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Wellington, 1 Day, Loop trip, Through trip.
The Orongorongo River is a short, rain‑dependent Grade II packrafting trip tucked into the southern end of the Rimutaka Range, close to Wellington. The river has a braided, gravel‑choked character, fed by large slips and scree fans that dominate the true left side of the valley. While mostly straightforward, it offers an engaging wilderness feel….
Manawatu-Wanganui, Loop trip, Out and back, Through trip.
The Manawatū Gorge is a classic introductory packrafting journey through one of the lower North Island’s most well known river corridors. With the old highway closed to vehicles, the gorge now lends itself well to combined walking or cycling and paddling. The Manawatū is a large, low‑gradient river that can be paddled at almost any…
Canterbury, 2 Day, Through trip.
An overnight flood run, that puts a watery twist on the classic Lagoon Saddle tramping route.
Wellington, 1 Day, Loop trip, Through trip.
Small, scenic and gorgey, with a wilderness feel on Wellington’s doorstep.
West Coast, 1 Day, Car to car.
Cruisey & scenic float, car to car below the famous Hokitika Gorge.
West Coast, 1 Day, Car to car, Through trip.
An excellent one-day landscape traverse, with a bit of adventure navigation through deep blue glacial waters, wild coastline and lagoons home to one of New Zealand’s rarest birds.
20GP, Southland, 5 Day, 6 Day, Loop trip.
The most famous packrafting loop in NZ… An incredible variety of scenery and travel, from low grade rivers, to lakes, coastlines and rugged tracks
20GP, Canterbury, 5 Day, 6 Day, 7 day.
The Waiau Toa / Clarence is one of the best long river trips in New Zealand, more so because it’s not overly challenging whitewater.
3-7 days of grade II/III paddling, great camping, huts and beautiful scenery
20GP, West Coast, 1 Day, 2 Day, Out and back.
Big water II+ for solid beginners and intermediates. A classic day or overnight trip on the west coast.
Otago, 1 Day, Out and back.
A pleasant 4-hour, semi-urban adventure near Arrowtown. Watch out for trees and debris in the river.
Tasman, 2 Day, Bikeraft, Out and back.
Out & back overnighter. An old 4WD track to the hut makes this especially suited for bikerafting
Canterbury, 1 Day, Roadside.
A classic run, great for packrafts at low flows From its catchment in the Lees Valley, the Ashley River / Rakahuri cuts a wandering meander through the Canterbury foothills. Rakahuri means “entangled and turning” in Te Reo Māori – and that’s exactly what it does. For a very long time, The Ashley has been paddled…
Southland, 7 day.
This is a great seven-day journey through Southland, suitable for paddlers with modest technical skills. It stays interesting the whole way with a steady current, a variety of rapid styles and little towns to resupply.
Otago, 1 Day, 2 Day, Roadside.
Fickle flows and lots of willows The Lindis River is hidden in plain sight close to SH8, and drains the desert-like high country around the Lindis Pass. Too low to paddle most of the time, just after rain, the Lindis provides a delightful car-to-car day trip or an overnight paddle. The river snakes through farmland,…
Canterbury, 1 Day, Roadside.
Scheduled dam release run: a great class II roadside run when the water is flowing (a couple of times a year)
Canterbury, 1 Day, Roadside.
Just behind Tekapo town, is a fantastic artificial whitewater course. Normally dry, the river flows only at scheduled releases (keep an eye on the official Tekapo WW facebook page for timings) Releases are usually timed for a weekend: come camp under the pine trees by the put in and join in the good times! The…
Canterbury, 3 Day, 4 Day, Through trip.
3-4 Day through trip.
MacKenzie Basin/Canterbury
Waikato, 1 Day, Car to car.
Trip Overview Blue Pools is a great Class II introduction to the Tongariro river. It is a roadside run downstream of the Class III Access 10 run. It has a reliable year-round flow of about 16m3 and a number of schedule release days where it is allowed to flow at what would be its normal…
Canterbury, 2 Day, Through trip.
A great overnight through trip, with continuous wave trains and fun paddling.
Canterbury, 1 Day, Out and back.
An adventure with something for just about everyone The lower Edwards River in Arthur’s Pass National Park is a great option for a short but adventurous trip. This trip has a great mix of ‘something for everyone’ with an optional harder upper section, great variety and scenery, and a wilderness feel to it despite all…
Otago, 1 Day, 2 Day, Roadside, Through trip.
1-3 day options, scenic gorges and mostly easy paddling.
Southland, 4 Day, Out and back.
Remote side trip to a Lake Te Anau exploration
Southland, 1 Day, Roadside, Through trip.
Something for everyone on this scenic and fairly remote roadside run in central Fiordland
Marlborough, 1 Day, 2 Day, Roadside.
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….
Manawatu-Wanganui, 1 Day, Car to car.
The Whangaehu is a great river with the unique feature of draining the Crater Lake on Mt Ruapehu. It’s not one to take a swim in as the water is acidic! But take some fresh drinking water and enjoy the continuous rapids. There are two sections described on this site: There is something about this…
Otago, 1 Day, Roadside, Through trip.
An couple of hours car to car, through the canyons and gentle rapids of the Shotover. From Arthurs Point, near Queenstown
West Coast, 1 Day, Out and back.
Gets harder as you walk in so start where you like! Something for everyone in a scenic valley.
West Coast, 1 Day, 2 Day, Loop trip, Out and back, Through trip.
Challenging approaches to Intermediate paddling on a remote an scenic Westland River
Tasman, 1 Day, Out and back, Roadside.
Farm track and bush road access, two stunning gorges and varied whitewater all within a compact and walkable river trip.
Southland, 5 Day, 6 Day, 7 day, Loop trip.
Remote 5-7 day loop through untracked Fiordland
Canterbury, 1 Day, 2 Day, Out and back.
A great rain or snowmelt run, suitable for mixed groups of intermediate level paddlers
West Coast, 1 Day, Out and back, Roadside.
Something for everyone on this small west coast creek. An amazing day trip near Greymouth
Wellington, 1 Day, Out and back.
Short day trip to a scenic gorge. Near Levin in the Tararua Ranges
Southland, 1 Day, 2 Day, Out and back.
Long day or overnighter: good approach routes to a fun grade III gorge and grade II lower section.
Northern Southland.
20GP, Southland, 3 Day, 4 Day, 5 Day, Loop trip, Out and back, Through trip.
2-5 day options | Fiordland
A classic moderate packrafting trip.
Canterbury, 2 Day, Loop trip.
An ‘almost-loop’ trip through Arthur’s Pass mountains and braided river valleys. There are a few options for paddling the Poulter, including continuing on down the Waimakariri Gorge – check out a video by Haydn Deane of the Poulter-Waimak Gorge option on vimeo . Thanks to Michael Batchelor for the information and photos to make up…
Tasman, 1 Day, Roadside.
This is a roadside run, which is dam controlled and very popular with all paddlers. Access Leave a car (or bikes) at the new road bridge on the Cobb valley road and drive up to the power station. Easiest to get in on the left fork assuming the turbines are all running. View Larger Topographic…
Tasman, 1 Day, Roadside, Through trip.
The crystal clear Aorere cuts through the epic rock gorge at Salisbury falls, which is Takaka’s biggest and busiest swimming hole. The gorge itself runs for a few km each side of the tourist area and in low flows is an easy and spectacular trip, suitable for confident beginners. This is a short and sweet…
West Coast, 1 Day, 2 Day, Through trip.
The Maruia is a very pleasant and scenic float that is mostly Class II. There is a Class III rapid in the middle of the run and there are a few Class II+ depending on flow. It’s an easy run as anything above Class II is easily portaged. You don’t need 2 days to complete…
Otago, 4 Day, Through trip.
2 days hike, 1-2 days paddle.
Remote and scenic headwaters, in a seldom visited valley | Otago.
Manawatu-Wanganui, 2 Day, 3 Day, 4 Day, Through trip.
The headwaters of the Rangitikei run through the Kaimanawa Range, offering a classic and challenging wilderness multiday trip. A while after crossing State Highway 5 (The Napier-Taihape road) there is a short, sharp class V gorge that ends at River Valley Lodge. The “Rangitikei Canyon” begins here, and offers a very scenic 2-4 day…
Canterbury, 1 Day, 2 Day, Out and back.
Overnighter or day trip, out and back. Needs spring flows or rain.
Lake Pukaki/MacKenzie/Canterbury
Canterbury, 1 Day, 2 Day, 3 Day, Through trip.
Curious geology is the highlight of this run: that and the caves, gorges and fence hazards. Information on the Porter River (II with mandatory portage) is included at the end of this page as it looks like an enticing ‘no walk’ option. However, there are fences, nasty sieves and a mandatory portage. View Larger Topographic…
West Coast, 2 Day, Out and back.
Overnight out and return with route finding and a great hut. Put in where it suits your skills and the flows.
South Westland
West Coast, 1 Day, 2 Day, Out and back.
Day or overnight out and return, through spectacular limestone canyons, with mellow paddling.
Paparoa National Park, Westland
20GP, Otago, 1 Day, 2 Day, 4 Day, 5 Day, Out and back, Roadside, Through trip.
A classic Otago run, with options for road, foot and heli access, and trips from 1 to 5 days in length.
Bay of Plenty, 1 Day, Roadside.
The Rangitaiki is the longest river in the Bay of Plenty. The Aniwhenua is a great beginner trip, or just a cool spot to play around with some good mates. There are quite a few surf waves and eddy lines to practice up your skills on. Many kayak clubs use this as a skills building…
Bay of Plenty, 1 Day, 2 Day, Bikeraft, Through trip.
The Raukokore from Te Kumi Station is a pleasant Grade I-II trip in the East Cape Raukumara Ranges with a wilderness feel. It can be done in a long day or split over two. Description and photos Stu Bilby. View Larger Topographic Map Put in Put in on the Waikura River on Te Kumi Road….
Waikato, 1 Day, Car to car, Roadside.
Car to car day trip
Kauri forests & farmland
Coromandel Ranges
20GP, West Coast, 1 Day, 2 Day, 3 Day, Loop trip, Out and back, Roadside.
One of the most sought after and enjoyed runs in New Zealand: high quality, high difficulty paddling, Near Lake Kaniere, on the West Coast.
Canterbury, 1 Day, Car to car, Roadside.
Hurunui River overview The Hurunui is the most important River in Canterbury for paddlers. It has navigable flows all year round and offers a good variety of whitewater runs. From Lake Sumner down, there are a variety of runs, catering for all types of paddlers. Upper Hurunui (described as one run) Lake to Sisters (I/II)…
Canterbury, 1 Day, Car to car.
Hurunui River overview The Hurunui is the most important River in Canterbury for paddlers. It has navigable flows all year round and offers a good variety of whitewater runs. From Lake Sumner down, there are a variety of runs, catering for all types of paddlers. Upper Hurunui (described as one run) Middle Hurunui Lower Hurunui…
Hawkes Bay, 1 Day, Car to car, Through trip.
Mohaka River (I/II) “Beginner’s run” A great introduction to packrafting can be had by camping near the Napier Taupo Road (SH5) bridge and running the road-accessible sections nearby. Camping options Mohaka River Farm, is a fantastic place to stay. It has A-frame cabins, a bunk room and lots of campsites. There’s also a small conference…
West Coast, 1 Day, Bikeraft, Car to car, Roadside.
A beautiful and relatively easy West Coast River. Great for a cruisey day’s paddling, between hitting the Arawhata and Waiatoto. 😉 The Jackson would make a great and easy bike raft trip or of course you can hike, hitch (if you’re lucky!) or car to car paddle. It has a great side trip up to…
West Coast, 1 Day, Car to car, Through trip.
West coast.
A car to car trip with a variety of paddling, from lake, to easy river to class III rapids to esturary!
Very scenic paddle.
West Coast, 1 Day, 2 Day, Out and back.
Short and scenic, with easy access and option to make it into an overnight trip with a stay at Lake Daniell.
Southland, 1 Day, 2 Day, Loop trip, Through trip.
This section provides lots of options for trips; half day trips using shuttles or walking, full day paddles, overnight options including paddling on Manapouri itself. Despite being bordered by the Kepler track on the true right and roads on the true left, it has quite a wilderness feel, with lots of options. No longer the…
Bay of Plenty, 3 Day.
As members of our packrafting community will be aware of, and appreciate, that Te Urewera is currently in a period of change. Ruatahuna and Ruatoki hapu are keen to host manuhiri, but have asked for the information on the Whakatane River trip to not be in such a public place for the time being while…
Tasman, 1 Day, Roadside.
Fun for packrafting at low flows, with easy access.
Tasman, 1 Day, Roadside.
The Matakitaki is one of the larger Buller tributaries. The “middle run” especially is a popular short kayak run due to it’s proximity to Murchison, quality paddling and roadside access. There’s so many roadside options on the Matakitaki, that you can pick and choose your own adventure. Thanks to Martin Robertson for the original info…
Tasman, 1 Day, Roadside.
The Buller river is one of New Zealand’s mightiest rivers. From it’s source in the Nelson Lakes to the wild West Coast at Westport it’s a spectacular beast. From the Lake it has a lovely short bouldery run across the terminal moraine that retains the Lake. It then becomes a slightly braided river for some…
Tasman, 1 Day, Park and play, Roadside.
This is a delightful run that exits lake Rotoiti for a short placid reach and then takes off through a series of boulder garden rapids amidst beech forest and manuka. The “Source of the Buller” run begins at Lake Rotoiti’s outlet on West Bay Road and continues past the main road bridge on SH63 all…
Otago, 1 Day, Car to car, Out and back.
A short, sweet run with some technical paddling. Easy portages
Marlborough, 1 Day, 2 Day, Roadside.
A real gem of a river that only Blenheim paddlers seem to know about. The Wairau River is the largest river in Marlborough. It drains an area that is in a rain shadow, so it’s best in spring with snow melt. In higher flows the Wairau could be run as one continuous paddle from Hell’s…
Wellington, 1 Day, 2 Day, Out and back, Through trip.
5hrs to 2 Days
Rain run
Options for through trips or out and back
Wairarapa, North Island
Wellington, 2 Day.
The Waingawa is one of the smallest of the runnable Eastern Tararua rivers. It takes a crystal ball to get the timing right for this run. It rises very fast and then falls just as quickly to residual flows that except in mid winter are barely paddle-able. Catch the right weather combo and it’s another…
Manawatu-Wanganui, 2 Day.
Notice to all paddlers The Manganuioteao is a very special river to local iwi, and much of the land bordering the river is private land. In recent years, there have been disagreements and sometimes confrontation between paddlers and locals. To help preserve access, paddlers must respect the river environment, as well as the traditional and…
Wellington, 1 Day, Car to car, Roadside.
The Akatarawa River is a great little after work run 40 minutes drive out of Wellington. It has a single named rapid “The Wall” that can be challenging but is easily portaged. It’s a small catchment and accordingly takes some rain to get going. It can be a good default rain run if the Hutt…
Otago, 1 Day, 2 Day, Out and back.
A stunning paddle with magnificent views of the Humboldt and Ailsa Mountain ranges along with beautiful sections of exquisite South Island crystal clear pools in majestic gorges with beech lined forest. There’s plenty of straightforward paddling, plus a few very serious and completely committing gorges. The gorges are either impassable (due to log jams)…
Tasman, 1 Day, Roadside.
This is a fun roadside run that starts at Maruia Falls and ends 1 km before the confluence with the Buller River. Starting at the falls is exhilarating, but the rapids are generally straightforward. The run only takes a few hours, at just over 10km. View Larger Topographic Map Logistics Take out: Make sure to…
Canterbury, 1 Day, Loop trip.
An easily accessible and short Canterbury float with reliable flows and a big water feel. Beautiful water and views and a great enjoyment-to-energy expenditure ratio. Best during weekdays to avoid large amounts of jet boat traffic. (please take a look at our general advice about Jetboats and packrafts) View Larger Topographic Map Logistics Park just…
Manawatu-Wanganui, 1 Day, Car to car, Through trip.
This is a scenic Class II run in a river that always has enough flow for a paddle. It is a great learners trip with eddies and play waves and an excellent camp ground at the take out. It feels more remote than it is due to the nature of the gorge. It’s best to…
Southland, 1 Day, 2 Day, Car to car.
Delightful roadside paddling There is a long section of easy and scenic packrafting to be enjoyed in this valley, using State Highway 94 to access the river at many points. You can pick and choose which sections you do, as half-day, long day or overnight trips using one of the many car-accessible DOC campgrounds along…
Waikato, 2 Day, Through trip.
The Waipakihi River drains the Kaimanawa Ranges on the eastern side of the desert road. Where it leaves the mountains it becomes the Tongariro River. It is a picturesque river valley through beech forest. It has insufficient flow through the warmer months and can only be run after rainfall. View Larger Topographic Map Private land…
Wellington, 1 Day, 2 Day, Out and back, Through trip.
Gorgeous gorges, which need a little rain The Tauwharenīkau River flows from Mount Hector in the Taruara ranges to Lake Wairarapa. It drains the area of the Tararua ranges between the Waiohine River and the Hutt River. As the Tauwharenīkau exits the range, it flows through a stunning gorge. It is the smallest of the three…
Manawatu-Wanganui, 2 Day, Through trip.
This trip explores 36km of the seldom-paddled upper reaches of the mighty Whanganui River, which stretches from its beginnings on the flanks of Mt Tongariro, to the mouth near Whanganui, 290km away. Most people have floated down the spectacular sections below Taumarunui, but we were interested in exploring the upstream section where it flows through…
Southland, 1 Day, Out and back.
This is a scenic trip only 20 minutes from Dunedin, taking in the final part of the Lower Taieri run in the Whitewater New Zealand Guide. The run described here misses the grade III section above Lee Stream, and is a good trip for Dunedinites wanting to practice on some grade II rapids. Could be…
Wellington, 1 Day, Roadside.
Once the Te Awa Kairangi (Hutt) River emerges from the Tararua Ranges, it is a mostly braided, gentle paddle that is suitable for beginners. There are two commonly run sections which run alongside the roads of Upper Hutt. Thanks to Martin Robertson for the information and pictures. View Larger Topographic Map Te Awa Kairangi …
West Coast, 2 Day, Out and back.
A relatively straight-forward out and back weekend trip to a beautiful braided river beneath Mt Hooker. Best after rain, or during the spring melt. View Larger Topographic Map Logistics and (potential) shuttle There are a couple of ways to start and end the trip. No shuttle: Park your vehicles on the southern side of Clarke…
Wellington, 1 Day, 2 Day, Car to car.
As it descends through the Tararua Ranges, the Waiohine River has a number of sections of interest to Packrafters. The Upper Gorge (above Mid Waiohine Hut), Middle Gorge (Mid Waiohine Hut to Totara Flats Hut) and the Lower Gorge (Totara Flats Hut to Gorge Road). The lower Gorge of the Waiohine is a typical scenic…
20GP, West Coast, 3 Day, Loop trip.
A fun loop trip in Lewis Pass, with a walk up beech forest valley and over a pass, a quick paddle across Lake Christabel and through grade 2 to 3 rapids (with some portaging). Thank you to Carey Lintott, Nicole Symon and Martin Peat for the information and photos. This keen group did the trip…
Bay of Plenty, 2 Day, Loop trip.
The Whirinaki River is a one of the main rivers draining Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Forest Park around 1 hour east of Rotorua. It is fed by a watershed the extends south and east from the Galatea plains past Minginui and into the forest park. With amazing bush, easy access at a number of points and…
Otago, 1 Day, Roadside.
A great little roadside run in a beautiful beech lined valley. There’s a few pool drop Class III rapids at the beginning, followed by a fun and bouncy trip on pretty continuous class II. The initial rapids can be easily portaged. Thanks to Huw Miles for the information. Photo credits to Huw Miles www.packraftingqueenstown.com: Julian…
Canterbury, 2 Day, Car to car, Through trip.
The Waimakariri Gorge is a great grade II overnight trip or long day-trip covering 50 to 60 kms or river, accessible by car at both ends. This stretch of river is most well-known for hosting the kayak leg of the famous Coast-to-Coast multi-sport race. This race takes place over a weekend in mid-February – make…
20GP, Hawkes Bay, 3 Day, Hot pools, Out and back.
Mohaka River (II+/III) “Upper run” This is a fantastic weekend packrafting trip… Walking access only, beautiful clear river through native bush clad mountains. Trout, great camping options, easy hitchhiking options, and oh yeah… 2 amazing HOT-SPRINGS! The river is 90% grade II, but Sphincter rapid (portagable) is a grade III. Thank you to Chris Coutts…
Canterbury, 2 Day, Loop trip, Out and back.
Another lovely river in the Lewis Pass region. An extended but beautiful and straightforward walk in through beech forest and river flats to the comfortable, quaint St Jacob’s hut. The paddle out down the Hope river is an enjoyable mixture of open river flats with a fun gravel races and some interesting class II+ boulder…
West Coast, 1 Day, Out and back.
Something for everyone on the Whataroa The mighty Whataroa is a classic west coast paddling adventure: big flows, spectacular scenery and challenging whitewater, especially in the upper reaches. Progressively getting steeper as you go further from the highway, there are three distinct sections that range from an arduous overnight adventure at the very top end…
Wellington, 1 Day, Roadside.
This is a lovely introductory trip in a scenic gorge with road access to put-in and take-out. Popular with kayakers, rafter and tubers, it’s a great trip, but even though the road isn’t far away, the gorge walls mean that its not easy to escape once you’ve started. Thanks to Martin Robertson and Carol Exton…
West Coast, 1 Day, Through trip.
Unlike the section above Haast-Paringa Cattle Track, the lower Moeraki is a very gentle paddle. This trip involves travel through the river, a lake, a bush bash (or coastal walk at low tide)to a penguin colony, then back to the road via an excellent track. The coastal walk section is very subject to tide and…
Wellington, 3 Day, Through trip.
With fickle flows and long gorges, the Mid Waiohine Gorge has a fearsome reputation, with as many successful trips as aborted ones. It is a typical tight Tararua gorge with long pools and pool drops, horizon lines and boulder gardens. Like all Tararua gorges it is also flush with logs and every rapid and drop…
West Coast, 1 Day, Through trip.
Fantastic beginner run with a wilderness feel
Canterbury, 1 Day, 2 Day, Out and back.
There are 3 rivers that run parallel on the western side of the Lewis River. The Doubtful River is not the most scenic, or the most exciting, but it does have whio and potential in higher water. Thanks to Colin Kinnison for the information and photos for this trip page. View Larger Topographic Map SH7…
Canterbury, Roadside.
One of a series of ‘teaser’ trip pages inspired by Hugh Canard, prior to the 2017 Boyle Outdoor Centre PRANZ Meetup. Treat the information with healthy scepticism – if you’ve done the run, then please contact us with more info and a few photos to expand this page. View Larger Topographic Map Lower Hope –…
Canterbury, West Coast, 1 Day, Car to car.
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. View Larger Topographic Map Boyle River (II+) from Boyle…
Tasman, 2 Day, 3 Day, Out and back.
Thanks to Michael Batchelor for the information and photos to make up this trip page. View Larger Topographic Map D’Urville Hut to Morgan’s HutThe quickest option is to arrange a boat transfer in advance with Lake Rotoroa Water Taxi . They run on demand trips from Rotoroa Village to the head of the lake. There…
Otago, 2 Day, Out and back.
Out and back with a neat hut. Needs rain to bring this continuous run into condition.
20GP, Marlborough, 1 Day, 2 Day, Roadside, Through trip.
A classic intermediate overnighter, with decent tracks, huts and gorgeous gorges. There’s heaps of ways to enjoy the Pelorus, from grade I day trips to weekend grade III through trips. With a little imagination, the choice is yours! Thanks to Bryan Moore for the trip updates. Feature image is credit to Dulkara Martig Collection. View…
Southland, 1 Day, 2 Day, Out and back.
Needs a fair bit of rain to make this paddleable, but this is Fiordland so you shouldn’t need to wait long… Options of a stay in a Rock Bivvy, or the North Borland Hut could turn this into an overnighter. Thanks to Jesse Friedlander for the information. View Larger Topographic Map Borland Tracks to the…
Otago, 1 Day, Out and back, Roadside.
The upper section needs a bit of rain to be worth a trip, but it’s a beautiful valley and a very mellow paddle. Depending on your enthusiasm, time and objectives, you could visit the Ahuriri for a day trip, a short shuttle run, or a long float all the way to Omarama. View Larger Topographic…
Canterbury, 1 Day, 2 Day, Out and back.
Needs a bit of rain for this classic, entry-level overnighter in Arthur’s Pass National Park
Canterbury, 2 Day, Out and back.
A beautiful walk in through a densely forested valley with scattered grassy clearings and high open tussock ridges, backed by rocky summits. To top it off, the river is visually stunning, an easy class I/II with an exciting class III section through a small gorge. This trip page is adapted with permission from a trip…
Otago, 1 Day, 2 Day, Be aware of Jetboats, Out and back.
A classic moderate day trip in the Aspiring National Park This delightful trip has straightforward access, amazing views and just enough rapids to keep intermediate packrafters entertained but not terrified. Glaciers in the headwaters mean the water can be chilly, but also that there’s usually enough water for paddling, even if other runs are a…
Southland, 1 Day, Roadside.
Great roadside run in Fiordland, but watch for strainers! Solid grade III skills needed.
Canterbury, 2 Day, Out and back.
An off-trail adventure up the seldom visited Murchison Valley, among NZ’s highest peaks and glacial valleys. This trip involves considerable route finding skill, especially amongst the moraine features of the valley. As the Glaciers continue to recede, this trip may become more difficult, or even impossible. This trip is suitable for parties with experience around…
Canterbury, 2 Day, Out and back.
A large beautiful valley with a plethora of huts and lots of tramping, climbing and hunting opportunities. The river is a classic ‘east of the divide’ large braided river. In normal flows, the difficulties are wave trains and places where the river might hit a bluff on one side. Wave trains can feel intimidating for…
Otago, 1 Day, Roadside.
Most of the Makarora is a wide braided river, which gets quite bony in the upper reaches in normal flows. The main road runs close by for much of its length, so you could start higher (Davis Flat) or even do the short hike to the swingbridge by the Makarora Gorge for a slightly more…
Otago, 1 Day, Out and back, Park and play, Roadside.
The Hawea is a marvellous backyard run near Wānaka that you can enjoy in many different ways. With road access at three main points, a hiking/biking track along its length, a park&play wave plus a slalom course, you’re spoilt for choice! Although the river is ‘only grade II’, the banks are lined with strainers. This…
Otago, 1 Day, 2 Day, Be aware of Jetboats, Out and back.
Out and back trip with a chill middle section and challenging upper/lower sections for the keen ones.
Otago, 2 Day, Be aware of Jetboats, Out and back.
A great overnight trip, to explore a newly formed lake. Some fun, easy paddling in a gorgeous valley. View Larger Topographic Map Jetboats Be aware that Dart River Safaris commercial Jetboats can travel as far as Slip Stream. Read the Jetboat courtesy code, and give them a call before you head out! The Dart Track Currently…