New Zealand Trip Ideas?

[gregc]

My wife and I will be in New Zealand starting in mid february and are looking for some trip ideas. We will be flying in and out of Christchurch so prefer the south island, but may consider going up to the north. Not sure how long we will stay, depends on what trips we do. We have both visited many times and done a fair amount of tramping, as well as some kayaking, but this will be our first trip with packrafts.

We are open to any suggestions. Our ideal trip would involve 1. walking on tracks, 2. staying in huts, 3. relatively mellow water (class II whitewater or less). As I said we are open to any suggestions, but one of the advantages of tramping in NZ versus here in Alaska is the great hut system and tracks.

In addition has anyone done the whanganui journey in a packraft? I have wanted to paddle it for years and figured since I was bringing the boat anyhow it would be a good opportunity. Any options there for incorporating some walking in or out, or will it just be a raft trip?

Thanks,
Greg

[andrewallan]

Some suggestions:

1)Walk into the upper Karamea, and float out down to the Leslie R, and then walk out along the Whangapeka . The Karamea below the Roaring Lion has the major rapids in it.
2)Nelson Lakes Nat Park - the D'Urville R looks a good float. The Travers would also be fine. The Sabine runs through a very deep gorge.
3)Something involving the Dart/Rees R's around Queenstown.

Roman Dial's done some good sounding trips in NZ - look in this forum, or search youtube under packrafting, new zealand, and you'll find some video.

There is a huge facility for rafting in NZ.

Andrew Allan

[gregc]

Thanks for the info! All of those look like good options.

Greg

[alaskacreeker]

I'll be in New Zealand Jan 29th - Feb 26th on the South Island kayaking & pack rafting, although I'm looking to do some creeking & big water pack rafting so see what these little guys can handle. If you're down there we should hook up & do a run or two.

[andrewallan]

NZ is made for packrafting. You don't have to look far. Enjoy every opportunity.

I'm rafting the lower ?15km of the Kaamea from the Ugly to the sea on the 23 Jan after our wilderness fly fishing trip. Roman rafted a whole swag of the Karamea, and found it amazing, and somewhat overwhelming, although he was doing a solo trip.

Have fun.

A

[RomanDial]

Like Tim I'll be in NZ hoping to packraft, but earlier, from Jan 7 to Feb 9. Would like to see you there Andrew.....maybe we can paddle together?

[andrewallan]

Hi Roman,

Lucky old you having a month there! My schedule is a little tighter!

I'll email you rather than share it all with everyone else, but there might be a narrow window there.

A

[Somni]

Cool to see so many others headed to NZ in the next couple months. I should be down there myself for some prafting and such. If anyone wants to meetup, let me know!

[nzspen]

I just came back from a camping trip in Karamea on the West Coast. We walked the first day of the Heaphy Track up as far as the Gunner River. I put in and rafted downstream for a couple of Ks before meeting a massive headwind as the river turned tidal. As it turned out it wasn't really worth carrying the raft all that way for such a short paddle, and I was also feeling a bit nervous about losing my raft and tramping gear as I was paddling solo. But I was just being a woos.

I think a really good, and cruisy, trip would be to walk the Heaphy Track from the Golden Bay side, then put in as soon as you get down to the Heaphy River at Lewis Hut. It wouldn't take long to get down from there to Heaphy Hut, but would be nice and easy. The walk out from Heaphy Hut is lovely.

[captainmorgan]

Just finished the Hollyford-Big Bay-Pyke route. Perfect trip. Mainly class 1-2 with the exception of big rapid 1 hour down from the Hidden falls hut, There's a well used portage on the right side. We took ten days(weathered in for two at big bay) but can be done a lot quicker. Big bay to Olivine Hut 3hrs hike 3.5 float. Hope this helped.