One of a series of ‘teaser’ trip pages for those heading to the 2017 NZ Packrafting Meetup. Thanks to Hugh Canard for the information. I’m hopeful that the Meetup will result in a little more info plus a few photos so we can expand these pages. Featured image is By Michal Klajban (Hikingisgood.com) (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
From Boyle Village to put in via St James Walkway
The St James Walkway is a major Tramping track, and starts at the back of Boyle Village.
Follow the track for about 3.5km to where it leaves the Beech forest, then find a way down to the river. The St James Walkway continues to follow the Boyle for a long way, but above here the river really needs rain for it to be packrafted.
Boyle River (III) Poplars gorge
To distinguish from the other gorges on the Boyle, this one is named after the range to the south of it, which parallels this section.
Medium volume class III.
Take out at Boyle Village or continue floating for as many days as it takes to reach the ocean…
Gauge
Visual at Boyle Lodge.
With rain in the forecast, we walked in overnight to Boyle Flat Hut. We later found out the rain overnight at the Boyle Outdoor Center was 57mm, yet it did little to bring the river up. We put on in the rain at the hut and paddled to the road. It was just high enough to scrape over the majority of the rocks, with some walking required in the braided section. The upper gorge was lovely and scenic, mostly grade 2, with the hardest rapid being visible from the lower swing bridge (by Magdalene hut). The lower gorge was fun and grade 3. Recommended day trip in the rain at higher river levels which would make it much more fun and likely make the lines easier. Unless you want to mingle with TA walkers, then the hut is a comfortable overnight.