West Coast, 6 Day, Through trip.
A multi-day trip packed with exciting whitewater, dramatic landscapes and strenuous tramping, the Landsborough provides an unforgettable South Westland wilderness adventure for advanced packrafters.
Category: West Coast
Jerry River (II/IV)
West Coast, 8 Day, 9 Day, Loop trip.
A 4-5 day ‘side trip’ to the Hollyford/Pyke loop, in a remote corner of south westland.
Barlow River (V)
West Coast, 2 Day, 3 Day, Out and back.
Two to three days round trip to a classic hard west coast creek run.
Lower Tuke River (III/IV)
West Coast, 2 Day, Out and back.
A spectacular half to full day side-trip from Mikonui Hut on the West Coast.
Lower Toaroha River (IV)
West Coast, 1 Day, Out and back.
Advanced day-trip, boulder gardens, bedrock gorge and challenging whitewater on the West Coast
Lower Styx River (II+/III)
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.
Cascade River (II/III)
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
Moonlight Creek (I/II/III/IV)
West Coast, 1 Day, Out and back, Roadside.
Something for everyone on this small west coast creek. An amazing day trip near Greymouth
Wanganui River (III/IV) below Hunters Hut
West Coast, 2 Day, Out and back.
Another overnighter on a wild west coast valley and river. Rough tracks, a great hut and magnificent scenery that backs on to the Adams Wilderness Area.
Lower Kokatahi (II+/III) optional IV
West Coast, 1 Day, Out and back.
Half day trip for strong intermediate paddlers, with an option to check out a bedrock gorge.
Mokihinui (III+/IV)
West Coast, 1 Day, Out and back, Through trip.
The Mokihinui is a brilliant packraft trip. You can walk in from the west, stay a night and paddle out. You can head in from the Buller end by bike or foot on the Old Ghost Road, then hop on the river where your skills dictate.
Karamea River (V with portages)
West Coast, 6 Day, 7 day, Loop trip.
6-8 days of remote and very advanced whitewater. Great approach & great huts. West coast, Kahurangi National Park.
The Ellery, Jackson & Arawhata Loop (I+)
West Coast, 1 Day, Loop trip.
A longish day trip, with a great variety of terrain and non-technical paddling.
South Westland
Maruia River (II+) Boundary Road to Shenandoah Stream
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…
Waiatoto River (III/IV) via the Wilkin
West Coast, 5 Day, Through trip.
5 Days | Camping | Wilderness Area
Challenging through trip into the Olivine Wilderness Area
Gorge River (III/IV)
West Coast, 7 day, Loop trip.
7 day loop in South Westland
Gorgeous gorges, up to IV
Paringa River (II/III+)
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
Fox River (II)
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
Arahura River (sections from V to II)
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.
Thomas River (III & IV/V P) via Mataketake tops
West Coast, 2 Day, 3 Day, Out and back, Through trip.
Haast area, West Coast
3 day through trip with good huts, tops, bush bashing and challenging paddling.
Jackson River (I/II)
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…
Okarito River (II/III)
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.
Alfred Stream (II)
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.
Lower Nile (I+)
West Coast, 1 Day, Out and back.
It’s not everyday you get to raft the Nile! A trip to do when all rivers in the area in high as the Nile need a bit more flow. Another amazing limestone gorge, full bush, running clear, even when high. Nice limestone rock formations. Thanks to Martin Wilson for the info. If you have any…
Clarke River (I/II) from Rough Creek
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…
Blue Grey River (II/III) via Robinson Valley
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…
Grey River (II/III) via the Nina Valley
West Coast, 4 Day, 5 Day, Through trip.
A long distance through trip that crosses the main divide from east to west. Most people would probably want to allow 4 or 5 days for the trip which is evenly split with 50km of trekking and 50km of paddling. Some off-track navigation is required and the class III Gentle Annie gorge has no easy…
Okuru River (I/III/IV-)
West Coast, 3 Day, Through trip.
3 days including a challenging approach or a cruisy overnighter using heli-access
South Westland
Pororari River (I) swingbridge to SH6
West Coast, 1 Day, 2 Day, Through trip.
A short scenic float through a huge limestone gorge, this could be the last section of a trip on the Inland Packtrack, or a short out and back from Punakaiki. Thanks to Elias Love for the photos and info. View Larger Topographic Map Pororari River Track Its about 1hr up the track to the swingbridge…
Hokitika River (II+/III) lower valley
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.
Whataroa River (sections from II+ to IV+)
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…
Taipo River (II/III, with optional IV/V top section) via Harman Pass
West Coast, 3 Day, Through trip.
The Taipo below Julia Hut is already well known as a heli-kayaking run, with some detailed paddling information in the Whitewater NZ river guide book. Taipo means ”devil” or evil spirit in Maori. It is interesting because Maori used it thinking it was English and the early English settlers used it thinking it was Maori….
Moeraki River (I/II) from Boulder Creek to the ocean
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…
Mikonui River (II)
West Coast, 1 Day, Through trip.
Fantastic beginner run with a wilderness feel
Maruia River (III) Cannibal Gorge to Maruia Springs
West Coast, Through trip.
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 St James Walkway…
Boyle River (III) Poplars gorge
West Coast, 1 Day, Out and back.
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)…
Boyle River (II+) from Boyle Village to Windy Point
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…
Copland River (III/-IV) from Architect Creek Hut
West Coast, 2 Day, Hot pools, Out and back.
Classic west coast packrafting, with the option of a side trip to the hot pools.