Running parallel to the mighty Waiau-Toa / Clarence River, the Awatere River gives you some of same classic feel of big views, dry country and moderate whitewater in a smaller package The Awatere drains the western side of the Inland Kaikoura Range and a variety of smaller ranges on the north side of the river. The valley is home to several sheep and beef farms, and enjoying some high-country farm hospitality is an excellent way to make this fairly remote river into a satisfying weekend adventure.
Overview
There’s two half-day sections of river which are of interest to packrafters.
Upcot Gorge (II/II+ & one III rapid) is well away from the main road, between the Middlehurst and Gladstone bridges. It’s a fairly sustained rollercoaster of whitewater, with no significant pools, making it a good option for paddlers who are solid at the grade, and have good self-rescue skills.
The Gladstone to Awapiri section (II+) is hidden from the nearby road, and gets run occasionally by kayakers at higher flows. Slightly more demanding than the Upcot Gorge.
Thanks to Glenn Murdoch from Blue Duck Rafts for the pictures and description, Dan Clearwater for edits and updates.
View Larger Topographic Map
Planning – Accom and shuttles
It is about 2hrs drive up the gravel road from the small town of Seddon to the put in at Middlehurst bridge. The length of the drive would make for a fairly long day trip from Blenhiem, the nearest significant town, which is why we recommend treating yourself to a night at Middlehurst Station, near the put in.
If you stay at Middlehurst Station (which has drinks and fine dining) the owners Willie and Susan can help run a shuttle for you. Alternatively, consider DOC campgrounds at Molesworth Cobb Cottage, which is approximately 15km further upvalley than the put-in. If you are planning to self-shuttle, then scout the take out at Gladstone bridge when you leave a vehicle there.
Awatere River, Upcot Gorge (II/II+/III)
The river is characterised by bouldery class II to II+ rapids, with at least 1 class III rapid. The run is approximately 23km long, so budget 3-5hrs depending on flows and ability.
The trip is a roller coaster with a constant gradient and no pools. This means that swimmers will usually need self or team rescue, so the run is best suited to solid class II+ paddlers with good rescue skills. Not really a run for new paddlers or groups of mixed ability.
The top few kilometres has willow trees with some tree hazards. These can creep up unexpectedly around bends, so watch for trees and don’t get complacent! The trees disappear for the middle half of the trip and come back about 2 kilometres above the Winterton River confluence. Again, keep a good watch for tree hazards.
The geography of the air is volcanic basalt; Mt Lookout is an old volcano. There are stunning rock formations to see as you float down the river. An added bonus are the views of the Inland Kaikouras, with snow covered peaks visible through gaps in the lower hills to the right.
Awatere River – Mt Gladstone to Awapiri (II/II+)
If you feel the need for more paddling, you can continue past Mt Gladstone bridge to Awapiri. The run is about 20km, so expect 3-4hrs depending on flows and abilities.
This section gets run occasionally by hard shell kayakers. Check out the RiverGuide description, and remember that packrafters should err on the side of caution when reading kayaker descriptions!
Gauge
Look at the Awapiri gauge on the Awatere.
The region is generally pretty dry. To get suitable flows you might need to look for spring snow-melt conditions, or catch the river after a bit of rain.
For Upcott gorge, flows above 12 cumecs are good. At higher flows the waves and holes will get a lot bigger, as will the waves off the bluffs.
For Mt Gladstone Bridge to Awatere, see the Riverguide.co.nz suggestions. Packrafters paddling at this grade should generally opt for the lower end of the kayaking flow brackets