up some class 2-3-? depending on flows. Wharepuke falls down to the Stone store is a fun run with the Pear tree bar/cafe at the take out .. perfect. The upper kerikeri also has some unexplored (?) interesting gradient.

Just south the SH10 run to Lily pond on Waitangi river is fun class 2. Haruru falls is further downstream if falling from fresh to salt water is your preference.

Further afield lie the Mangakahia, Wairua, Waima, Waipoua, Waitekumeraua, Waimamaku, Ngunguru.. some descriptions of which have snuck into Graham Charles latest guide.

Best to go with some locals as it can be hard to gauge workable flows vs hazardous flows in Northland as all runs tend to be flood runs.

You will find plenty of friendly locals on facebook search Northland Whitewater Kayaking.

Cheers

Nev 0224279136