Latest Articles on Kayaking
Salty Sea Dogs
We were up horribly early on Friday morning to get ready for kayaking, but for once we managed get somewhere on time
We jumped in a water taxi which took us all the way from Kaiteriteri to Mutton Cove, and then we paddled to Separation Point, which is the very northern tip of the Abel Tasman National Park. We were thrilled to see fur seals and penguins fairly early on (we had no idea at the time just how many seals we would get to see on our way back down the coast). From this point onward we were paddling back down the coast, and so with the current, making our lives a whole lot easier! We had a fair bit of wind and swell, so we were pleased not to have to battle against the current as well. We camped the first night at Onetahuti beach, and we were spoilt rotten by our guides with the food and drink that they came up with. The trip was not turning out to be as tough as we had expected!
Day two had us leaving Onetahuti fairly early in order to paddle round to Shag Harbour. This is a tiny ‘harbour’ which we were hoping to paddle in to as it’s supposed to be beautiful at high tide. Unfortunately we were too late and had to abandon our kayaks and walk in instead. We still got an idea of what it would be like with the water, and got ‘up close…
Grade 5 River Kayaking
Well today we both kayaked a grade 5 river including a 7m waterfall! What a fantastic trip although we both had loads of water injected into ears, nose and mouth so have slight headaches.
Before people think we’ve taken leave of our senses and jumped straight into white water rafting on a grade 5 river, well no fear we were both in tandem kayaks along with guides, not that it made the effort any easier. Especially in my kayak where I far out weighed my guide - poor Pete!
The route lasted an hour and the highlight was the 7m waterfall but also include numerous rapids and a couple of other smaller waterfalls at around 4m
Lea was fortunate to stay upright all the way but Pete and I couldn’t manage this under the largest fall. Despite numerous practices in calm water I wasn’t prepared for the violence of the water in the rapids. When we rolled I calmly followed the drill and dropped my paddle and bend double over the kayak and waited for Pete to right us. This he nearly managed to do but lost it at the last minute and we plunged under again. At this point I took a mouth full of water and it started to be less fun. Unfortunately the survival aspect of my brain kicked in and I forgot the drill meaning that we needed help to be righted and then had to empty to boat - sorry Pete!
That aside it was…
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