West Coast, 3 Day, 4 Day, Loop trip.
Challenging tracks, cozy huts, steep continuous boulder gardens in the North Branch, followed by a classic III/IV down the main Mōkihinui
Tag: 3 Day
Taipo River (II+/III/IV)
20GP, West Coast, 3 Day, Through trip.
Classic west coast packrafting The Taipo is a well-known heli-kayaking run with a colourful history. As with many moderate heli-runs, this river has become popular with experienced packrafting groups. The overall flavour of the run is fairly continuous II+/III paddling with some III+/IV ending with a straightforward and very scenic bedrock gorge. All the serious…
Dobson River (I/II) via Jamieson Saddle to Lake Ohau
Canterbury, 3 Day, 4 Day, Through trip.
3-4 Day through trip.
MacKenzie Basin/Canterbury
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.
Polnoon Burn (IV) or (III with portages)
Otago, 2 Day, 3 Day, Through trip.
Steep creeking in the Shotover River headwaters. 2-3 days, Otago.
Wairaurahiri River (II+)
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.
The Rangitikei Canyon (II/II+) River Valley Lodge to Vinegar Hill
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…
Gillespie Pass circuit: Siberia Stream (I+/III-) & Wilkin River (I+)
20GP, Otago, 3 Day, 4 Day, 5 Day, Loop trip.
Aspiring NP, Otago
3-5 day options
Broken River (II/III) with portages
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…
Arahura River (sections from V to II)
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.
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.
Whakatane River (II)
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…
Blue Grey River (II/III) via Robinson Valley
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…
Mohaka River (II+/III) “Upper run”
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…
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
Waiohine River (III/IV) Middle Gorge
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 the classic Tararua Gorging trip, and with the right flows a brilliant pack raft. It’s definitely not one to underestimate…. Updated 2020 by Martin Robertson View Larger Topographic Map The river…
D’Urville River (I/II-) from Morgan’s Hut
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…
Waiau Uwha River (III+/IVP)
20GP, Canterbury, 3 Day, 4 Day, Through trip.
A classic multi-day wilderness trip, with challenging whitewater, alpine scenery and stunning gorges.
Ngaruroro River (II+/III) Boyd Hut to Kuripapango
20GP, Hawkes Bay, 2 Day, 3 Day, 4 Day, 5 Day, Loop trip, Through trip.
The Ngaruroro is one of the great wild rivers in the north island, suitable for long, relatively easy packraft trips through fantastic scenery. There are countless options for making this trip long or short, with a helicopter or fixed wing flight to the start, a car shuttle and a through trip or even doing loop…