My friend Cabot and I decided to haul our packrafts to New Zealand in an attempt to find a fun pretty river to float. And boy did we! I appreciate trying to keep place secluded and not overly published online so I won’t reveal the location here publicly since I thought this spot was so pristine that I’d like to keep it that way. If you do want to know more about the location I will share details if you contact me and tell me what your plans are for visiting the area.
This river is known for its crystal-clear waters, lush forests, and rugged terrain, making it a popular destination for kayakers and other outdoor enthusiasts. There is a mountain biking and hiking trail off to the side of the river. The section pictured below of the river is particularly notable for its narrow channels which create a unique and exciting environment for kayaking.
The river can be accessed by a short .5 kilometer (.3 mile) hike/bush whack through the forest. However, we chose to shorten the hike and access the river by rappelling into the gorge which added to the excitement and beauty. It was a single rappel of almost exactly 100 ft. It took some rigging and a bit of time to land in our boats and get our gear all set as we floated while still attached to the rope. The effort of caring the extra gear for the rappel was completely worth it!
The canyon features stunning rock formations and waterfalls. Kayakers get to navigate through narrow channels and around rocks and obstacles, encountering several fun Class II and III rapids with small drops along the way. There is quite a bit of maneuvering and skill required to avoid obstacles especially at lower flows. The journey down the river typically takes around 3-4 hours. The experience can be both thrilling and rewarding, as kayakers get to witness the stunning natural beauty of the river and its surroundings.
It is important to note that kayaking can be dangerous, especially for inexperienced paddlers. It is highly recommended to only attempt this excursion with the guidance of an experienced guide or instructor, and with the proper safety equipment and precautions in place.
There is a mandatory exit point to avoid being drawn into a deadly section of the river at the end of the trip. We stayed at high alert looking for the signage towards the end which indicated the end of our journey and the start of the hike out. The exit hike was short but steep. We had both seen worse, but it is an added challenge with the extra gear. The exit is so steep you are required to hold on to the roots of plants for support on your climb out. I had a root snap on me which would have been bad if I didn’t have solid footing, fortunately I didn’t fall as it could have been deadly.
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