Worsley Stream is a short, remote section of class II+/III (with easy portages). Access is difficult, but the location and views are incredible.
Ensuring that you’re didymo-free is an essential part of preparing for this adventure.
Thanks to Hazel Meehan for the information and photos, and Dan Clearwater for additional information on fishing and didymo considerations.
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Planning & Access
The Worsley is a remote valley at the head of lake Te Anau. You can either sea kayak 1-2 days from Te Anau Downs, take a boat or arrange for a water taxi. Lake Te Anau has a fearsome reputation for rough conditions when its windy: ask for local advice and take the approach seriously!
The hard walking makes the whitewater even more enjoyable!
Trout fishers & Packrafters
This stream is a highly-regarded Trout fishery, which means Packrafters ought to be extra courteous if they plan to do this run.
Fish & Game NZ control fishing access through a ballot programme, from 1 November to 31 May. And before fishing, they need a ‘clean gear certificate’. This means that any trout fishers you encounter will have put a lot of time, effort and emotional investment into their fishing experience. Having a bunch of packrafters zoom through and ‘disturb’ the fish, will not make you popular…
What to do if you encounter fishermen:
If possible, catch an eddy as soon as you spot someone fishing. Keep quiet, stay on your side of the river, and wait for the fisherman to acknowledge you. They’ll either wave you through, or slowly make their way up to your eddy. It might be a good time to (quietly) stop for a bite to eat! Generally, the fishermen will be sneaking upstream, trying to spot a fish in the pools. So if you patiently wait, the fisherman can finish the stretch of water between you, and minimise any conflict.
Remember, a packrafter’s presence will scare off the fish for a period of time. So try to be courteous, so you minimise your impact on another person’s recreational experience.
Didymo
At the time of writing, Worsley stream is didymo-free, but Lake Te Anau is not.
DOC is actively monitoring the impact of Packrafting in Fiordland on the spread of aquatic pests, such as Didymo. They discourage boaties on Lake Te Anau from heading up the tributary streams, and there are some restrictions already in place for access in the national park due to acquatic pest concerns. It is up to all of us to do the right thing: firstly to prevent the spread of these horrible pests to pristine waterways, and secondly to avoid restrictions or bans on access in the future.
Read more about Didymo restrictions and cleaning requirements on the DOC Website
It is essential that packrafters check,clean and dry any gear that is going up the river. If you’re sea kayaking or boating to the river mouth, keep your packraft gear separate from any lake-gear. For anything which may have contacted lake water, you’ll need to disinfect it on the beach before heading upstream. For example, if you use the same paddle, PDF, drysuit etc in your sea kayak. Also remember to wash your footwear (and feet) if you’ve stepped into the lake as you arrive. The approved method of disinfecting requires a lot of detergent, and some time: make sure you are properly prepared, or don’t come to this river.
Trout fishers have to get a ‘clean gear certificate’ to access this river: Packrafters do not (yet), but that doesn’t remove the obligation to have clean gear! It only takes a single drop of infected water to ruin a waterway permanently.
Worsley Hut to put-in
The line on the map is indicative only!
From Worsley Hutt follow the blue triangles up the river left side of the valley.
I found myself following a combination of the trapping route and several game trails with short sections of easy bush bashing.
I chose to cross the river approximately 1 km below the Castle river confluence from there, sometimes following the river bank and sometimes the trapping trail. I put in about 1.5 km above the Castle river confluence. With more water it would likely be possible to continue further upstream if somewhat more difficult to cross the river. I scouted everything on the way up which made the descent much faster.
Worsley Stream (II+/IIIp)
The top section (from about 1.5km above the Castle River confluence to the confluence itself), is mostly continuous class II+ rapids, which are straightforward to scout.
Below the confluence, there there are several additional class II rapids and one substantial class III with a sieve that is easy to avoid if you are on line.
Everything can be portaged, and most fairly easily. There is some wood that is not always easy to spot so I would recommend scouting if you are at all unsure about anything.
Once you’ve passed the single class III rapid, it is all class I/II to get back to the lake. Don’t forget to look at the mountains!
Gauge
Visual.
As far as I am aware I am the first person to go in here so there are no established flow windows. I went in mid october after a few dry days and found the river low but runnable.