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.
Tag: Class I
The Hollyford-Pyke Loop (I/II)
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
Taieri River (I/III) – The Rock and Pillar Run
Otago, 1 Day, 2 Day, Roadside, Through trip.
1-3 day options, scenic gorges and mostly easy paddling.
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
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
Hunter River (II-)
Otago, 4 Day, Through trip.
2 days hike, 1-2 days paddle.
Remote and scenic headwaters, in a seldom visited valley | Otago.
Upper Nevis River (I/III)
Otago, 1 Day, 2 Day, Out and back, Roadside.
Roadside grade III in Otago Highcountry, with two day’s worth of paddling, hiking and biking on offer.
Needs rain to be runnable.
Gillespie Pass circuit: Siberia Stream (I+/III-) & Wilkin River (I+)
Otago, 3 Day, 4 Day, 5 Day, Loop trip.
Aspiring NP, Otago
3-5 day options
Lake Ohakuri Hot Waterfall (I)
Waikato, 1 Day, Hot pools, Out and back.
Hot Waterfall, Akatarewa Stream, Lake Ohakuri, Waikato River,(I)Overview A fabulous beginner grade one packrafting trip on Lake Ohakuri (created by the damming of the Waikato River). With the excitement of wading up a hot water stream to bathe under a hot waterfall, or soak in hotwater rockpools. Getting there On Te Kopia Road, 200 m…
Waiau River (I/II) Te Anau Control Gates to Lake Manapouri
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. View Larger Topographic…
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…
Eglinton River (I/II) along SH94
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…
Lower Taieri River, Lee Stream to Outram (I/II)
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…
Lower Hurunui: Mandamus river to SH7 bridge (I)
Canterbury, 1 Day, 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)…
Hooker Lake from Mt Cook Village
Canterbury, 1 Day, Out and back.
A half day explore on a glacially fed lake with an incredible view of NZ’s tallest peak. View Larger Topographic Map Hooker Valley Track The Hooker Valley Track is one of the most popular short walks in the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, and its not hard to see why. On a very easy, gravelled and…
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…
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…
Clutha River (I) Alexandra to Roxborough Gorge
Otago, 1 Day, Out and back.
A relaxed float down one of NZ’s largest rivers, with impressive rocky cliffs and heritage sites on the return journey. We began our day trip from Alexandra, and returned by hiking up the Roxborough Gorge Trail, though there are other ways to incorporate a packraft into a trip in this area. You could hike or…
Ahuriri River (I-II) from Watson Creek
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…
Waimakariri River (I-II) Carrington Hut to Klondyke Corner
Canterbury, 1 Day, 2 Day, Out and back.
Classic Canterbury braided river, with some nice huts and options for tramping side trips. Easily done as a day trip, you could spend many days exploring the upper catchment before floating back down to your car. View Larger Topographic Map Waimakariri Valley: Carrington Hut Route The Waimakariri Valley is a major route featuring in a…
Lower Motatapu River (I) – Matukituki River (I) loop
Otago, 1 Day, Loop trip.
UPSTREAM STRAINER HAZARD As of 20 Dec 2021, there are at least 4 river wide strainers upstream of this section.. Downstream there are more than a few strainer hazards: In high flows, it would be difficult to avoid some of these, so be warned and avoid this unless you’ve been down recently at normal flow….
Rees River (I) Middle flats
Otago, 1 Day, Out and back.
A simple, short day trip in a beautiful valley. The Middle flats run is a great trip for beginning packrafters, even after rain. But, there are still hazards to be avoided, and the river still needs to be treated with respect: we’re observing more folks in the valley who don’t seem to have enough basic…
Hopkins River (I-II) from Dodger Hut to Ram Hill 2WD carpark
Otago, 2 Day, Out and back.
A large beautiful valley with a plethora of huts. Lots of tramping, climbing and hunting opportunities. The packrafting is generally very easy in normal flows, down a wide braided river. Very easy access, you can even get a 4wd up the valley! Good beginners trip. This trip page is intended for inspiration only, and is…
Wilkin River (I+) from Kerin Forks Hut
Otago, 2 Day, Out and back.
A mellow out and back trip to a neat hut, with options for side trips or as a starting point for bigger adventures. There’s some good fishing up around the Hut. There’s a little bit of class II further up the Wilkin Valley, but it quickly gets very steep with huge boulder gardens (class IV-V)….